Cowboy In The Crossfire(12)

Redmond had been too goody-goody to make it in the big city. He'd never understood how to the play the game.

He'd talked too much, though. Enough that a convenient accident to the whistle-blowing cop would've started an investigation. Until his family had been killed--accidentally, of course. Still, it had taken his father's death--accidental, of course--for Blake to drop everything, pack his bags and crawl back to the Podunk town where he belonged.

The lieutenant frowned. Convenient. Well-planned. But stupid. Well, mistakes could be rectified and learned from. "Get to Carder. Vince must have sent the evidence there. Find it, then kill them. I want Vince's family eliminated, and I want Blake Redmond silenced once and for all."

A slight pause over the phone spoke volumes.

"You have a problem with that?"

"Even the boy?"

The tentative voice set his teeth on edge. Was the man getting squeamish?

"Especially the boy. He's the only witness. If you don't want to end up in jail with some of the perps you put there, do the job right."

"Hey, Lieutenant."

He glanced up at a cheerful greeting and waved at the cop moving past the alley before returning to the conversation. "Any questions?"

"No, sir."

"Johnson? Be smart. You screw this up, you'll end up worse than Redmond. You'll know why your family died."

*

BLAKE'S KNEES GAVE WAY. He dropped to the bed Joey had never slept in. He couldn't think, couldn't process. His thoughts whirled and his hands shook. Not with fear, with fury. Could Kathy and Joey really have been murdered? Because of his questions, his investigation?

The truth exploded into rage. He'd wanted to be a cop all his life. Justice. Duty. Honor. He'd believed in the hype. He'd lived it. It was in his blood. Could his son have died because of the life Blake had chosen?

More than that. If Amanda was right, his partner had known. Vince, Blake's so-called best friend, had known--or at least suspected--what had happened. He'd let Blake come back to Carder unaware, let those murderers run free.

Bastard.

Every instinct screamed at Blake to hightail it to Austin and rip apart his old police command center until he learned the truth. If they'd killed Kathy and Joey, he'd make whoever was involved pay. No matter the cost.

"Blake?"

He looked up at Amanda. Her voice quivered. Her deep blue eyes were filled with concern, pity...and something else. Fear?

He averted his gaze and stared down at his hands. His knuckles were white. His fists trembled as wrath consumed him. He wanted to yell and scream, release the overwhelming anger that shook his soul.

"Vroom."

The small rumbling sound filtered from the other room. Ethan. Blake blinked. He couldn't scare the boy again. Control. He had to regain control. He took a long, shuddering breath. Then another.

The police radio squawked to life from the other room. "Blake, it's Parris. That car Scooter towed. I just ran the plates. It was stolen."

The words wrenched Blake out of the quicksand of emotions he'd been sinking into. He rose from Joey's bed and looked at Amanda in disbelief. Her face paled. In guilt.

Unbelievable.

Helping her just got a lot more complicated.

He crossed the floor to her. "Grand theft auto? A felony? What were you thinking? When you took that car, you tied my hands."

"Why'd your deputy have to run the plates? You ruined everything."

"Don't put this on me. As far as Parris understood, the vehicle was abandoned. Standard procedure."

"And you're just so danged efficient here in Carder, huh?"

Blake shoved his hand through his hair. She'd broken the law, even though she'd had a damn good reason. He enforced the law, but justice was supposed to be black and white. There were too many blasted shades of gray here. He hated the gray.

She didn't back away but met his gaze. "Oh yeah, making life harder for you is just what I planned. The guy who shot me was chasing us. He knew the make, model and plates. The bullet holes and busted windows were a dead giveaway. I had to take that car. What was I supposed to do? Call the cops?"

He understood. She didn't know who she could trust in Austin. He didn't, either. Blake cursed. She should have trusted him, though. She should have told him the truth the moment she regained consciousness.

He needed time to think. He couldn't pull in his staff or state contacts. He stalked into the living room, picked up the receiver and pressed the button.

She raced after him and gripped his arm. "Please," she whispered.

He glared at her. Damn her for believing he'd put her or Ethan at risk.

"Got the message, Parris. I'll get back to you. Redmond out." With a quick flick he turned down the volume on the receiver and faced Amanda. "You've put me in a tough spot."

"I know I can't stay here," she said. "With the plates on record, it's only a matter of time before they find us. Please, Blake, forget you ever saw us. Let me disappear."

Anxiety coated her face and radiated from her voice. Her entire body tensed. She was ready to run. He hated the look, the sound of her fear. Hated Vince for pulling her into his mess, and that the man responsible wasn't around to point the finger at the bad guys.

"Austin is five hours away--in good weather. Get Ethan some breakfast, and we'll come up with a plan."