Page 149 of Rangers Unexpected Return

Judy stared at the screen. “Captain?”

The call ended.

No goodbye.

No explanation.

Judy slowly lowered the phone.

“That sounded like guilt,” Rylie said.

“It sounded like fear,” Trigger replied.

“Sometimes they’re the same thing,” Judy said.

I looked at Evan. “Which one is it for you?”

He tried to turn around.

I kept him facing the door.

“I haven’t done anything.”

“Then explain why you told your brother you were in Dallas.”

“I told you—I didn’t call him.”

“Do you recognize the number that did?” Judy asked.

“I haven’t seen it.”

She held up her phone. “Robert refused to give it to us.”

“That isn’t my problem.”

“It became your problem when he tried to place you at your father’s cabin.”

Evan laughed bitterly. “Robert has been trying to control my life since we were kids. He probably decided that was where I should be, so that’s where he told you I was.”

“That doesn’t explain the phone call.”

“I can’t explain a call I didn’t make.”

Judy studied him.

I wished I could see her face better. She had always been able to catch the things other people missed. Even when we were kids, she’d known when I was lying before I finished my first sentence.

Especially when I was lying about why I happened to walk past her house four times in one afternoon.

She’d made me admit I was hoping to see her.

Then she’d sat on the front steps with me until dark.

I hadn’t thought about that day in years.

Now, with her standing close enough that I could smell the faint scent of her shampoo, I couldn’t seem to think about anything else.

She glanced at me.