Cowboy In The Crossfire(31)

His eyes blazed with self-loathing. "I knew the horse was one tantrum away from killing someone else. Who else can I blame but myself? My choices. My fault. At some point, you have to take responsibility for your actions. My dad taught me that."

"You're not responsible for everything that happens in Carder. You can't protect everyone."

"I'm the sheriff. They count on me." Blake pried his hands away from her grip, and Amanda's heart sank. He didn't want her comfort--or her touch. He'd retreated into himself. As gentle as he'd been with her, he closed himself off to those same needs.

He pulled out the Glock, double-checked the safety and gave her two clips from the inside of his sheepskin jacket. She recognized the need to control, especially when their world had spun into chaos. He handed the weapon to her. "I hope you won't need this, but I'm not taking any more chances with you."

She pocketed the weapon and bullets just as Rich crossed the airport toward the hangar.

He tossed Blake the car keys. "You're all set. Sedan's behind the hangar. Logan says be quick. Chatter seems to be picking up."

Blake's expression grew even grimmer. "We'll be in touch."

"I'll monitor the police frequency. If it goes south, I'll have your back."

"Thank you," Amanda said.

Rich gave her a small nod and disappeared into the hangar again.

"You ready?" Blake clutched the keys.

"I have to be, don't I?" Amanda shoved her hand in her pocket and encountered the gun metal, squeezing it. She'd used the pistol once since finding Vince. She prayed they would succeed and the entire nightmare would end before she had to use it again. "We'll find something, right?"

"I hope so." With his hand firmly pressed against the small of her back, he escorted her to the nondescript sedan and opened the passenger door for her. "What's the least obvious way to get into Vince's place?" he asked as he slid behind the steering wheel and turned on the engine.

"Back door. If you pull down the alley behind the house, we can go in the gate. I doubt anyone would see us."

Blake set the car into gear, exited the airport and pulled into traffic, navigating with ease. Amanda watched his hands as they held the steering wheel with a firm grip. Strangely, despite everything that had happened, she felt safe here with him. She knew he'd give his life to protect her...and Ethan.

Why couldn't he let her into his heart so readily?

"We're at least an hour away," he said. "Think back on every conversation you had with Vince. Did he mention a file or papers, discs or photos? Anything that would point us in the direction of the evidence our perps want."

"Nothing obvious. After you left town, Vince pushed me away. Would barely talk about anything. We didn't really visit much because our schedules were so different. A few emails. That was it." Amanda rubbed her temple. "I wish I'd asked. Maybe I would've known something. Maybe--"

"Vince had a choice, and he put you in danger."

She wanted to defend her brother, but she recognized the stubborn set of Blake's jaw. He was so like Vince, although she doubted Blake would appreciate the comparison.

"What kind of email?"

She blinked at his sharp change of subjects. "Email?"

"The emails he sent you? What were they about? Especially the last one. Try to remember as much as you can, Amanda." Blake glanced at her, his voice urgent.

"Most were just chitchat. A few jokes like the old Vince would've sent. Except--" She paused as a flood of insight washed through her. Oh, God. She'd forgotten until now. "He updated his beneficiaries." Her words were hushed. "Right after Kathy and Joey's funeral."

The words settled in the truck like a heavy blanket of foreboding. Every argument Blake had made raced through her mind. She wished doubts of Vince weren't creeping in, but she couldn't stop them.

Still, he'd had reasons for everything he did, even if he'd been impulsive. She twisted toward Blake. "Vince sent us to you. Are you sure he didn't send you anything?"

"Not after our last...altercation." Blake gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white.

"You mean fight."

"My dad had just been killed, and I decided to give Vince one last chance. He'd been my partner, but I was out of time. Irving couldn't protect me any longer. The rest of IA was out for blood. Besides, no way could I stay in town and investigate with what my mom was going through." Blake vibrated with annoyance. "He ignored me. Just told me to leave it alone. Go back to Carder. Nothing I could do."

"Vince pushed you away. To keep you safe," Amanda argued. She could see the truth so clearly. Why couldn't he? "Just like he did for me."

"He was protecting himself," Blake said firmly. "I left. There was nothing in Austin to hold me, except nailing the traitors who framed me. My mom needed me. The town wanted me. And as Sheriff I'd have more resources I could trust to ferret out the truth."

Amanda fell back against her seat. "You've been investigating Vince since you left. Did he know?"

Blake shrugged as if it didn't matter. "He deposited money that couldn't be accounted for. He opened a separate account in another bank, in another town. I was close."