“Are you expecting that to negatively influence the way you react to him now? I thought you were a better officer than that.”

  “I am.” Selena was starting to lose her temper. “I just don’t want to have to deal with him, that’s all. It was hard enough when we were stuck in that cave and thought we might die.”

  Rawlston chuckled. “I’d think that would be worse.” He sobered. “If, as you’ve told me, you believe the man’s life is in danger, then you owe it to him to step up and protect him.”

  “I did. You know I did.” She paused. “Which reminds me, I’ll need a new phone.”

  Rawlston reached into his pocket and withdrew a plastic evidence bag. She could tell it contained a muddy, beat cell phone. “We found this at the scene near the abandoned truck. It’s evidence, but the memory has been transferred to a new phone for you. The sheriff has it.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You can pick it up when you take charge of the prisoner.”

  “Convenient.” The alternative, as Selena saw it, was for Finn to be sent back to prison until his upcoming retrial. Could she do that to him? Could she to that to anyone? Perhaps, if she was convinced he’d be safer locked up she could. In his case, however, there was no way to know for sure. Somebody had tipped off his assailants as to how and when he was being transported and she was left wondering if the information had come from a source inside the prison system.

  It seemed to her, since she’d already decided Finn was innocent, that whoever did kill his birth father was now trying to eliminate him before a new trial found him innocent. That was the most sensible conclusion. It also fit the scenario. Since the men in the box truck had shot at Finn, not at her, they had to be working to either keep him in prison or get rid of him altogether, probably the latter.

  Out of plausible arguments Selena nodded. “You’re asking a lot.”

  “We all give a lot,” Rawlston said. “Every day. That’s part of the job.”

  “I’d ask you if the feds were all right with this but since you are one, I assume you have official clearance?”

  “I do. You do. Donovan will be wearing an ankle monitor at all times but instead of him being confined to a specific place he’ll be electronically attached to you. That way you can do both jobs.”

  “Terrific.”

  He laughed. “I thought you’d appreciate it.”

  “I have to drag him along on my assignments?” She was incredulous.

  “In a manner of speaking. You can always lock him in the car with Scout.”

  “No way. If that K-9 gets any more friendly I’ll have to send him back for retraining.”

  “Chances are, Scout is picking up vibes from you because you actually like Donovan.” He waved a hand to stop her from rebutting. “You may have fooled yourself and your old boyfriend but you can’t fool a dog. And you aren’t fooling me. That’s another reason I’m making this assignment. If I put somebody else on the case and harm came to the prisoner, I’m afraid you’d blame yourself and it might ruin you. Look at it as me doing you a favor.”

  “It’s an odd favor, if that’s what it really is. I see it as more of a test for me.”

  He shrugged. “Whatever. I know you can do it and do it well. Consider the man a stranger if that’s what you want. Just follow orders.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, falling back on a title acknowledging his higher rank. They’d been instructed to refer to each other by first names to encourage camaraderie but there were times, like now, when she was feeling anything but close to her boss.

  Perhaps it was because she was back in Sagebrush that she felt alienated, somehow. Considering how distracted her recent interaction with Finn had left her that wasn’t surprising. In the space of a few days she’d spent more time thinking about the past than she had in a long, long time. He was different now. More mature. More serious. More handsome? Yes, that too, she had to admit.

  So, how was she going to deal with having him shadowing her as she did her work? The premise was so strange she had no past experiences to tap for answers and it struck her that few if any of her fellow team members would be able to offer sage advice. Ashley was the rookie and Bennett, whom she’d formed a friendship with, had his own problems thanks to falling in love with one of the former suspects in the serial murders. Selena supposed his input might be valuable though, assuming she could speak with him privately.

  Well, one thing at a time. First, I need to prepare my old house for more visitors, then I have to find out when I’m going to start babysitting a convicted felon.

  That notion made her smile and shake her head. If life got any more complicated she’d think she was stuck in the plot of an old Hitchcock movie.

  She shivered. Pictured Finn. Remembered how terrified she’d been when she’d approached the wrecked prison van, thinking he was dead. He wasn’t the real problem, was he? It was her emotion running rampant that was causing all the angst. She did care for him. Deeply. Perhaps she’d never stopped, even after he’d broken up with her.

  Selena squared her shoulders and took a slow breath. None of that mattered in the grand scheme of things. What was important was finding the truth, stopping crime and righting wrongs. If Finn’s conviction was wrong then she owed it to him to seek answers, just as she would for anyone in trouble.

  So what about the serial killer her team was chasing? Again, punishment for the guilty. Once they figured out who they were chasing they’d zero in on capture but it had to be the right person or persons. Hopefully, before they killed again.

  * * *

  It hadn’t taken Finn long to clear out his cell and reclaim his civilian clothes. If he didn’t see anything orange again for a hundred years it would be too soon.

  His attorney had explained the deal and he’d readily agreed rather than go back to prison. When he’d called to give his mother and brother the news, they had been elated. Sean had begged to see him in person but Finn had put him off until he could obtain official permission.

  Bearton County Sheriff Unger was waiting for him at the prison gates and took custody. “We’ll be fitting you with the ankle monitor at our station,” Unger said.

  “Anything you say.” Finn couldn’t help grinning. Breathing fresh air again under these circumstances was different from being on the run. It was freeing in a surprising way and he was enjoying every breath, every step forward.

  “I take it they told you how this is going to work?”

  Finn nodded. “I’ll still be in custody but not cuffed or put in a cell.”

  “Yes. That, and you’ll be on an electronic leash. Your job will be to stay within a hundred yards of the officer who is monitoring your movements. If you break the rules, back to prison. No excuses, no extenuating circumstances. Clear?”

  “Crystal.” As Finn approached the waiting Bearton patrol car he saw the passenger and did a double take. His jaw dropped.

  He whirled on the sheriff. “Wait a second. I’m supposed to be in your custody, not the K-9 unit’s. What’s she doing here?”

  Unger looked amused. “Not my idea, son. I’m just supposed to pick you up and transfer you to her.”

  “Not happening.”

  Chuckling quietly the sheriff kept walking, opened the rear door and held it for Finn. “Funny,” he said with a grin, “that’s exactly what she said.” He gestured. “Get a move on. It’s either us or back to prison. You choose.”

  As Finn slid into the rear seat Selena turned to face him through the metal grillwork that separated them. “It wasn’t personal,” she said. “I just didn’t want to be distracted from the job I was sent here to do.”

  “Well, I didn’t ask for it, either,” Finn said.

  “Understood.”

  The set of her jaw and her closed expression accentuated her statement. Of course she hadn’t asked to guard him. She’d undoubtedly had quite enough of him during their ordeal in the wilds. “In that case, I apologize for everything.” He looked directly at her, willing her to believe him. That was a mistake. Behind the glistening hazel of her eyes he imagined concern, perhaps even empathy. Thankfully, she turned away.

  Finn fastened his seat belt while the sheriff slid behind the wheel. This wasn’t his first ride in the back of a police car but hopefully it would be his last. No matter what happened next he was determined to roll with the punches, to be such a model prisoner he’d shock everyone.

  That would begin with treating Selena Smith as a total professional, not as a friend. Setting tender feelings aside was paramount. So was maintaining an emotional distance despite an enforced physical proximity.

  For the first time it occurred to him to ask where he would be living. “Um, excuse me, but am I bunking at your station?”

  Unger laughed. Selena snorted. She said, “No. You’ll be with me at my house but don’t worry, other team members will be in and out and Scout will keep you in line.”

  Selena’s house? Finn had almost choked on the idea. He hadn’t been there for years and even then just to visit. What was it going to be like to move in? The concept boggled his mind. Of course she hadn’t meant anything personal. He knew that not only because of her character but because of her faith. Still, it was going to be awkward to the nth degree.

  Deafening silence caused Finn to reach for a different topic to relieve tension. “Speaking of Scout, where is he?”

  “At home, being a dog. I told you he doesn’t work all the time.”

  “That’s good.” What Finn wanted to ask was if she ever relaxed and let down her guard; ever became the easygoing friend he’d once had. Then he recalled their moments in the cave and almost smiled. He’d caught glimpses of the old Selena during that crisis even though she’d remained in charge and ordered him around like the prisoner he technically was.

  So, how would it be for them from now on? he wondered. Finn sighed and sank back onto the seat, reminding himself of his earlier vow to figuratively keep his distance. That was the only way this temporary arrangement would work.

  His thoughts turned to wondering who had come up with this terrible plan. It seemed to him that somebody intended their enforced togetherness to cause problems, which it certainly could. Was he being paranoid?

  That made him smile to himself. He was only paranoid if the threats were imagined. Real ones were different. Not only had his release undoubtedly angered a few convicts still serving out their sentences, he probably had plenty of local enemies left, including his uncle Edward, the man who had usurped the ranch when Zeb had died.

  Since he had a captive audience during the drive, Finn decided to voice his thoughts. “Have either of you thought about who might want me out of the way permanently?”

  “You mean besides half the prisoners stuck in jail, people who hold a grudge against you from when you were young and stupid, and Edward Yablonski?” Selena asked.

  Encouraged, Finn said, “That’s a start.”

  “Care to name names?” Unger asked.

  “I’ll write you a list,” Finn promised.

  Selena spoke up. “I did think of Edward when I saw the guys get out of the truck that ran us off the road. Didn’t you?”

  “Yes, and no. I figured I was imagining a resemblance because I expected to see one.”

  Unger met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Did you?”

  “See one? Maybe. But there’s no way to prove it.”

  “Not unless we’d managed to lift prints from that truck.”

  “Did you?” Finn asked, hopeful.

  Selena shook her head. “Sorry, no. But one of the men who attacked us has to be limping after I shot his leg. We’ve notified local hospitals.”

  Falling silent, Finn pondered the suggestion. “Ranchers are good at treating injured livestock. If the wound isn’t bad he might not need professional medical attention.”

  “Then we look for other signs,” she countered. “Have a little faith.”

  Finn huffed. “I think I’ll need more than just a little.”

  “I wish I could give you some of mine but it doesn’t work that way.”

  “I wouldn’t mind a few prayers.”

  “Always,” Selena said quietly. “Always.”

  Seven

  Rawlston flew back to Elk Valley the next day, leaving Agent Kyle West and US Marshal Meadow Ames in Sagebrush to interview Luke Randall, the potential Idaho victim of the RMK, and to assist Selena in her search for Cowgirl. Because of the background mountain range, nobody doubted where the digital photo of the dog was taken, but it was unknown whether or not the stolen K-9 was still around. What they did know was that a former member of the YRC lived in Sagebrush, Idaho, and since Cowgirl had been seen here and was likely with the killer, it was highly probable that Randall was intended to be the RMK’s next victim.

  Selena drove her own SUV with Scout and Finn while Kyle, Meadow and their K-9 partners—Rocky, a coonhound, and Grace, a vizsla—followed her to Randall’s small ranch. It made sense that most of the former members of the Young Rancher’s Club had stayed in the livestock business although Randall’s operation was more the size of a hobby farm than the big spread Finn’s uncle Edward was now running.

  Finn had been uncharacteristically quiet since they’d all breakfasted together at Selena’s. She knew he’d felt like an outsider while the others had all discussed the spate of killings and their own ideas about stopping the murderer. That couldn’t be helped. He was an outsider. In many ways, she mused, he always had been. Not all their friends had fathers present, of course, but Finn’s was not only absent, he was unidentified. The marriage of his single mother, Mary, to James Donovan should have enabled Finn to fit in better, but by that time, he was nearly grown.

  Picturing the immature young man she’d once loved, Selena had to battle tender feelings that kept surfacing. She knew better than to entertain such fantasies. Of course she did. Recalling simpler times, her naivete had not only been foolish; it was dangerous to her mental stability. Any time she dared revisit the past, she was bound to dredge up memories of losing Angela to drugs and losing Finn to his choice of continuing to flaunt the law while she trained to uphold it. He’d never put it in words, but she still knew. He’d begun pulling away from her as soon as she’d announced her career choice.

  She cast him a sidelong glance as she drove. I could have helped you back then, if only you had let me.

  Regret threatened to overcome her until she subdued the futile urge to imagine a different past. What was done was done. Lost years and lost opportunities couldn’t be revisited and changed. What a pity.

  Riding beside her, Finn pointed out the window. “You’re coming up on the turn to the development where you said your possible victim lives. The signs are weathered and some fell, but the big billboard is still standing, last I heard.”

  “It was when I was here last,” Selena said. “The project never did get off the ground, did it?”

  “Apparently not. I didn’t have contact with this Luke Randall guy you’re after. I’ve heard the name before, but our paths never actually crossed.”

  Glad Finn was finally talking, Selena encouraged him by asking, “Had you heard much gossip about him?”

  “Only that he was hard to like,” Finn said flatly. “Apparently, he enjoyed lording it over folks, especially after he bought a big share of the development project.”

  Nodding, Selena said, “His reputation in and around Elk Valley was about the same or worse. Not a very nice guy. Folks agreed he was a bully.”

  “So you think that’s why he’s on the list of possible victims?”

  She arched a brow. “I can’t confirm that. What I can say is that his conduct in the past didn’t win many friends here or back where he went to school.”

  “He hung out with the other guys who were killed?”

  “He did, even after the rancher’s club was disbanded. Elk Valley was a pretty close-knit community at the time. Even now, ten years later, most people know each other at least casually.”

  “Given that connection, I’d think it would be easier to figure out who had a lethal grudge.”

  Selena’s GPS was agreeing that they had arrived at Randall’s. As she pulled into the driveway and proceeded toward the house, she huffed. “If everybody else got along and nobody ever lied, you might be right. However...”

  “Yeah. I get it.” Finn reached for his seat belt.

  She stopped him. “Oh, no. You’re not getting out. We’ll handle this interview. You wait in the car.”

  “Me and Scout?”

  Smiling, she freed her K-9 partner and leashed him. “Nope. Just you.”

  “Suppose I get bored just sitting here?”

  “Play a game on your phone.”

  “They didn’t give me one. I’m a prisoner, remember?”

  “Not exactly,” Selena countered. “When we get back to town, I’ll see if I can get permission to loan you a smartphone. For now, take a nap or something. We shouldn’t be long.”

  “A nap? I’m outside in the sunshine and breathing free air and you want me to waste my time sleeping?”

  “Fine. Fidget if it will make you feel better.” As she slammed the car door, she got a glimpse of his amused expression and realized he’d been teasing her.

  There was no good way to tell him to knock it off, because the minute she tried, he’d know he’d gotten under her skin. Being near him so much was already making inroads into her heart. Letting on that his banter was unsettling her would be too revealing. Too dangerous. Now that she was spending every waking moment in his company, she realized how close she was to breaking her own rule against falling in love, especially with the very man who had broken her heart in the past. She could not, she would not, let that happen.