Page 76 of Concrete Evidence
She picked up the receiver and pushed Speaker. “Brazos River Ranch.”
“Have you discovered my surprise?” a distorted voice said.
“Yes, rather low, don’t you think?” She craved calmness to hold her own in the call.
“I’d call it thorough. A real Texas twister.”
“Did you find what you were searching for? Or was this just a cleanup project left for me?”
“Avery, you’re too smart to play stupid.”
She dug her fingernails into her palms. “Guess I’m clueless. Explain it to me.”
“Either you, your granddad, Donita Wilkins, or sweet Tessa have an item that belongs to me. I want it before I dive deeper into an assassin’s role.”
“I’m still clueless.”
“I’m running out of patience. Who dies next to prove I’m serious?”
She shivered. “The problem is you kill us off, and you’ll never find what is so important to you.”
“Yeah, but I’ll leave a string of bodies behind.”
Avery huffed. “I suggest you take a closer look at who you’re dealing with.”
43
LONG AFTER THE SHERIFFand his team finished sweeping the office, Marc reflected on Avery’s quick thinking and reaction to the threatening phone call. Once she’d ended the conversation, she shook like a fall leaf, but she’d also been furious. Could he ever learn all the ways Avery’s mind worked? She gave so much to others, like a bubbling well of goodness. The more time he spent with her, the more his resolve to hold back from sharing his heart weakened.
A list of questions and things to do taller than his six-foot frame dumped into his mind. If the sun were up, he’d be pushing ahead on the dam inspection—Avery’s evaluation and the dive team’s findings. From there he could analyze the outcome with the FBI and the corps to put the case together and bring Senator Elliott out of his temporary cave.
If only Marc had an idea what the intruder demanded.
No one hid from law enforcement on short notice without help.Meaning the senator either had a plan in place before Marc’s father and Liam Zachary’s deaths, or he’d secured the right connections to keep him out of the public eye. For certain, the latter. The senator had personal, professional, and political relationships across the globe.
Who did the senator trust with his life?
Logic pointed to someone who had clout with law enforcement, government contacts, and believed Senator Elliott had legitimate reasons to stay incognito. Avery should have this type of confidential information, but she wouldn’t spin her wheels trying to find him.
Earlier Marc had phoned the hospital for a status report on Roden, who’d been placed in a private room and responded well to treatment. Good news for a change.
Marc glanced at the time. After 2a.m. Avery needed sleep to heal, and any self-respecting gentleman would leave her alone. But stopping a killer went beyond creature comforts. He texted her.
Are you awake? I could use your input.
The dots on his phone showed she was typing her response.Awake now. Want to talk in the upstairs living room?
Marc pulled on jeans and a T-shirt before meeting with her. Avery’s droopy eyelids gave him pause. They’d already decided to get a head start to the dam in a few hours, and he’d interrupted her sleep.
“Have we been threatened again? Another death?” She slid onto a recliner.
If she wouldn’t punch him, he’d take her into his arms. Another time. “Not at all. I have a few ideas to run by you.”
“Aren’t you exhausted?”
“I should be.” He eased onto a matching chair across from her. “When working a case, I survive on pure adrenaline. When it’s over, I’ll sleep for three days.” He drew in a breath to slow his thoughts. “I’m sorry to wake you.”
She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “You wouldn’t havetexted me if it wasn’t important, and the churning in my stomach says the danger gets worse with every passing minute. Two people are dead and by all rights, the number should be higher.” Her shoulders slumped. “I’d give the caller what he wants if I thought the crimes would stop and if I knew what he wanted.”
