At the Crossroads (Buckhorn, Montana #3)(45)

“I’m sorry, who are you?” Jack snapped, swinging his gaze to her.

“Alexis Brand. I’m a former sheriff’s deputy—”

“Turned bounty hunter,” Jack finished for her.

“Only recently. Jana tell you that, too?” Culhane asked.

Jack grunted again.

“So Jana fakes her death. Maybe her idea, maybe someone else’s. But the problem is the sheriff missed his chance to arrest me last night. Now he knows that I’m looking for Jana to prove I didn’t kill her. He has to find her first and make sure she stays dead.”

“What did you do to piss off the sheriff?” Jack asked.

“I filed a wrongful-discharge suit against him and the department. He doesn’t want what I know about him and his department coming out.”

Jack rubbed a ham-sized hand over his face for a moment. “Jana’s smart. She can take care of herself.”

“Not this time, Jack. I suspect this time, she’s in over her head.”

Jack scoffed. “Won’t be the first time. Or the last. That one attracts trouble. Drink your beer and get on with your business, or I’ll call the cops.” He moved to busy himself partway down the bar, his back to them.

ALEXIS MET CULHANE’S gaze for a moment, then excused herself. Sliding off the stool, she called down the bar “Restrooms down this way?”

“That big sign over the opening to the hallway wasn’t plain enough for you?” Jack asked, not bothering to look at her.

As she started down the hall, she listened to make sure she hadn’t been followed. Culhane struck up an argument with Jack as she slipped into the open doorway of what she saw was the bar’s office.

She hurried to the desk, having no idea what she was looking for or how much time she would have to search. The top of the desk was a half-foot deep in bills, junk mail and liquor-order receipts. She quickly sifted through the pile, pretty sure Jack wouldn’t remember exactly where each item lay.

Seeing nothing of interest, she tried the drawers. Most held the usual office-desk items. It wasn’t until she tried the bottom drawer that she found it locked.

Culhane was still arguing with Jack. She just hoped that the bar owner didn’t suddenly realize how long she’d been gone and come looking for her.

Grabbing a paperclip she began to pick the lock. It took her longer than she’d hoped, but she finally picked it. Opening the drawer, she saw it held a series of file folders. Most had to do with the bar business.

Disappointed and about to give up, she spotted a folder at the back titled Letters. She pulled it out quickly, opened the folder and felt her pulse leap as she saw the top letter was from Jana to her father from seven years ago. Quickly, she opened the envelope to find a letter written on Lost Sunset Ranch stationery. She quickly pulled out her phone and took a photo before looking for more letters from Jana. She found none, but she did discover some receipts for payments to Lost Sunset Ranch. Hurriedly photographing them, she quickly put everything back in the folder.

Jack’s voice boomed down the hallway. Hurriedly, she pocketed her phone and stuffed the folder in the back before closing the drawer. She could hear Jack approaching with heavy, angry footfalls. There wasn’t time to exit the office and get to the ladies’ room. She had only one choice since either way she would probably get caught.

She ducked down into the space under the desk as she heard him stop in the office doorway. He stood there so long she feared he knew where she was hiding and was just waiting for her to come out. She hadn’t realized that she was holding her breath until she heard him let out a curse and stomp on down the hall, headed for the ladies’ restroom.

At the sound of the bathroom door banging open and the boom of his voice as he called “You in there?” she slipped out from under the desk and hurried to the door. She heard him step in to check the stalls and made her move, rushing back to the bar. Instead of going to her stool, she went to the jukebox in the dark corner near the small dance floor. She was looking through the songs when she heard him come storming back into the room.

“What the hell?” he demanded. “Where have you been?”

Alexis turned, giving him her most innocent look. “I went to the bathroom and didn’t want to interrupt the two of you, so I was looking to see what songs you had on your jukebox.”

Jack frowned, his naturally red face growing redder. “I didn’t see you come out of the bathroom.”

“Sorry,” she said. “Culhane, I found a song I like, but I don’t have any change.”

“I’m afraid we don’t have time to hear it,” he said as he grabbed up a pen and cocktail napkin lying on the bar. “Here’s my cell-phone number, Jack. Have Jana call me. It could save her life.” He shoved it in the man’s direction, but the bar owner didn’t move.

“If you care anything about your daughter...” Alexis said as she joined Culhane at the bar.

Jack looked at her, his gaze hard as a slap. “This from the woman who’s sleeping with my daughter’s...husband?”

“Jack.” From Culhane the warning in his voice was more than a threat. “We came here because we’re worried about Jana. You should be worried as well. Alexis and I can help her.”

The bar owner scoffed at that, picked up the napkin and crushed it in his big palm. “Get out. Don’t come back.”