Page 156 of Rangers Unexpected Return

“We don’t have enough to arrest him.”

“He knew about the key,” Rylie said.

“Yes.”

“Does that mean he killed Emily?”

Judy looked at the old photograph.

“No,” she said. “It means he knows more about her death than he admitted.”

My eyes went to the evidence bag inside Trigger’s jacket.

“What happens now?” I asked.

Judy looked at me.

“We find out what the key opens.”

Her phone rang again.

Robert Mills.

She rejected the call.

A moment later, a message appeared on her screen.

She read it, and all the color drained from her face.

I moved closer. “What does it say?”

She turned the phone so we could see it.

COME BACK TO DALLAS NOW.

DO NOT GO TO THE CAMP.

THE KEY WAS NEVER MEANT FOR YOU.

Rylie stared at the message. “How does Robert know about the key?”

Judy lifted her eyes to mine.

“He shouldn’t.”

But someone had told him.

And Evan had been inside the house when his brother called.

Judy looked toward the road where Evan’s truck had disappeared.

For the first time, I didn’t know which brother worried her more.

14

JUDY

THE KEY WAS NEVER MEANT FOR YOU.