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Levi Paddock’s voice filled the air with yet more grit — the acrimonious kind. “You can poke around the corner of my property until you’re blue in the face, sheriff. I got nothin’ to hide.”
Adriel didn’t so much as twitch an eyelash. “Appreciate your cooperation, Levi. I’ve called in my new K-9 team to verify what we’re dealing with. If the dogs sniff out human remains, please be aware this could be declared a sacred burial site.”
“Wouldn’t that be something?” There was nothing reverent about Levi’s sneer. “Not sure why you’re reading me the riot act over it. It’s not like I have any real say in the matter.”
Adriel continued speaking in the same even tones. “As the owner of this property, you’ll be informed of what’s going on every step of the way.”
“Consider me informed, sheriff.” Levi sounded dismissive. “Are we done here?”
“For now.” Adriel Montana disconnected the line. He angled his head at Tractor Guy. “You heard your boss. It’s time for you to mosey.”
Since Shep was watching the man so closely, he didn’t miss the twitch of his eyelids when Adriel called Levi his boss.
“That’s my equipment,” he blustered, stomping back over to the tractor, looking ready to hop back on it.
“I’ll return it to you just as soon as we confirm this is not an active crime scene,” Adriel assured in a smooth voice.
Tractor Guy’s brittle veneer seemed to crumble. “You can’t do that to me, man. Without my tractor, I’m outta work,” he whined. Though he was playing the part of a lowly blue-collar worker, his act didn’t jibe with Shep for one simple reason. There was no genuine fear or worry in his eyes. They were beady and devoid of emotion. Then again, not everyone was naturally warm and fuzzy.
The sheriff didn’t miss a beat. He whipped out an electronic tablet. “If you’ll give me your name and number, I’ll call you the second our forensics folks clear your equipment for release.”
Tractor Guy gave him a hard look. “I’m Tam.”
The sheriff typed it in. “And your last name?”
“Just Tam,” the guy repeated coolly. “Leave a message. I’ll get it.”
Thanks to all the reading up he’d been doing on the Dallas Kings lately, the mention of Tam’s name jostled something in Shep’s memory. “You’re Tam Kelly, aren’t you?” He pinned him with a dispassionate look, daring him to deny it.
“Maybe.” Tam’s smirk didn’t come close to thawing the look in his eyes as he rattled off his phone number. It wasn’t often Shep encountered eyes like that. They were cold, the kind of coldness that set in when a man was missing a piece of his humanity.
“I’ll give you a ride in my cruiser,” Adriel offered as he closed his tablet. “Just let me know where to drop you off.”
Tam gave him a hard look. Then he turned around and stomped off.
Adriel and Shep watched him until he disappeared over the next hill.
The sheriff gave a low whistle. “I almost got out my violin before he confessed who he was.”
Shep snorted. “Yeah. Real sad story. I almost shed a few tears myself.”
“One thing’s for sure. Tam Kelly doesnotanswer to Levi Paddock.” Adriel Montana rocked back on his heels. “Did you see the look he gave me when I called Levi his boss?”
“If looks could kill,” Shep drawled.
“One look from him probably could.” The sheriff’s expression was grim. “Ever since Tim Getz showed up, I’ve been doing my homework. Someone of his stature within the syndicate wouldn’t travel alone. He’d bring muscle.”
“Like Tam.” Shep nodded. Meaning Tam’s job description was whatever Tim told him to do. He was a bodyguard, personal assistant, and hitman, all wrapped into one. Which begged the question why he’d spent the last couple of days driving a tractor.
What was Levi Paddock really up to, and what did it have to do with the piece of land next to The Longhorn Grill?
Since no immediate answers were forthcoming, Shep decided to get one more detail off his chest. “Levi sure didn’t put up much of a fuss about putting his landscaping on hold, did he?”
“Nope.” Adriel’s voice was flat. “Normally, he has a lot more to say about my leadership style and the deputies who work such long hours keeping our streets safe.”
Shep snorted. “Lemme guess. He’s normally dripping with compliments.”
“He drips at the mouth, alright.” Adriel squatted down to peer more closely at the stone Tam had dug up. He beckoned for Shep to send his dogs forward.
