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Stunned, she stared at her brother’s friend. Why hadn’t Jordan and Ely told her about Jim White? She’d asked.
“I can see the wheels turning in that brain of yours,” her brother said. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m wondering if the FAA has flight records I could see when airplanes left from Mr. White’s airstrip. I’m wondering if he’s the person who could be behind this.”
Her brother and Luis glanced at one another and she saw the concern in their eyes.
“Jim is not well liked in town. He’s always been a crass kind of man. He likes to flaunt his wealth, and whenever there was a child missing, he would send a package of food to the family. We used to laugh about it. Whenever there was a tragedy in town, you received food from Jim White.”
“Is he married?”
“Divorced,” Luis said. “No children of his own. At one time, he was known for hosting wild parties out on his ranch, but I haven’t heard anything else about those.”
She would have to do some reconnaissance at this ranch. First, she’d contact the FAA and then she would go out there and see for herself if there was anything suspicious going on.
Her brother frowned. “Sis, I know you’re a marshal. A big strong woman who can take care of herself but be careful around this man. Men like him are dangerous.”
Luis chuckled. “At one time, it was rumored in town that he had the law in his back pocket.”
Fear swirled through her and the image of Jordan and Ely came to mind. Her brother didn’t know she was seeing them. Her brother didn’t know she was staying at their house. This little piece of information she would keep to herself.
“That’s not good,” she said. “The law shouldn’t be above the law. It’s your brother and Ely, right?”
“Yes. And I believe that Jordan and Ely are great lawmen, but this was happening before them. Probably two sheriffs ago. Back when I was still in high school.”
She would have to check to see who the sheriff was back then. Because if she found out he was a part of this, then she would make certain he paid for his crimes as well. Blessing, Texas, was a nice community, and she didn’t like the idea that someone could buy the law. Not even a sheriff who’d retired.
“What about the sheriffs from Francitas and Elmaton? Would you think they would be in his back pocket?”
“Don’t rightly know, but both towns have recently gotten new lawmen. One sheriff had a heart attack and died, and the other sheriff retired.”
Pushing back from the table, she shook her head and sighed. “Right now, everyone is a suspect.”
“Even your brother?” Stacy asked.
She grinned. “Even my brother, though I’m not worried about him. But I have to look at everyone. No one is immune.”
Stacy stood and began to clear the table. Camila helped her.
When they walked into the kitchen, she turned to Camila. “Your brother is the best man I’ve ever met. He would never do something so disgusting.”
It was funny how some people took offense when she said everyone was a suspect.
“I agree. He put me through college. He made certain I had a good education and I’ll be forever grateful for that. But my job says to leave no stone unturned. And I aim to do just that.”
The woman smiled at her. “I could never do what you do. I’d kill the person I caught stealing kids.”
“It’s tempting,” she said knowing there were a few of her arrests that she had to walk away to keep from doing something that could jeopardize the case. “But everyone is innocent until proven guilty, even though you’re certain you caught the right man or woman, you have to let the courts decide. And sometimes, that’s damn hard.”
She went back into the dining room and returned with more dishes.
“I have a question for you. Are you happy with two men?”
The woman smiled at her. “It’s the best, Camila. My friend was the one who brought me out here for her wedding, and then I met your brother and Luis. I’ll never go back to New York except to visit. I’m so happy and I can’t wait for us to start a family.”
“But what about the children? How do you explain to them which one is their father?”
Stacy smiled. “Who cares? We’ll be a family. And that’s all that’s important. We’ll be together and they make me happy.”
