The Lawman Returns. Lynette Eason

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      Maria hugged the bear while Tony slid into the seat next to her. Sabrina reached into the bag on the floor in front of Maria’s feet and pulled out another bear and a fire truck. “Tony, would you like a new friend or a toy?”

      Clay buckled the child in. Tony looked at the bear and the truck with equal longing. Sabrina moved the bear’s face up close and tapped Tony’s cheek with it as though offering a kiss. The boy smiled and ducked his head.

      One grimy hand snagged the bear and tucked him under his chin. Sabrina set the truck next to him and turned to find Clay standing much too close. She couldn’t back up and she didn’t want to look silly scuttling sideways to put some distance between them.

      She looked up, and her nose bumped his chin. She saw him swallow and was grateful when he stepped back a pace. “Are you taking them to the hospital?” he asked.

      “Yes. I don’t think there’s anything seriously wrong with them that a few good meals and some vitamins won’t fix, but I have to follow protocol.”

      Clay shook his head. “I’ll follow you to the hospital.” He ran a hand down his face in a weary gesture.

      “You don’t have to. We’ll be fine.”

      Something flickered in his eyes as his gaze darted between the children, then back to her. “I want to talk to you about Steven.”

      Sabrina didn’t know what he thought she could tell him but didn’t have the energy to argue. “I’m taking them to Wrangler’s General.” It was a smaller hospital located in the center of town, but the staff was efficient. If something turned up and the kids needed more intensive care than she thought, then they would be transferred to a larger hospital in Nashville about an hour away. But she didn’t think that was going to be necessary.

      “I’ll meet you there.”

      “Wait a minute, I need to show you something.”

      “What?” Clay frowned.

      “Tony, would you show Clay the wallet Jordan asked you to hold on to for safekeeping?”

      Tony narrowed his eyes, then shrugged and dug out the black wallet with the silver duct tape along the folded edge.

      Clay gasped. “What?” He moved in for a closer look, then stumbled back without touching the wallet. He snagged his phone and punched in a number. “Yeah, Ned. I need you to get over to the Prescott trailer. Steven’s wallet is here, and I can’t bag it as evidence because of conflict of interest and all that, and I don’t want anyone but you to do it.”

      Sabrina lifted a brow even as her heart hurt for him at the pain seeing the wallet brought him. When he hung up, he paced in front of the car while Sabrina explained to Tony that he would have to give the sheriff the wallet when he got here.

      Tony didn’t seem agreeable to that idea, but by the time the sheriff arrived ten minutes later, Tony had decided that Jordan would be okay with him giving it to the sheriff since no one could keep it more safe than he.

      “Where is it?” Ned asked.

      Sabrina nodded to Tony, who handed the wallet over to the sheriff. She gave the child’s shoulder an approving squeeze.

      She turned to Ned. “Steven’s bought me enough cups of coffee over the past year that I knew it the moment I saw it. I even joked about getting him a new wallet for Christmas this year.” Tears clogged her throat at the memories. “But he liked that one,” she whispered.

      “His wife gave it to him when they got married.” The raw grief in Clay’s voice sliced her heart. Steven had told her about his short marriage. He’d married his high school sweetheart the day after they’d graduated college. Two months later she’d been killed by a drunk driver while biking into town.

      Clay cleared his throat and blinked fast. “Stan’s got to know something about Steven’s murder, which means finding him just moved into the number one spot on my priority list.”

      Ned squatted in front of Tony. “Son, do you know where your brother got this wallet?”

      Tony’s lips tightened. “He found it in the bedroom when he was on the phone with Ms. Sabrina. He grabbed it and said it didn’t belong there and told me to hold it and make sure nothing happened to it.” Anxiety filled his face. “You won’t lose it, will you?”

      Ned patted his head. “No, son, I promise I won’t lose it.”

      “Jordan will be mad that I gave it to you.” He bit his lip, and his brows dropped to the bridge of his nose.

      Sabrina reached in and squeezed his hand. “No, hon, he’ll be proud that you took care of it long enough to give it to someone who’ll keep it safe.”

      Her words seemed to bring him a measure of comfort. He nodded and reached out a small finger to tap the badge on Ned’s chest, then gave one more sharp nod. “Okay, then.”

      Clay shook his head. “My mother’s cried buckets over that wallet. When it wasn’t in his things the coroner had, she was inconsolable.”

      Sabrina touched his arm. “At least one good thing came out of this.” She slid into the driver’s seat and paused when her cell phone rang. “Hello?”

      “Are you okay, Ms. Sabrina?”

      “Jordan? Where are you? Why did you run and leave Maria and Tony behind? Why did you have them there in the first place?”

      “They followed me. I didn’t know they were there until— It doesn’t matter. I— They said they wanted to play a practical joke on you. They said they’d pay me fifty bucks to call you out to the trailer and to be there waiting on you, but when I was on the phone with you I saw the wallet—”

      Sabrina waved Clay over and mouthed, “It’s Jordan.” Back into the phone, she said, “Where are you? Who said they’d pay you?”

      “I don’t know, just a voice on the phone. But I saw Steven’s wallet in the trailer and I...I figured Stan killed him. And they wanted you to come out there. They said it was a joke and they just wanted to talk to you, but after I saw the wallet, I didn’t think it was just a joke. I was afraid they’d hurt you. That’s why I told you not to come. I had to leave to make sure the guy followed me so Tony and Maria could get away. Are they okay? Please tell me they’re all right.”

      “They’re fine. Where are you?”

      “I’ve got to disappear for a while. They’re going to be looking for me. I don’t think my mom’s coming back anytime soon, so take care of the kids.”

      She thought she heard a sob before the click. She swallowed hard as the reality of Jordan’s words washed over her. Someone had set her up to come out to the trailer. Someone who had a dead officer’s wallet in his bedroom. The chill that shook her had nothing to do with the temperature outside.

      And everything to do with the fact that she thought she might be a target.

      A target who might end up just like Steven Starke.

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