He grimaced. “You have a point.”

  “Then do an honest risk assessment here to decide if I should go.”

  He seemed to weigh it over. “You’ll keep your head down to prevent a direct shot to areas not protected by the ballistic helmet?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’ll listen to me in your earbuds and react as I tell you? If I say abort, you’ll abort.”

  “Yes,” she promised.

  “You won’t linger.”

  “I’ll do everything you’ve briefed me to do.”

  “Okay, then,” he said, reluctance lingering in his tone. “I won’t stand in your way.”

  She squeezed his arm, but he suddenly jerked her close and folded his strong arms around her. She rested her head against his broad chest and listened to his fast heartbeat. Felt the warmth of his arms. Remembered so many times when he’d held her in the past.

  Then everything became clear—her hopes, her dreams, coming to the surface. She hadn’t realized until now that she still hoped he would come home and they’d get back together. But now that she knew he needed to stay away from Lost Creek for his sanity, she had to let that dream go and forget about ever being with him.

  She gently freed herself from his arms, the loss immediately carving out fresh pain in her heart. His gaze remained locked on her, even when Walt, carrying a communications system, opened the door. She took a step back.

  Walt placed the items on the table. “Everything okay in here?”

  She nodded.

  “Then let’s get you dressed.”

  “I’ll do it.” Gavin picked up the earbuds before his dad had a chance.

  Walt nodded. “I’ll double-check that we’re ready on our end.”

  Lexie gaped at him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “For the first time since I’ve seen the two of you together again, you didn’t argue with Gavin.”

  He glanced at Gavin and then back at her. “Seemed natural, I guess.”

  Gavin opened his mouth to speak then closed it and nodded instead. Walt offered a similar nod and left the room. They didn’t say a word, but Lexie could tell the unspoken communication was a huge breakthrough.

  Are You behind this, Father? she wondered, a flash of the faith she’d once clung to giving her hope.

  Her heart sang for the progress. For both of them. For Winnie and Gavin’s entire family. For herself, too?

  Let it go. You know Gavin is never coming home.

  “This is how you use the comms device.” Gavin demonstrated, and she listened carefully to his directions.

  Once the earbuds and cords were secured in place, he helped her with the vest, each touch of his fingers as he adjusted the Velcro giving her a fresh awareness of him.

  She obviously still had feelings for him. Crazy, right? He might have had to leave town, but he’d still abandoned her. Exactly like her father’s retreat after her mother died. That was a betrayal she’d never gotten over, and she likely wouldn’t get over the same treatment from Gavin.

  He settled the helmet on her head and reached for the straps, but she couldn’t let him touch her any longer, so she stepped back to adjust them herself. He didn’t seem to notice the change in her, just held out her jacket.

  She quickly slipped her arms inside and moved away from him. She knew she was overreacting, but she couldn’t let herself fall for him again. She couldn’t take another abandonment. Just couldn’t.

  Gavin glanced at his watch. “We’ve got just enough time to test out the audio and get the deputies in place. Then you’ll drive over to the park in my car. We’ll be a short distance away in the van, monitoring you. Got it?”

  She nodded.

  “Then let’s go.” He turned for the door then suddenly spun and grabbed her in another fierce hug. She could barely keep from lifting her face and asking him to kiss her, but she reminded herself that this hug was all about him gaining control of his concerns, not a demonstration of his love.

  He let her go as quickly as he’d taken her into his arms and marched from the room. Outside, he climbed in the van to conduct audio tests. Then suddenly it was time for Lexie to step out on her own. She settled in his SUV and felt so alone. She’d claimed such confidence, but her hands shook as she cranked the engine and started down the road.

  Keep it together. You’re doing this for Adam.

  She swallowed down the fear and drove to the park. Under overcast gray skies and a biting wind that kept most people indoors, she clutched the envelope tight and crossed the park. Her knees shook and sweat peppered her forehead. If the man was watching her, which she assumed he was, he had to see her protective gear. That also meant he’d know she’d reported the call to the sheriff. Could it have made him mad enough to shoot her? She wanted to look for him, but kept her head down as Gavin had instructed.

  At the bin, she dropped the envelope inside. A sense of relief mixed with her fear, but she’d succeeded in her job, so she turned and hurried toward the exit.

  On the sidewalk, the burner phone rang. She quickly answered, as she was sure the caller would praise her for following instructions.

  “So you thought you could pull the wool over my eyes,” the scrambled voice said.

  What? “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “I told you to come alone.”

  “I am alone.”

  “Please—do you think I’m stupid? That I wouldn’t recognize Deputy Ulstad?”

  “Deputy who?” she asked since she couldn’t very well admit to not following his directions.

  “You’re ticking me off.”

  “Sorry.” She did her best to sound like she meant it.

  “Lucky for you, I’m giving you another chance. I’ll contact you tomorrow and set up another drop. If you don’t come alone, you’ll pay with your life.”

  She stifled a gasp.

  “And I suggest you retrieve the envelope before anyone finds it.” He disconnected the call.

  “Did you hear that?” she asked Gavin.

  “Yes.”

  “Do I go back for the envelope?”

  “I’ll have Ulstad pick it up. You go straight to the car and back to Dad’s office.”

  “On my way.” She’d really angered the killer. Though he was giving her another chance, retaliation was a strong possibility, and the only thing she might have accomplished today was to put herself in even more danger.

  * * *

  As Gavin took the highway exit for the city of Cumberland to watch for Silas Ross, he glanced at Lexie in the passenger seat. She’d stared out the window in silence since they’d climbed into his SUV. A good thing or he might say something he shouldn’t.

  The minute he’d reached his dad’s office to see her sitting with her arms wrapped around her waist and her beautiful blue eyes filled with fear, he’d had to fight from drawing her into his arms and never letting go. He’d already held her twice today. What message did that send? Was she thinking he wanted to get back together? Was he leading her on? Totally not fair to her and he needed to do a better job at keeping his distance.

  “Do you really think Silas Ross could be our killer?” she asked.

  “The caller recognized Ulstad, so that would suggest he lives in Cypress County, which—”

  “Which is where Silas lives,” she finished for him. “I wish we had more time to figure out the connection, but a second drop tomorrow doesn’t leave much time.”

  “Dad and his team are working on it. If anyone can find the connection, they will,” he said without thinking. Did he really feel that way or was it just a platitude to make her feel better?

  She watched him as if she, too, saw the significance of his statement.

  “If you’re worried about tomorrow,” he said, “the agents I called in to monitor the drop are very capable.”

  “Sounds like you have more confidence in them than you had in Deputy Ulstad.”

  “Not that Ulstad isn’t capable, but I don’t know him. I’ve worked with these agents for three years and know they’re top-notch.”

  He parked in front of the clinic and sat back to wait for Ross to show up.

  Gavin kept looking at his watch, the time ticking by slowly, but he wasn’t about to start up a conversation and get distracted. About an hour after they arrived, Ross strolled down the street.

  “There he is,” he said.

  Lexie sat forward, her hands clutched together in what looked like a death grip.

  In his late twenties, the guy wore faded blue jeans and a black T-shirt under a leather bomber jacket. His hair was long, and when he entered the building, Gavin saw that it curled up in the back.

  “Could he be the guy from the airstrip?” Gavin asked.

  “He’s the right size, and he has a similar confident strut.”

  “Then we’ll wait for him to come out and have a chat with him so you can hear his voice.”

  If Gavin thought time had moved slowly before, it crept by at a snail’s pace now. Just as he thought he’d crawl out of his skin, the door opened and Ross stepped out carrying a brown paper bag.

  “Let’s go.” Gavin jumped out. He’d been worried that Ross would run when he saw him, but he didn’t even notice them as he ripped open the bag to pull out a pill bottle. His hands shook as he tried to get it open.

  “Silas Ross,” Gavin said.

  The guy’s head popped up and surprise lit his face.

  Either he was shocked that Gavin had caught on to him, or he was simply surprised to see Gavin back in the area.

  Ross shoved the bottle into his pocket. “You back in town, McKade?”

  He nodded and glanced at Lexie to see if she recognized the voice. She gave a shake of her head and Gavin’s hope that Ross was their killer fizzled, but he could still provide a vital link to the Medicaid fraud.

  Ross eyed him. “Doesn’t look like you’re a deputy.”

  “No. I work for the FBI.” Gavin displayed his credentials. “That’s why I’m here.”

  “To talk to me?” His voice squeaked high.

  “I saw you come out of the doctor’s office with those pills.”

  “So?”

  “So I was wondering what they were for.”

  Ross eyed him. “That’s none of your business.”

  Gavin held up his hands. “Hey, relax. You’re not in any trouble. I’m interested in what the doctor is dispensing, that’s all.”

  “Then you’ll have to ask him.” Ross backed away, watching Gavin as if waiting to be stopped.

  Gavin had no probable cause to arrest Ross and had to let him go. He turned and bolted for his truck.

  Gavin knew Ross would pop a pill as soon as possible and the lawman in him wanted to stop him from driving off. He might not be able to do anything, but others could. Gavin grabbed his phone to dial 9-1-1 to report a man potentially under the influence and provide Ross’s license plate. He hung up and it took but a moment to realize that with Ross disappearing, so did another lead.

  “Enough messing around. I’m going to go straight to the source.” He jerked open the door and stepped back for Lexie to enter. He displayed his credentials and demanded to see Dr. Lowell immediately. The receptionist cringed, but got up and disappeared down a hallway.

  Gavin wasn’t going to let her warn Lowell and have him run out the back door.

  “C’mon.” He grabbed Lexie’s hand and slipped through the door to a hallway.

  Down the hall, he spotted Lowell talking to the receptionist. He wore thick glasses and a worried expression, which could mean something or could simply mean he was concerned that the FBI had come looking for him. Not unusual when people learned an agent wanted to talk to them.

  Gavin didn’t give the doctor a chance to go back into the room, but displayed his credentials and introduced them. “I need to ask you a few questions in private. Now.”

  Lowell nodded. “Follow me.”

  They went to a nicely appointed office and took seats around the desk.

  Lowell leaned back in his chair. “What’s this about?”

  “Medicaid and drug fraud.”

  He blanched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “That’s not what Silas Ross just told us.”

  “Silas? I’m not sure—”

  “C’mon, Doc. Don’t give me the runaround. Silas just left your office, and he couldn’t wait to take the narcotics you gave him then get in his truck and drive. Maybe injuring someone while under the influence. We have to stop him.”

  “He... I...” Lowell shoved his hand through his short gray hair. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “How about telling me what’s going on, and I’ll make sure the DA knows you cooperated.”

  “Fine. I had financial issues, okay?” He shook his head. “My wife died suddenly. Heart attack. Let’s just say I took it hard. Engaged in some pretty risky behavior to drown my sorrows. Racked up a big gambling debt that I couldn’t pay and was going to lose the house. Maybe the practice. Then I remembered hearing about a doctor who’d bought a list of names to bill Medicaid. Got myself a list and my debt paid off.”

  He paused and snapped his chair forward. “I was going to stop billing then. I swear. But the hacker who sold me the list worked for a drug syndicate. They smuggled narcotics in from Mexico and distributed them through doctors. They threatened to expose the Medicaid thing if I didn’t peddle their drugs.”

  “Wouldn’t that just expose them?” Gavin asked.

  His head shook with vehemence. “They had it set up so the two couldn’t be connected.”

  If they were dealing with a drug syndicate out of Mexico, the danger to Lexie was even greater. Her worried expression said she understood that, too.

  “How exactly does the program work?” he asked calmly to keep his rising concerns hidden.

  “I’m given a list of patients who make an appointment. I set them up under one of the phony Medicaid names. I create a diagnosis that will keep them coming back on a regular basis and hand them the pills. They fork over the cash and I give it to the syndicate.”

  “How long has this been going on?” Gavin demanded.

  “About two years, if you can believe that. Not that I didn’t try to get out a few times, but they said they’d rather see me dead than let me walk around with knowledge of their operation.”

  Gavin didn’t doubt that. “Who exactly are they?”

  “I was never given names of syndicate members. I simply get calls via a burner phone, and I’m told where to pick up the drugs and leave the money. The location always varies. Each time I pick up the drugs, there’s another phone waiting for me, and I destroy the current phone.”

  “How often do you meet?”

  “Every few weeks, but it’s not regular. It’s their way of keeping me from planning anything. I’m due for one soon. Maybe this week, but I can never be sure.”

  Gavin couldn’t sit back and wait for a potential drop to find the killer, but this was just the lead he needed in the fraud investigation. He pulled out his card. “I want you to call me the minute you receive the drop call. Got that?”

  Lowell nodded. “Are you going to turn me in?”

  “Not at this point if you listen and call me.”

  “You better believe I will.”

  Gavin stood. “I caution you not to mention this conversation to your contact. If they’re as dangerous as you say, they’ll kill you for meeting with me.”

  Lowell’s color faded even more and Lexie’s followed suit.

  Gavin thought to warn Lowell, but his warning about the syndicate being extremely dangerous applied to Lexie, too, and there was no way to sugarcoat it for her.

  FOURTEEN

  Lexie washed the flour from her hands in the kitchen sink and stared out the window. She couldn’t put the conversation with Dr. Lowell out of her mind. Had her father been involved with this drug syndicate, too? How could she reconcile that? Worse yet, how did she even move forward with such dangerous men after her? Did they think she was trying to bring them down? If so, when she couldn’t produce this evidence, she and Adam would be in very grave danger. She’d asked Gavin about it in the car, but he’d simply said he had to process the news and then clammed up.

  “Your mind has been somewhere else all afternoon,” Betty said, interrupting Lexie’s musings. “Is there anything I can help with?”

  “Thank you—no.” Lexie dried her hands. “Only Gavin can help.”

  “If it’s about your relationship,” Betty said matter-of-factly, “I hope the two of you have had a chance to talk it out. We’d all dearly love to see you as part of our family.” She smiled, her wrinkly cheeks lifting and the skin tightening.

  “Don’t get your hopes up,” Lexie cautioned. “Seems like Gavin isn’t any closer to moving back here.”

  “But if he did, would you have him back?”

  Lexie wasn’t over his abandonment and couldn’t pretend all was well with them, so she shook her head.

  Betty frowned and placed her hands on Lexie’s shoulders. “Life’s too short to waste time. If you still love my grandson, I urge you to work things out with him.” She took a long look into Lexie’s eyes then drew her close for a hug. She smelled of cinnamon from the snickerdoodles they’d been baking, and the familiar scent of Gavin’s favorite cookies brought tears to Lexie’s eyes.

  She loved this woman. All of the McKades. But was that enough to let go of the deep ache she still felt over Gavin deserting her? After all, with her father gone, no one was stopping her from moving to Houston if Adam was agreeable to such a move. But could she trust Gavin not to leave her over something else?