At the Crossroads (Buckhorn, Montana #3)(61)

“I’m betting that Alexis isn’t in your nice, warm jail right now. I’m betting that you’ve crossed yet another line and stooped to kidnapping.”

“For a man about to be arrested for murder, I wouldn’t throw stones, if I were you.”

Culhane gritted his teeth until his jaw hurt. Garwood thought he had him boxed in, but below him on the mountainside he could see the deputies packing it in. Which explained why he was calling. The sheriff wanted to know where he was and why he hadn’t been caught in the net.

But Alexis hadn’t been so lucky.

He held the phone in a death grip and said nothing because he didn’t want Garwood to know that he was shaking in his boots. If the sheriff hurt a hair on her head, he’d kill him with his bare hands.

But he held his tongue. The last thing he needed to give Garwood was affirmation of his feelings for Alexis.

“I just thought you might want to know how she is. Things are going so badly for you, I’d hate to see anything else happen.”

It would be dark soon. The only thing that kept the sky light was the white of the falling snow. “What do you want?”

Silence. Then slowly, “Jana Redfield Travis is wanted as a material witness. I guess I was wrong about you killing her before, but now...”

“You know damned well I didn’t kill her.”

“Really? I’m not sure anyone will believe that if she’s found dead. With this storm moving in, I hope she’s somewhere safe.”

He thought about telling him but changed his mind. All it would take was one phone call to the deputies that were leaving and they’d be back searching not just for him—but also for Jana. Garwood was hoping she had gotten away and would freeze to death up here in the mountains. She might have if he hadn’t hogtied her and brought her with him. “I asked what you want.”

“I want the necklace.”

Of course he did. Apparently that was the deal he’d made with Jana. She was to give the necklace to him. “What necklace would that be?”

“Stop playing games. Are you telling me that you didn’t get it from Jana?” He wasn’t telling him anything, he thought. He said nothing as he waited.

“Neither of us have the time to debate this. Also, I’m not sure whoever took your girlfriend will be able to keep her alive that long. So if you don’t have the necklace, then I guess we don’t have anything to trade. What a shame for your girlfriend, though.”

Culhane swore silently, the threat making him ache inside. He had never felt this kind of fury. This man had Alex. This man had the woman he loved. The woman who was now carrying his child.

“I have the necklace,” he said through gritted teeth and hated the relief he heard in the sheriff’s voice.

“Well, then, I could put a couple of my boys on it to see if they could find Alexis before it’s too late,” the sheriff offered.

“You mean your deputies or your boys?”

“Listen, Culhane, you aren’t in a position of strength here. I’d watch your mouth if I were you. Isn’t that why I fired you?”

“No, you fired me because you’re a crooked cop, and I caught you at it.” Silence. He thought for a moment that he’d gone too far. But Garwood was wrong about one thing. He was in a position of power. The sheriff needed Jana. He needed the necklace. Just not as badly as Culhane needed Alexis, but he was hoping Garwood didn’t know that.

“As I was saying,” the sheriff began again, “I might be able to find her, and maybe we could make a trade. But part of the deal is that you drop the lawsuit. I want to see it in tomorrow’s newspaper.”

Culhane said nothing even as his heart pleaded for him to speak. The deputy vehicles were all gone.

Make the deal. Get Alexis back before they hurt her. Just the thought had him shaking inside. But he knew that even if he agreed to the deal, he couldn’t depend on Garwood to uphold his end. He made an oath. He would bring Garwood down or die trying.

But right now, he had to get Alexis back.

“Why would I make a deal like that?” he asked finally. “So you can kill Alexis and continue framing me? I don’t think so.”

“You don’t care about your girlfriend.”

Alexis was all he cared about. Which made him vulnerable. Garwood had to suspect that.

“I should have told you. I am recording this conversation. I think the judge will find it interesting, don’t you, Garwood? Especially if anything happens to Alexis. Do you know what happens to cops who end up in prison? Best make sure your boys don’t hurt her. Otherwise, you’re screwed.” He laughed and disconnected.

For a moment, he couldn’t catch his breath. He’d just taken a huge gamble, one that could cost Alexis her life—and the baby’s. He leaned over, feeling light-headed. He thought he might throw up. Had he overplayed his hand? Garwood was so arrogant he might think he could still get away with killing her.

He turned to look at Jana. She was glaring daggers at him from where he’d forced her to sit back under the overhang of the rocks. She’d heard the whole conversation. She knew how much he cared about Alexis. He shook his head that after everything she could be jealous.

“Come on,” he said, seeing that she was shivering from the cold. He was shaking, too, but from anger and fear. He pulled her to her feet.