Page 343 of Rangers Unexpected Return

His eyes remained on me.

“You should have stayed in Dallas, Judy.”

“You sent me to Eagle River.”

“I sent you to close a case.”

“You sent me to bury one.”

His expression hardened.

“You were supposed to identify an outsider. Someone who passed through every city and chose women at random.”

“But they weren’t random.”

“No.”

“They were witnesses.”

Elizabeth trembled behind me.

Robert’s gaze shifted toward her.

Only for a second.

But I saw it.

Hatred.

Not fear.

Not guilt.

Hatred that she had survived.

“You found her,” he said.

“Emily saved her.”

“Emily was a foolish girl who involved herself in things she didn’t understand.”

“She understood enough to expose your family.”

His jaw tightened.

The reaction was small.

Almost invisible.

But I had spent years reading murderers.

Robert Mills was losing control.

Mace spoke quietly.

“Gun on the ground.”

Robert smiled.