Page 67 of Concrete Evidence
He didn’t feel good about the three camping out at the ranch. Not at all. But enlisting the help of the local sheriff’s department would increase security. Mom would want her time with him. He and Tessa needed to house shop. And Avery... the attraction grew deeper. He’dbe an emotional mess, but at least he’d know the three were okay. When this was over, he’d be ready for the psych ward.
“I think the time together would be fun,” Mom said.
“We’ll make sure it is—all that and more.”
Mom nodded at Avery. “You didn’t fall at the ranch any more than Marc tripped, right?”
Avery’s glance darted to Marc and back to Mom. “No, ma’am.”
“Thank you for the honesty, and I appreciate your generous invitation.”
Marc humphed. “Sounds more like a nightmare.” He needed to say a few things before the two conspirators ganged up on him again. “I’ll confirm someone will keep an eye on you when I’m not at the ranch.” He glanced at his watch. “In the morning I’ll contact Tessa’s grandmother. I imagine she’ll be fine with the little vacation.”
“One more thing,” Mom said. “What is the status of exhuming Abbott’s body and performing an autopsy?”
“Earlier today I checked in since more than one person has questioned my father’s death. The procedure takes two to four hours, and it’s scheduled for Wednesday.” He didn’t want to think about a lengthy toxicology report requiring weeks for the results. Great, the dam inspection and the exhumation were occurring on the same day. The lingering threat of bad weather on the horizon and forcing the Army Corps to postpone the inspection picked at him.
Mom narrowed her gaze to study him. “If Abbott was killed, Liam’s death, your and Avery’s wounds, and today’s shooting are all connected.”
“As we spoke on the way to the hospital, someone is serious about eliminating those who might have vital information. The problem is, we’re piecing it together without all the facts. Like who’s responsible and why.” A motive had started to percolate with the announcement of the dam’s inspection. For now, he’d keep his thoughts to himself.Buddy, Saundra, and Craig all had strong motives, and he’d thought so before the unidentified woman’s call earlier.
“Son, you’re the perfect agent to keep us company. You have multiple reasons to end the scare. Yes, I’m afraid for you, and I’ll be on my knees until arrests are made. But you are... What are the words? Locked and loaded?”
Any other time, he’d have laughed.
Marc drove his sleepy mother to her home. He hoped no one attempted to break into her house tonight because staying awake hit the impossible zone. He’d asked her repeatedly to install an alarm system, especially when she rarely locked the door. She claimed her gated community negated a need for an alarm.
“Tomorrow, before we leave for the ranch, I’m arranging a police-monitored alarm system.”
“What good will that do when the shot came through a window?”
Yeah, he needed sleep to get his mojo back. One day soon, the interlocking pieces would slide into place. Until then, he’d chase down every clue, even the ones from a female caller who had lied.
38
AFTER A RESTLESS NIGHT,Marc formed the right words to convince Tessa’s grandmother to allow Tessa to stay a few days at the Brazos River Ranch to form a strong bond with his sister. The request should have been face-to-face, yet time played a critical role.
“Maybe you can get the fool thought out of her head about her father not dying of a heart attack,” Mrs. Litton said. “It sinks her deeper into depression, and my condition doesn’t help either. She’s afraid of being alone. I appreciate that she no longer has to worry about a foster home when she has you. I admit I was leery of you in the beginning, but you’re a good man. Just like your father.”
Her final statements cut to his heart, a glimpse of the man who’d fathered him. Something he’d never experienced. What would it have been like to have a father-son relationship? “Mrs. Litton, I’ll do my best for Tessa.”
“What she needs is your love, and lots of it.”
“She has it. My mother will be at the ranch too.”
“I’m pleased. She needs a motherly influence. I don’t want Tessa to see me breathe my last. I’d rather her memories be happy ones. In fact, keep her with you until I pass. Has she been told about the trip?”
“Not yet. I wanted your permission first.”
“I’ll tell her. She’ll object if you ask. Let me know when you’ll be here, and I’ll make sure she’s packed and ready. Have you considered school beginning in two weeks?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m researching Christian schools. If necessary, she can begin online.”
“You’re blessing me before I see heaven.” Her last words trickled out in a hush. Marc hadn’t thought about Mrs. Litton preferring Tessa not to witness her death.
“I’ll call when I’m close to Fort Worth.”
He laid the phone on the kitchen counter and rubbed the area of his head around the stitches. A funeral might tempt the killer with his targets caught off guard.
