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“No, but the killer wanted us to believe the motive was robbery. Faye closed the bakery last night, and it was her habit to take the cash and receipts home. She did the accounting and then deposited the funds in the bank the next morning. The money is missing.”
“How much are we talking about?”
“Roughly five hundred dollars. People have killed for less, but slashing Faye’s tire seems like an unnecessary step. If the killer was merely after the money, he could’ve robbed her in the parking lot.” Claire opened the driver’s side door. “Faye’s purse is still here. Her wallet was rifled through, but the killer didn’t take the twenty dollars inside. And Faye’s expensive cell phone is still in the cup holder.”
A quick inspection of the interior confirmed Claire’s observations. Why would a thief take the bakery’s cash, but leave Faye’s? And the cell phone was easy pickings. Something about this was definitely off. “Could Faye have stopped somewhere on her way home?”
“Unlikely. Witnesses reported seeing her leave the bakery around nine last night. I have the passcode to Faye’s phone and accessed her call log. She attempted to call roadside assistance at 9:20 several times, but this stretch of road has terrible cell service. I don’t think the calls ever went through.”
Claire circled the front of the SUV, her stride strong and purposefully. She pointed to a muddy indentation on the side of the road. Tire tracks. “The killer stopped his vehicle here. Faye must’ve known the person because she got out of her SUV. Probably thinking the person was going to help her. Instead, he shot her.”
Blood spattered the chrome bumper of Faye’s SUV, supporting Claire’s theory. Gavin’s gaze drifted to the activity near the tree line. Two men from the coroner’s office attended to the body. A woman’s shoe lay in the grass.
Gavin’s gut clenched as his mind filled in the blanks. “Faye tried to escape.”
“Yes.” Claire led the way to the body. “But the killer shot her twice more in the back as she ran away.”
Faye was resting on her stomach. Her long dark hair was tangled and wet from the rain. Blood stained the grass around her body, as well as her white blouse. She’d been terrified, running for her life, when the killer hunted her down like an animal. It was cruel.
Anger raised Gavin’s body temperature until it felt like he was boiling inside his jacket. He hadn’t known Faye Hansen in life, but she was a part of him now. And he wouldn’t stop until her killer was behind bars.
Gavin drew in a breath. The cold air hurt his lungs, and when he let it out slowly, condensation hung in the air. His gaze swept across the crime scene.
Claire tilted her head. “What are you thinking?”
“That you’re right. This wasn’t a robbery. Taking the money was an afterthought, a way to throw us off the real reason she was murdered. Do you have any idea who may have done this?”
“None. Faye is…” She struggled for a moment before clearing her throat. “She was well-loved by everyone. It sounds cliche, but she didn’t have any enemies.”
“She had one. Whoever did this is someone Faye knew. She got out of her SUV when the killer drove up. She wasn’t afraid.” His gaze swept the crime scene again before settling back on Claire. She needed to be prepared for what may come next. “This killer…it’s a neighbor. A friend. Since you and Faye were close—”
“It may be someone I care deeply about.” Claire’s voice was hollow, but she held his gaze. “I know that, Gavin. Like I said before, I can’t trust my objectivity regarding this case. That’s why you’re here.”
Fulton County had two bakeries. One was closer to the freeway and frequented by travelers looking for a quick bite. Sadly, it’d been linked to the serial killer case Claire worked last year. An employee had been nabbed from the parking lot during the early morning hours. She survived the encounter with the murderer, thankfully, and was currently in college.
Now, the town’s second pastry shop was a crime scene. Sweets and Treats Bakery was nestled between a laundromat and an antique store. Dripping icicles hung from the striped awning. Graceful letters written in Faye’s artistic scrawl announced the house special: a coffee and cinnamon bun combo. Claire’s throat tightened at the sight of the familiar establishment. She would never again cross the threshold and see her friend’s bright smile greeting her from across the counter. Faye was gone. Tears pricked Claire’s eyes.
Don’t think about it.She sucked in a breath. There would be time to grieve for Faye, but it wasn’t now. Claire’s job was to get justice. She released her iron grip on the steering wheel and exited her patrol truck. Gavin’s official state vehicle pulled into the parking spot next to hers. His dark hair was shorn on the sides and top, but the rigid hairstyle suited the sharp planes of his face. A full mouth was softened the deep cleft in his chin. The chestnut-colored blazer encasing his broad shoulders matched his eyes. This was her second time meeting Gavin, and her impression was exactly the same. The man was distractingly handsome. It was a fact she was determined to ignore. Claire had enough problems on her plate without adding romance to the mix. She had a town to protect and a son to raise.
A killer to catch.
Turning the case over to a complete stranger wasn’t easy. Trust didn’t come easily to Claire anymore. A side effect of her failed marriage, perhaps, or simply a jaded outlook from a career in law enforcement. But she was smart enough to recognize the dangers of working Faye’s murder investigation herself. It wasn’t possible. Already she was struggling to keep the grief at bay. Claire wouldn’t dishonor her friend by mucking up the case.
She had to trust someone. Gavin’s reputation as a Texas Ranger was far-reaching. He closed most of his cases because of a solid work ethic and a dogged determination. Additionally, as an outsider, he’d be able to see townsfolk for who they were and not with the skewed perception that often plagued her subordinates. No one wanted to believe their friend or neighbor was a killer. Not even Claire’s deputies.
“Beautiful town.” Gavin joined her on the sidewalk. He hit a button on his fob, causing a subsequent beep from his truck as the locks engaged. “Did you grow up here?”
He was a head taller than her and, coupled with his muscular frame, made Claire feel surprisingly dainty. Feminine. It was unsettling. Dangerous akin to attraction. She took a step away from him. “Yes, I grew up here. My parents own rental cabins along Lake Hudson. Winter is quiet, but in spring and summer, Fulton County gets a lot of tourists. Professional fisherman, families, that kind of thing.”
Gavin waved a finger at the nearby businesses. “Any of them have surveillance cameras?”
“No. And honestly, there isn’t much need for them. Our crime rate is extremely low. Faye’s murder, the serial killer we caught last year…those were anomalies. I took over as sheriff last year and most of my days are spent dealing with partying teenagers and minor traffic accidents.” She jutted her thumb over her shoulder. “Faye parked around back. Mind the ice on the walkway.”
Gavin fell into step beside her. His stride was confident and easy. “What did you do before becoming sheriff?”
“I spent ten years as an agent with the FBI.”
He whistled. “This job must be a big change of pace for you then.”
