AK-Cowboy. Joanna Wayne

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СКАЧАТЬ definitely did that.”

      The silence grew awkward. Troy turned his attention to the woman standing next to Tyler. Nice looking. About Tyler’s age, or maybe younger. No wedding band.

      “I’m Julie,” the woman said.

      “And I’m Troy Ledger. Glad to have you.”

      “I hate to intrude this way.”

      “You’re not intruding at all. Any friend of Tyler’s is welcome here anytime.”

      “Actually, I only met her a few minutes ago,” Tyler said. “I just gave her a lift. She’s here to see you.”

      Troy saw the look that passed between Julie and Tyler, but he couldn’t read it. Could be attraction. Might just be tension that had to do with why she was here to see him. If so, he probably wasn’t going to enjoy the encounter with her. Nonetheless, he wouldn’t let her ruin this moment with Tyler for him.

      “Why don’t we go inside,” Troy offered. “It will be easier to talk in there.”

      He opened the unlocked door and followed them inside. Tyler had changed a lot but somewhere inside, there had to be a trace of the boy Troy remembered. Hopefully they’d reconnect soon and then he’d feel comfortable clapping him on the back or giving him a fatherly punch to the arm or a quick hug.

      But not yet. The past separated them as surely as if they’d been carved apart by a hunter’s knife.

      ONCE TYLER ENTERED THE HOUSE, images seemed to seep from the walls themselves. He and his brothers constructing elaborate Star Wars sets out of Legos that stretched across the entire family room. Watching Scooby-Doo with his brothers while sitting on that same old leather sofa. It was amazing that it had survived when so little from his old life hadn’t.

      Tyler stopped and stared out the window just behind the pine end table. He’d once hit a baseball through that top right pane. He’d dreaded what would happen when his dad came home. But instead of being punished, Troy had been impressed with the hit that had sent the ball sailing over the hedges and mesquite trees and all the way to the house.

      So many good memories overshadowed by the horrifying one. A sick, hollow sensation rolled in the pit of Tyler’s stomach as they passed the stone hearth.

      His brothers Sean and Dylan had found a way to merge the past with the present and face that reality every day. Tyler was pretty sure that he never could, though he’d been younger than them at the time of his mother’s death. Out of the five sons, only Dakota was younger.

      Fortunately, Troy led them straight to the kitchen. He got cold beers for himself and Tyler. Julie opted for water.

      “So exactly how did you two hook up?” Troy asked.

      Julie explained how her car got stuck when she was forced off the road by a truck that had swerved into her lane. She left out the best part. There was no mention of the whip.

      “And the first person to stop was Tyler,” Troy said, once she’d finished her animated description. “Strange, fortunate coincidence, considering you were both on your way to Willow Creek Ranch.”

      “It was, especially when Tyler failed to mention he was your son.” She shot Tyler a quick, accusing glance before turning her attention back to his father. “I’m really glad for this chance to talk to you.”

      “Then we should get down to brass tacks,” Troy said. “But I should warn you that if you’re a reporter, I’ll call you a tow truck and send you on your way.”

      Undaunted, Julie took a sip of her water, wiped the condensation from her glass with the napkin Troy had provided and smiled as if she were about to hand him a check from Publishers Clearing House.

      “I’m an investigative reporter, but you’re not the subject of the investigation.”

      “So why come here to talk to me?”

      “Because I know that you’ve been covering some of the same ground I have.”

      “How would you know that?”

      “Word gets around and you’ve made no secret of the fact that you’re actively searching for your wife’s killer.”

      Troy rubbed his jaw. “Go on.”

      “I’m investigating the murder of Muriel Frost,” Julie explained. “Have you heard of her?”

      Troy’s brow furrowed. “Yeah. She was murdered six months before Helene. What of it?”

      “I’m hoping you’ll share what you’ve learned with me. Frankly, I can use all the help I can get. A case this cold won’t be easy to solve.”

      “You’re right about that. The people who want to talk don’t know anything. The people with information won’t talk.”

      Tyler studied Troy. His expression gave nothing away, but the deep grooves around his eyes and mouth and the jagged scar did. His years in prison had killed all signs of the young, energetic father who used to outrun, outride and outswim all of them.

      “So what got you interested in the Frost murder case, being as it’s icy cold.”

      “It remains unsolved.”

      “So do lots of more prominent murder cases.”

      “Actually, you’re partly to blame,” she admitted. “You made news when you were released on a technicality and again when one of your fellow inmates escaped and went after the former prison psychiatrist you were protecting.”

      “Eve. She’s my daughter-in-law now.”

      “I know. She married your son Sean.”

      “You have done your homework. I still think you’re going to have your work cut out for you. That’s over in Llano county, and Sheriff Caleb Grayson is very protective when it comes to anything that falls under his jurisdiction.”

      “He’s a public servant. And Muriel Frost deserves the same justice everyone else is entitled to.”

      “And you’re out to get it for them? That’s a pretty big order.”

      “I can’t get it for everyone, obviously, but I can start with Muriel Frost.”

      “Sounds admirable, but if you’re here because you think I had anything to do with killing my wife or Muriel Frost, you’re wasting your time and mine.”

      The guy was no easy sale, Tyler concluded. Definitely not a pushover for a cute face and hot body. Or maybe he was. She’d admitted to being a reporter and his dad hadn’t ushered Julie to the door.

      Julie crossed her mud-splattered legs. “Like I said, I’d just like to collaborate a bit. But in all fairness, if I find out you did kill either one of them, I’ll come after you with everything I’ve got.”

      Troy rubbed his chin and stared into space. About the time Tyler figured the interview was over, Troy began to nod.

      “Fair СКАЧАТЬ