Page 91 of Rangers Last Promise

Then at Mara.

Hampton isn't looking for the lockbox anymore.

He knows we found it.

9

MARA

The lockbox sits in the middle of Sheriff Tate’s desk.

Everyone is staring at it.

No one can open it.

I fold my arms. “This is ridiculous.”

Doc leans against the wall beside the door, his freshly bandaged ribs hidden beneath a clean black T-shirt Wolf found upstairs before we went hunting for the lockbox.

“You're the one with the key.”

“The key is three blocks away.”

“Which makes staring at the box ineffective.”

I turn toward him. “Do you have another suggestion?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“Stop staring at the box.”

Trigger laughs from the chair beside Sheriff Tate’s desk.

I point at him. “You have a concussion. You aren't supposed to be enjoying yourself.”

“I don't have a concussion.”

Sheriff Tate looks up from his phone. “The paramedic said you might.”

“He also said I should go to the hospital.”

“And yet here you are.”

Trigger adjusts the ice pack against his head. “I'm beginning to feel unwelcome.”

Wolf, standing behind him, says, “I can drive you to the hospital.”

“No.”

“I wasn't offering.”

Trigger looks over his shoulder. “Touch me, and I'll tell Rylie you hit me.”

Sheriff Tate slowly raises his head.

“My daughter?”