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“All right, everybody needs to calm down. Hattie had a listening device on,” Jensen said. “We’ll find it and that will help us sort out the mess.”
Steffan studied William. It concerned him that the man didn’t appear upset by the news of a listening device.
“Turn off your infrared goggles and let’s light this place up,” Jensen said.
Steffan had to release one of his hands holding Hattie to turn off the goggles and lift them onto his forehead.
Light bars strapped to Jensen, Ray, and other men’s chests lit up the small cabin. Jensen looked at the hole in Hattie’s torn shirt and around the cabin. He had a man come with the proper equipment to take the knife as evidence. The fingerprints would lead to William being the murderer as well, right?
Was there any way William could’ve knocked Hattie and Franz out and manipulated her hands on the knife to shove it in Franz’s chest? It was possible, but Steffan’s mind was scrambling for crazy scenarios. He held Hattie closer. This entire situation was a crazy scenario.
Jensen and an older officer went outside briefly. William didn’t move, just glared harder. Steffan and Hattie clung to each other. How would this mess end? He prayed for heaven’s help and insight.
Jensen walked back in with the older officer. “Frank will escort Prince Steffan and Miss Ballard outside so we can search and speak with Mr. Rindlesbacher alone.”
Steffan complied as the officer gestured outside with his gun, but he didn’t like it. He met Ray’s gaze. His brother was uncertain as well, and that scared him more than anything else.
Hattie was innocent. He wanted to scream it to the mountaintops. Jensen would never allow her to take a fall for something like this. He hadn’t five years ago when she’d been framed for Jane Presley’s murder by this man’s son. Jensen would do the right thing, and so would Ray. He had to trust his friend and his brother.
They walked out into the chilly morning air. Hattie shivered, but he didn’t think it had anything to do with the cold.
He wanted to listen in as they questioned William. He was certain he could stab holes in the man’s fabricated story. But Hattie was more important right now, and he had to trust that Ray and Jensen could pull apart William’s story better than he could. They dealt with criminals like William all the time.
“You all right?” he asked Hattie softly.
“Not really, but I’d be a mess without you holding me up.” She tried to smile up at him, but her lips were quivering. In the darkness and the shadows from the open cabin door and the police lights, the smile looked distorted. “I can’t figure out why Treven’s dad would even be here.”
“It’s an obvious setup,” Steffan reassured her. “Jensen and Ray will poke holes all through his story and he’ll be in prison right along with his son.” He gained strength from the idea as he spoke. “It will make it even easier to clear your name for Jane’s murder.”
She laid her head on his shoulder, and his chest swelled. “I hope so. Thank you for supporting me, for believing me, for seeing the best in me.”
He saw only good in her. “It’s no hardship, believe me.”
She smiled again, and then she simply clung to him. The men moving around them, the sounds in the cabin that could decide this very important woman’s fate, all faded as he focused on holding her and savoring every moment.
Why did it feel fleeting? Nobody could rip her from his arms. Nobody.
Praying silently as they waited, he wanted justice for murdered Jane and murdered Franz, and freedom and no more worrying, looking over her shoulder, or staying away from Augustine for Hattie.
Ray strode out of the cabin and up to them. Hattie turned slightly to look up at him, but Steffan didn’t release her and she didn’t try to move out of the circle of his arms.
“It doesn’t look good,” Ray whispered.
“What do you mean?” Panic tightened Steffan’s chest.
Hattie’s heart thudded quickly against him.
“Franz is an old friend of Treven’s. Franz told William Rindlesbacher what he’d done, stealing all of Hattie’s money and things and setting up this elaborate adventure to get her here alone. He wanted to get more money out of her, but he was afraid she’d kill him like she’d killed Jane. Franz begged William to meet him at the cabin to help him. He said it was dark when Hattie and Franz came in. They were struggling and yelling at each other. Hattie came up with the knife, stabbed Franz, and then Rindlesbacher knocked her out before she could turn on him.” His voice was stating the facts, but Steffan could tell he didn’t believe William.
“That’s not true,” Hattie said. “Franz cut the recording device out of my shirt and I did struggle with him, but then somebody came from the side and knocked me out. I never touched the knife.”
“But that’s all you remember?” Ray pushed out a frustrated breath. “It was pitch black. Hattie, could you have fallen on Franz and the knife killed him then?”
“That’s highly unlikely,” Steffan said. “William is dirty, and we all know it. You’re in charge here. We have to prove the truth.”
Ray nodded, serious as death—or a prison sentence. “Steffan, if Jensen has to arrest her, you have to stay calm and trust that we’ll unveil the truth. That Jensen and I will make it right.”
“He can’t arrest her,” Steffan said too loudly.
