AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Nice to see you too. You don’t look so great yourself. And what is that smell? Did you roll in a dumpster?”
“Nope, it’s lake water.” He flashed a grin. “You owe me, by the way. Not only did I make sure the paramedics got to you in time last night, but I brought you a double espresso with extra foam this morning.”
“Hey,” Claire chimed in. “I’m the one who dragged him from the lake. You can’t take all the credit, Ryker.”
They all laughed. Gavin took the coffee Ryker extended and, ignoring the fish smell wafting off his friend, embraced him in a manly hug. Then he shoved him away. “Ugh, you smell like a sewer.”
“Not all of us got a luxurious stay in a warm bed with pretty nurses attending to our every need. I was busy working.” Ryker settled on the bed, careful to keep his muddy boots off the sheets. “There’s not much left of the bomb or the boat. Based on Claire’s description, the device was homemade. I believe the killer planted it on the boat during the breakin a few days ago. The destruction in the boathouse was designed to throw us off track.”
Gavin had come to the same conclusion this morning, once the grogginess of his pain meds wore off. “I underestimated him again.”
Ryker pinned him with a stare. “We all did. This isn’t just on you. Since the Chosen’s logo was scrawled on the message written on the boathouse wall, I went back to question Xavier. He’s missing.”
“What do you mean he’s missing?”
“His wife hasn’t seen him for three days. I questioned neighbors and some known members of the Chosen. No one has seen him.”
Claire sank into the recliner. “So Xavier could be the one behind this?”
“Possibly. I’ve got more news. Luke finally got in touch with Alex’s friend. The one he supposedly stayed with on the night of Faye’s murder.” Ryker lifted his brows. “The alibi doesn’t pan out. According to the friend, Alex arrived after midnight and was gone early in the morning.”
Gavin stiffened. “So he could’ve killed Faye, and then driven to Houston to murder the private investigator she hired. Then he could’ve stayed with his friend, but got up early to be at the emergency clinic in time to shoot at Claire the next morning.”
“Yep. Luke’s picking Alex up and bringing him to the sheriff’s department for questioning.” Ryker stood, a grin spreading across his face. “Either of you want to join us?”
Thirteen
Claire stood inside the observation room of the sheriff’s department. On the computer screen in front of her, Alex paced the interview room. Every once in a while, he muttered something to himself. His name was etched across the front of the polo and the shelter logo was printed on the back.
“He refused to talk during the car ride over.” Luke crossed his arms over his chest. The ranger badge pinned to his chest reflected the light from the computer screen. “Alex already knew we’d discovered his alibi was fake. The friend must’ve spilled the beans after our conversation yesterday. Alex insisted on speaking with you, Claire, when I arrived to question him.”
“I’m not surprised. We know each other casually, and I’m sure Alex thinks I’ll go easier on him because of it.”
He was wrong. But Claire wasn’t above taking advantage of the situation if it meant catching a killer. She glanced at Gavin. “It might be better if you stay here and observe. The more comfortable Alex feels, the easier it’ll be to get to the truth.”
Gavin frowned but then nodded. “Take him something to drink. Maybe a snack too. It’ll support his assumption that you’re sympathetic.”
“Good idea.”
Their gazes met. Emotions tumbled through Claire, tangled and impossible to separate. When she’d pulled Gavin from the water yesterday and couldn’t find his pulse, it became undeniably clear that her feelings for the handsome ranger were far deeper than she’d wanted to admit. She was falling in love with him.
And now…their conversation in the hospital only complicated matters. Gavin wasn’t sure he wanted a wife and family. His heart had been broken—that was something she understood and sympathized with—but Gavin’s hesitation also ripped at the wound left by her ex-husband’s abandonment. He hadn’t wanted a family either.
Impossible relationships. Claire couldn’t manage to steer clear of them. She had no doubts Gavin would make a wonderful husband and father. He was kind and caring, generous and protective. But Claire had made the mistake of trying to convince her ex-husband that their marriage was worth fighting for. She wouldn’t do it again. Gavin had to want their relationship to work as badly as she did.
Until he made a final decision, it was prudent to keep her own feelings locked down. She didn’t want to be left brokenhearted again.
Claire tore her gaze from Gavin’s. She focused back on the computer screen. Alex was still pacing the interview room, his movements growing increasingly frantic. He was muttering something, but even after turning the volume up on the recording equipment, Claire couldn’t distinguish the words.
She considered letting him stew a bit longer but decided against it. Time was of the essence. It was possible Alex was innocent, and she didn’t want to waste precious investigation time if he had a reasonable explanation for lying about his alibi.
After a quick deviation to the break room for a soda and chips, Claire entered the interview room. Alex immediately halted his pacing. He swallowed hard, holding out his hands in a classic sign of surrender. “Sheriff, thank goodness you’re here. There’s a simple explanation for everything.”
“I’m sure there is.” Claire offered him a reassuring smile and set the snacks on the table. She pushed them toward the chair closest to him. “Here, these are for you. Let’s sit down, Alex, and talk. Before we do, I need to go through some procedural things.”
She quickly ran through his rights and had him sign a waiver. Everything by the book. Whatever Alex had to say, Claire wanted it cleanly on the record. She tucked the waiver into a folder and gave the snacks another push in his direction. “Do you like this soda? If not, there’s also water and coffee in the break room.”
“No. This is great.” Alex’s hand shook as he popped open the beverage. He took a long drink. “First, let me say, I’m sorry for lying about where I was on the night Faye was murdered. I know it looks bad. But I didn’t have anything to do with her murder.” He lifted his gaze to Claire’s. “You have to believe me.”
