Holiday Secrets

“And before you try to claim jurisdiction on the murder...” his dad continued. “You know the ball’s in my court, not you Feds.”

Gavin stifled a groan. As far as he knew, his dad’s only experience with the FBI was watching TV shows and movies that often got things wrong. Murder investigations didn’t top the Bureau’s priorities, and the Feds rarely involved themselves in a case without being invited.

“No worries there,” Gavin said.

“I’ll be there in less than ten.” His dad disconnected the call.

Gavin returned to Lexie, who hadn’t moved, her gaze fixed on her father. Gavin squatted next to her and told her softly, “Dad’s on his way.”

She sighed. “I suppose now would be a good time for you to tell me why you wanted to see me.”

Though it was no longer necessary to locate her father, Gavin would still need to interview her and serve the warrant to search her father’s office and home. Obviously, there was no point in the FBI filing charges against a deceased person, but his records could contain information about other doctors involved in the fraud. Still, nothing needed to be done tonight, and he’d hold off on upsetting her until after she’d gotten some rest.

“That can wait,” he said.

She shook her head in wide sorrowful arcs. “You sound like my father. You both had these big things you needed to talk to me about. Turns out, he only wanted to give me that envelope. He tried, but it was so weird.”

“Weird in what way?”

“He was acting totally out of character. All jittery and afraid. Clearly, he had a right to be. The shooter was creepy and not at all concerned about committing murder.” She blew out an unsteady breath. “He said this would be his third strike, and he wasn’t going back to prison. He also took the envelope and said he’d killed Dad’s attorney in Mexico because Dad gave him the same information.”

So Dr. Grant had been hiding out in Mexico this last month. But why? “Did the shooter mention what the envelope contained?”

She shook her head. “He did say he was part of some syndicate. Said Dad was meeting with the head honcho today, and the killer wasn’t going to let that happen.”

Gavin nodded but didn’t speak. Dr. Grant wasn’t the only doctor in the fraud investigation. Gavin hadn’t yet found a connection between the doctors, but he supposed it was possible they could have formed a syndicate and this murder was related.

“And there’s more,” she said. “The killer knew my name. Called me Dad’s precious Lexie. Which means he didn’t know Dad very well as I wasn’t precious to him. Maybe once. When Mom was alive.”

Gavin had hoped she’d reconciled with her father in the past few years, but clearly she’d still had issues with him. And now, thanks to her father, a killer knew her name.

Gavin didn’t like it. Not one bit. He didn’t want the killer to know anything about her. “In what context did he mention you?”

“He asked if Dad gave me the information, too. Dad said no, but the killer didn’t believe him. Dad warned me before he died that this guy is dangerous, and he’ll come after me. Kill me, too.”

“Kill you?” Gavin’s voice shot up, spooking Lexie and Lightning. He lowered his voice. “Do you have the information he’s worried about?”

“I don’t know what was in that envelope and Dad didn’t give me anything else. But now that we know someone is looking for information, it makes sense that his office and house were ransacked.” She turned her big-eyed gaze to him. “What if the killer spotted me as he was leaving? If he did, he knows I saw him commit murder.” She shuddered. “Do you think he’ll come after me? Try to kill me, too?”

“I won’t let that happen, sugar. I promise.” Gavin wrapped an arm around her shoulders to help allay her fear, but his emotions were a different story.

If this man had killed once, he wouldn’t hesitate to do so again, and now he had Lexie in his sights.

TWO

Lexie didn’t know what to think. To feel. After Gavin’s father arrived, he’d escorted her to the main road where she now sat sideways in the front of Sheriff McKade’s patrol car, her feet planted on the asphalt as she waited to give her statement. She caught a glimpse in the distance of tall lights, their halos standing like beacons in the night over the plane wreckage, another set near her father’s body, warning all who came close of the horrific sight.

And it had been horrific. There was no question. Even for a trauma nurse. Seeing the once-solid plane in tiny bits scattered around the area. Seeing her father gunned down. Worse than horrific.

She shuddered and stared at her blood-caked hands. Her father’s blood. He’d lain in front of her, his life floating away, his eyes going blank and glazed. She’d seen death before. Of course she had. Many times in the ER. Always feeling sad for a life lost coupled with a bit of second-guessing as she ran the trauma through her brain to make sure they’d handled it right.

But tonight? What did she feel now?

Something, that was for sure, but it was hard to put a finger on her emotions. She definitely didn’t feel the deep, split-your-insides-open anguish she’d experienced when her mother had died. So was it guilt for not being able to save her dad? Maybe. Actually, now that she took the time to think about it, she felt numb. Cold inside and out. Alone. So alone.

Where are You again, God? Why take someone else from my life? From Adam’s life? Am I this undeserving of love?

Why was she even asking at this point in life? Nothing changed.

She wrapped her arms around her body and ran her hands up and down her arms to ward off the howling wind. Earlier, she’d tried closing the car door, but claustrophobia had set in and she’d had to open it again.

The sound of boots stomping across the road brought her head up in time to catch Sheriff McKade marching over to Gavin.

Gavin. What did she do about him? She’d been relieved to see him when he’d arrived. Practically thrown herself into his arms. But now what? Was he the reason for her numbness?

She shifted to get a better look at the pair. They stood strong, staring across the road, backs to her with hands on their waists in identical stances. They were both over six feet. Both had a head of thick, black hair, though she knew gray strands that had grown in numbers over the years intricately laced the sheriff’s.

Gavin suddenly crossed his arms and spun. His dark gaze landed on her and that familiar, angry frustration with his dad lingered in his eyes. Walt turned, as well. They spit a few more sentences at each other and Gavin suddenly stormed in her direction.

Lexie sighed. Nothing had changed. The same old Gavin, and the same reason he’d left town. Left her.

Gavin was the firstborn in a family of four siblings, and his father held his son to lofty standards that no one could live up to. Still, Gavin had wanted a career in law enforcement and the only option without leaving Lost Creek was to work as a deputy for his dad. He’d tried to make a go as a deputy for years. Really tried. Even if it meant he wasn’t always happy.

Then one day he’d disagreed with direct orders from his father on how to handle a domestic disturbance. Walt had wanted to sit back and wait for things to play out. Not Gavin. He was more of a “take action and sort things out later” kind of guy. Fearing for the wife’s safety, he’d stepped in. Tensions escalated and he’d ended up in a shoot-out with the husband, catching his wife in the cross fire. Emily had survived, and Gavin wasn’t hurt, but from that day on, his father no longer trusted him.

No matter how hard Gavin worked to right things between them, he failed and couldn’t continue to work with his father. His only choice was to leave town. At least, that was what he’d thought. Lexie still didn’t agree.

Didn’t matter now, though. She’d had enough of her pity party and it was time to shake it off. To go on. For Adam. Her brother needed her.

Gavin continued toward her, his strides long and powerful, his gaze focused.

Why was he in town, anyway? If it was solely to talk to her, why wouldn’t he just tell her what he wanted to discuss? Why the big mystery?

Gavin stopped before her and squatted down.

How many times had she gazed into Gavin’s rich brown eyes and known he was the man she’d wanted to marry? He’d dashed that dream when he’d moved away and left her behind without a second thought.

“Dad will take your statement,” he finally said. “I was hoping to put it off till tomorrow, but he refused. So I wanted to see if you needed anything, and I’ll take care of it while he’s talking to you.”

For a moment, he worked the muscles in his jaw then forced a smile. The left side tipped up just a fraction higher, a quirk that never failed to make Lexie’s heart skip a beat.

“I could get some water for you,” he offered. “A blanket. Or maybe I could call your aunt Ruth.”

“Ruth? No. She’s on a much-needed vacation, and I don’t want to burden her with this until she gets back in a few days. But I do need to tell Adam about Dad.” Lexie saw Walt approaching. “I’ll give my statement to your dad and get going.”

Gavin crossed his arms and gave her a steely look. “You’re not going anywhere alone until this killer is caught.”

“So you really do think he’ll be coming after me,” she said, letting her fear usurp her unease over his sudden bossiness.

“Yes,” he said, but his narrowed gaze told her that he didn’t like admitting it. “I’ll drive you home, and make sure you have a protective detail. I can help you tell Adam, too.”

No way she wanted Gavin to talk to Adam. The two of them had formed a strong bond and Gavin had destroyed the kid when he’d moved away. She’d have to tell Adam he’d lost his father. Why add the unease of talking to Gavin?

“I’m glad for the protection,” she said. “But I’ll deal with Adam on my own.”

Walt arrived before them and slapped his hat on his head as he peered at Gavin. “Our first priority is to keep little Lexie safe. Since Ruth is in Florida, I planned to bring Lexie back to the ranch when I finish up here. I’ll send a deputy to get Adam, too.”

Lexie disliked it when he called her “little Lexie” and when he talked about her as if she was a child. It came across as demeaning, even though she knew he didn’t mean it that way. He was just referring to her barely over five-foot height compared to his children, most of them six feet or more.

“I’m not letting Lexie out of my sight until I’m sure she has a strong detail assigned to her care,” Gavin said. “Not with the threat the shooter made—and we have no way of knowing if he saw her. If he did, well...”

His worried tone sent her heart beating faster. “Do you think Adam could be in danger, too?”

“I suppose it’s possible,” Gavin said. “But I wouldn’t expect your father to confide obviously valuable information to a kid. There’d be no point. If I was the killer, I’d focus on you, and then if I struck out, I’d move on to Adam.”

“I concur,” Walt added. “Especially since your dad has never even lived with Adam and isn’t much involved in his life.”

They both made valid points. Her father had blamed Adam for the loss of the love of his life. Not a legitimate blame, but her dad had associated Adam with the pain and never bonded with him. He’d also claimed Lexie resembled her mother and had hardly been able to look at her. He’d promptly moved her and Adam into Aunt Ruth’s house, where they’d both lived for the last fourteen years. So when Lexie’s heart was shattered by the loss of her mother, she’d lost her father, too. Now she’d lost him for good. Tears threatened again, but she firmed her resolve to keep it together until she was alone.

“Still, we’ll take no chances, and we’ll watch over Adam, too.” Gavin lifted his chin as if daring his father to disagree.

“That we will.” The sheriff kept his gaze leveled on Lexie. “So what’ll it be, sweetheart? Gavin drives you home or you come to the ranch?”

Even with the simmering tension between her and Gavin, being at Trails End Ranch with this strong law-enforcement family was a safe place while she thought through the implications of all that had happened tonight. Besides, she missed his mother, Winnie, and his grandparents, Jed and Betty. Jed would offer to protect her and both of the women would fuss over her, and right now, she could use a little comfort along with the added protection.

“I rode Misty over here, and I need to get her home and brushed down.”

“You can do that at the ranch. ’Sides, Tessa and Kendall would let me have an earful if I didn’t bring you home. I won’t even put voice to what Winnie would do to me.” At the mention of his daughters and wife, a slow smile slid across Walt’s lips.

“Tessa and Kendall are both at the ranch?” Gavin asked.

“Not just yet. But seein’s how you’re in town for once, I figured we should get the whole family together, so I called them.”

“I don’t think Lexie wants to get into the middle of all of that.” Gavin puffed out his chest, his white dress shirt straining at the buttons.

Irritation shot through her. He’d not only gotten bossy, but he also seemed to think he could make her decisions for her when he had no right.

“I’ll be glad to come to the ranch,” she said, ignoring Gavin’s disappointed look. “But I want to be sure no one tells Adam about Dad. I want to do it.”

“Matt’s on duty,” Walt said, mentioning Gavin’s younger brother. “I’ll assign him to pick Adam up. Matt’ll keep it on the down low if I tell him to.”

Gavin took a sharp intake of air through his nose, his nostrils flaring. He couldn’t have missed his dad’s less-than-subtle message that at least one son listened to him.

Gavin turned to Lexie. “I’ll round up our horses and we can ride over together.”

“Little late to be riding, isn’t it?” Walt asked.

“We both got here just fine on horseback. We can get home the same way.” Gavin eyed his father for a moment as if challenging him to argue.

Instead, Walt faced Lexie.

Gavin strode off into the dark.

“Stubborn boy,” Walt muttered.

“Gavin’s thirty-five. Not much of a boy anymore.”

Walt scowled at her and pulled a small notebook from his uniform pocket. “I’m guessing you have a horse trailer nearby as you sure as shootin’ didn’t ride cross-county on your horse.”

“My truck and trailer are down by the cutoff at Wheeler’s old gas station.”

“Then I’ll make sure someone escorts you back there at the end of the night and helps you load your horse.”

One of the things she liked about Walt McKade was that, behind all his bluster and bravado, he had a compassionate side. Despite being ornery at times and tough on his kids, he was a gentleman through and through, and he’d raised his sons to be fine, responsible men.

“I’m sorry about your father, Lexie,” he said, his words filled with earnest compassion.

The soft tone coming from such a tough lawman made it even harder to keep tears in check, but Lexie managed it.

“Thank you,” she said.

He stroked his salt-and-pepper mustache for a moment as if trying to decide how to move forward. “S’posin you give me the details of what happened tonight.”

She replayed the night, making sure to include every point she could remember, and he recorded them in his notebook.

“Did you know before today that your daddy was back in town?” His pen hovered over the page.

“No. He called after dinner, and that’s the soonest I heard about it.”

“And he came back just to give you the envelope that was stolen?”

She shrugged. “The plane was on the ground when I got here, so I don’t know how long he’d been here. He did say he had another appointment, so who knows how many people he talked to before me, or would have after, if he’d lived.” A lump rose to her throat but she swallowed hard. “The shooter mentioned that Dad was going to meet the head of a syndicate.”

“Syndicate, huh?” Walt made a production of closing his notebook and stowing it with his pen, then tipping his hat back even farther and leaning on the car door. “A syndicate doesn’t on the surface suggest illegal activities, and I’m not at all saying your daddy was involved in something illegal, but being killed in relationship to it is a whole other ball game.”

She’d been thinking the same thing—that was, when she could forget the horror of seeing him gunned down and think clearly at all. “All I know is it’s not normal for a man to disappear for a month, and when he does resurface, he’s killed.”

“Agreed. Matt’s already working on tracking down the biker.” He pursed his lips. “We’ve secured the area and I’ve called in the ATF to investigate the explosion.”

“ATF?” Lexie asked.

“Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They investigate bombs and have resources we don’t begin to possess and can pinpoint the type of explosion.”

“How will that help find Dad’s killer?”

“Forensic evidence from the bomb could lead us to where the suspect purchased or stole his supplies. Finding that could then lead us to the suspect.”

“And what will your role be?”

“My team will work the murder angle and try to locate this syndicate you mentioned. Since we’ve already tried to find a lead as to your father’s disappearance this past month and failed, I’m not sure how successful we’ll be, but I aim to try.” He shifted his duty belt. “I’ll also come up with a plan to make sure you stay safe, sweetheart.”

“I’d appreciate that.” Her gaze drifted to Gavin, who was standing by the horses, his phone to his ear. She couldn’t help but wish he would stay in town and hunt down this killer. Despite their differences, with his FBI experience, she’d feel safest if he was the one to protect her.

How crazy was that? He’d walked out on her—left her heart shattered—and here she was, wanting him to protect her. Or was she simply fooling herself? Trying to believe she needed him to keep her safe when in reality she was simply happy to see him again?

* * *

Gavin kept Lexie in view as he waited for his supervisor to call back. She still sat in the squad car, but his dad had stepped away. The dome light caught the golden strands of her hair, wavy to her shoulders. Her icy-blue eyes, dark with angst, stared across the field, her arms wrapped around a slender waist. She’d always been a beautiful woman, but it was all he could do not to stare at her and let her know how much simply looking at her impacted him.

Was she thinking about her father or about their past? He suspected both. Man, he wanted to help her through this, but that was the last thing she would want. He’d hurt her in the worst possible way. He’d acted just like her father and put her second in his life.

He hadn’t meant for things to end between them, least of all to end so badly. Just like he hadn’t meant to shoot Emily, but he had, and she now had a permanent limp thanks to him.

His phone rang. Assistant Special Agent in Charge Zachary Harrison’s name flashed on the screen. Gavin quickly answered the call, but took a breath to make sure he displayed the confidence needed for lead agent on the investigation. His first lead. Exactly what he’d planned when he’d taken a series of online business classes so he could be assigned to the white-collar crimes unit, a division with great potential for advancement. Sure, Harrison had made Gavin lead agent on this investigation because of his connection to Lost Creek, but he still felt the need to prove himself.

He quickly and succinctly explained the latest developments with Dr. Grant. “A syndicate could mean the doctors on our list are connected.”

“I concur,” Harrison replied.

“I want to remain in Lost Creek and work with County on the murder investigation. I have the feeling it ties in with the other doctors involved in the Medicaid scam.”

“You could be right,” Harrison said. “Your connections could very well pay off for us. Making you lead might just be the smartest move I’ve made all week.”

“If you remember, my dad and I don’t see eye to eye on investigative protocols, so my working with him isn’t as certain as you think.”

“Still, he’s your father and, from what you’ve told me, he’s a good sheriff. He’d be a fool to reject our help.”

“Did I mention he’s stubborn?”

“Then the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Harrison chuckled.

Gavin wouldn’t discuss the point further. One way or another he’d find a way to get his dad on his side. Since the job was all he had in his life right now, it was imperative that he advance, and that wouldn’t happen if he failed on this investigation. “I’ll need to fill in my dad and his investigator on the Medicaid case.”

“Go ahead. Who knows? Maybe working a joint investigation with your father is just the thing you need to learn how to let go of controlling every little thing around you. It could even improve your teamwork.”

In Gavin’s last evaluation, his skills and abilities received high marks. But being a team player? Not so much. His fault totally. He compensated for shooting Emily by controlling everything and didn’t trust others. If he ever hoped to advance, he needed to change. He’d known it for some time, but hadn’t found a way to do so.

“Anything else?” Harrison asked.

“With Dr. Graves’s death, I think his daughter would be more apt to cooperate if I share her father’s suspected Medicaid fraud.”

“Keep the information superficial, and I’m okay with that.”

Gavin agreed and ended the call by promising to keep Harrison apprised of the situation.

He stowed his phone then grabbed Misty and Lightning’s reins and led the pair across the field.

Lexie flipped up her faux-fur-trimmed hood and started toward him. She wore the same worn red cowboy boots she’d owned for years. Man, he’d loved to tease her about those boots. Her feet were tiny, and she’d had to buy them in the children’s department. Despite the circumstances, he smiled.

She took Misty’s reins. “Looks like you think something’s funny.”

“Your boots.”

She shot him a look, but frustration quickly melted into an impish smile that never failed to tug at his heart. “I know you like to make fun of them, but you wouldn’t laugh so hard if you knew how much less I pay for my boots than the rest of you do. Besides, I look far less comical in my boots than you do getting ready to mount a horse in your city-slicker pants and shiny shoes.”

Gavin grimaced. Right...his shoes. He’d planned to talk to her, take Lightning back to the ranch for a quick brush-down then head for his motel for the night before he ran into his father. Now here he was, looking out of place with all his old wounds raw and on display for Lexie. She’d seen enough of his ongoing issues with his father over the years. Something he wasn’t proud of. He was a grown man. Old enough to be a father himself, for crying out loud. He sure should be old enough not to let his father continue to push his buttons. Not something he could change standing here.

“We should get going,” he said. “Let me give you a leg up.”

Her eyes narrowed for a moment but then she nodded. Misty was getting on in years, so he suspected her agreement was for the mare’s well-being, as a shorter person mounting a horse from the ground was hard on the horse.

Gavin hoisted her into the saddle then climbed on Lightning. His shoe slipped in the stirrup and he regretted being so hasty in not changing his attire. He’d regretted it even more when his father eyed his shoes and chuckled.

Lexie set Misty in motion and he directed Lightning to move into position beside her. He kept his head on a swivel, carefully watching the trees dipping in the wind.

Maybe his behavior was overkill, but he’d learned the hard way that things could go sideways in a hurry. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake again. Not with Lexie’s life in the balance.

THREE

Gavin led Lexie under the wood sign stretching over Trails End’s driveway. His ancestors had burned the ranch name and MK brand into the wood that had been erected in 1895 when the ranch was first established. About the time the first McKade had become county sheriff. With minor repairs, it had stood the test of time and always gave Gavin a sense of pride in his family’s long history.