Page 81 of Solid as Steele
He raised up on his forearms, but remained covering her.
She gulped in a breath and heard the rumble of the UTV’s engine fade into the distance.
“Sorry.” He scooted off and helped her to sit.
Ryan joined them. “Stay here. I’ll head up the butte to take a better look and report back.”
“Be careful.” Owen looked like he wanted to go with Ryan but was hanging back because of her. “Ready to try standing?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” Just embarrassed. “I’m sorry we didn’t get him, but maybe Ryan and his brothers can track him down.”
Owen gave a sharp nod, but his lips pressed together confirmed his disappointment. “We need to get a forensic team out here to collect shells and slugs. We also need to request a warrant to search Leach’s property.”
Ryan jogged back to them. “My brothers are on their way, and we’ll go after Leach. Now that he knows we’re after him, we don’t have to take a quiet approach. We’ll get the drone in the air.”
“Can I use your SAT phone to call the sheriff?” Owen asked. “I want to get a forensic team out here and a warrant going for Leach’s property.”
“Sure thing.” Ryan got it out.
Owen stepped away to make his call.
Ryan looked at Mackenzie. “You doing okay?”
She nodded and watched Owen as he talked and grabbed the back of his neck.
“You’re worried about him,” Ryan said.
She kept her focus on Owen. “Is it that obvious?”
“Very,” Ryan said.
She watched Owen shove a hand into his hair, looking like he wanted to pull it out. “He’s desperate to find out who killed his sister, and it’s eating away at him.”
“And after losing Thomas, you know how that feels.”
She shifted her attention to Ryan. “Not to the same extent. Seems like Owen thinks he’s responsible for not protecting Cassie. Something I never felt for Thomas. So it’s doubly hard on Owen.”
Ryan tilted his head. “Can I make a suggestion?”
“Sure.”
“Let me and my brothers go after the guy. We’ll move faster and be more likely to find him.” Ryan locked gazes. “You and Owen can go search Leach’s place. That’ll take Owen out of the danger in case he forgets to be careful.”
“Like I just did, you mean.”
“Didn’t say that.”
“But you were thinking it.”
“Well, yeah.” Ryan moved closer. “This offer is as much for you as Owen. You may not want to admit it, but you’re personally invested in this too.”
He was right. Of course he was, but as he’d said, she didn’t really want to admit it because that meant admitting Owen had become important to her. “I don’t know if Owen will go for that.”
“Here’s the thing,” Ryan said. “Leach has worked this desert as a guide for years and knows every inch of the area. The odds that we’re going to find him out here are pretty slim. Could take all night if we do. You could be better off searching his property and maybe finding something that could help pin the murders on him.”
“Okay,” she said, her gaze moving back to Owen as he paced over the dusty ground, his steps frantic and that hand still locked in his hair.
All she had to do was convince him to leave the area where they’d come under fire by the man they believed had killed his sister. Performing a miracle was likely easier.
