Margaret Daley - Texas Ranger Showdown

He rang the bell and, not a half a minute later, Caitlyn Rhodes opened her grandmother’s front door. A smile dimpled her cheeks and brightened her green eyes.

“It’s great to see you.” Caitlyn gave him a quick hug, then stepped to the side. “Come in. The dynamite duo will have someone to interrogate besides me now.”

Ian chuckled, taking in how much Caitlyn had changed since he’d last seen her five years ago at Christmas. Her usually long brown hair was cut shorter, which framed her face, emphasizing her attractive features from a pert nose to the longest eyelashes to full lips.

He realized he was staring and looked away, trying to tamp down his racing pulse. “Nana has done her share of drilling me for information long-distance.”

Caitlyn shut the door, clasped his arm and started for the kitchen. “You’re late. Prepare yourself. Being late in Granny’s house is frowned upon.”

She used to hook her arm through his in the past. Her touch felt familiar and yet...something much more. If only Caitlyn hadn’t left that summer, things would have been different between them.

“I’m glad you’re here finally. I have a patient at one, so I can’t stay as long as I wish.”

“I have unusual hours. Crime doesn’t work on a schedule.”

She laughed. “Neither does a patient’s crisis. I understand.”

When they approached the kitchen, he let Caitlyn go ahead of him, her arm slipping away from him. He missed the connection. She had always made him feel better and, after the morning he’d had, he needed that. After lunch, he’d talk to her about Jane.

He paused in the doorway. A place waited for him at the table, food already on his plate. He went to his grandmother, kissed her on the cheek and sat down across from her. Nana and Sally were two people who probably knew more than most what was going on in Longhorn. They had lived here their whole lives and were always involved in the church and town. Maybe they’d know something to help with his latest case. “Sorry I was late. I got delayed with a new case.”

Sally waved her hand. “Some things can’t be helped. I certainly understand.”

Caitlyn’s eyes grew wide. “He’s half an hour late and you don’t care, while I was only five minutes late and I got—”

Nana patted Caitlyn’s hand. “Honey, I understand. I’d be late if I had a creepy man call me on-air like you did.”

Creepy man? Ian shifted his attention to Caitlyn. “On your radio show?”

“You know I’m on the radio?”

He nodded. “I’ve even listened.”

Color flooded Caitlyn’s cheeks. “In El Paso?”

“Yep, we have a station that runs Share with Caitlyn. It’s always nice to hear a voice from my past.” He’d felt connected to his hometown—and her—while listening to her on the radio. He could have used her insight on the woman he’d been engaged to, who’d stolen his identity and money, then disappeared. But Caitlyn hadn’t been a therapist at that time. Thankfully, after years of being a law enforcement officer, he wasn’t as gullible as he’d been when he was in his midtwenties, but the incident wasn’t something he’d shared with anyone. “What did this guy say?”

“‘Stop me!’” Emma said before Caitlyn could. “But the worse part was the silence.”

“Nana, if I was on the radio, I’d have long silences too.” Ian caught Caitlyn’s gaze and held it. “I admire how you deal with all the different problems people call about.” When he’d been growing up, he’d often come to her for advice, so her career choice hadn’t surprised him.

She grinned. “Talking has always come easily to me. But I’ve had many people freeze up when they go live on the radio. Some I never hear from again. Others get over it and ask me to help them.”

“I hope that guy isn’t one that calls again.” Sally took a drink of her iced tea.

“You said you have a new case. What is it?” Caitlyn asked him.

“Now that the family has been notified, I can tell you. Jane Shephard was found murdered outside of town in a ditch.”

His grandma’s jaw dropped. “Jack is in Austin. Poor Ruth’s all by herself.”

“The senator is on his way home.”

Nana looked at Sally. “We’ll need to go to the church and organize some support for them. Jane was their only child. They will be devastated.” She rose and took her plate and mug to the sink.

“Yeah, we can’t go to yoga. We need to call the people on the church’s phone tree.” Sally joined her friend at the counter.

When they headed toward the hallway, Ian asked, “Do you want me to take you to the church later?”

“Yes,” Nana said as she and Sally began making plans.

Ian swiveled toward Caitlyn, who stared at a spot on the table between them, color drained from her face. “Jane was younger than me in school, but you were closer in age. Did you know her very well as adults?”

“Yes,” she said and lifted her gaze to his. “She’s—was one of my patients. When did this happen?”

“Based on her lividity when I saw her, she was probably killed between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.”

“Make that between nine and ten. I had an appointment with her at eight this morning. She left my office a few minutes before nine.” Caitlyn shook her head. “I can’t believe this.”

“What can you tell me about her? Was anyone threatening her? Harassing her?”

Caitlyn stood and gathered up her dishes. “I need to talk to her parents first. I don’t think what we talked about had anything to do with her death.”

“I need to re-create her steps. Did she mention going anywhere after her session?”

“She was meeting a couple of her Dallas friends for lunch and shopping afterward.”

“Who was she meeting?”

“Terri Hudson and Zoe Adams.”

“Was she dating anyone?”

“The last serious relationship she had was Max Collins, but that ended months ago. Come to think of it, they got into a big fight at Longhorn Café right before Christmas. Max accused her of seeing someone else.”

“Who?”

“Frankly, I’m not sure. She didn’t discuss it, so I’m not sure she was dating another guy at the same time.” She took the dishes to the sink. “I’d better leave now if I’m going to make my appointment.”

“I’ll walk you out to your car.”

“You don’t have to. As far as what she was going to do right after seeing me, I don’t know anything more. She was dressed casually, as though she might be going back home until she met her friends for lunch. What was she wearing when you saw her?”

“Jeans, boots and a blue blouse.”

“That’s what she had on for her appointment.” Caitlyn grabbed her purse on the counter. “I can tell you that what she was seeing me for wouldn’t have made her a target for a murderer.”

“People murder for all kinds of reasons. Any insight into Jane would be welcomed.” Ian followed Caitlyn from the kitchen. “Having been away from Longhorn for years makes me realize I don’t know the town like I used to. Considering your occupation, I’m thinking you do.” A woman had been discovered killed with no obvious reason in a town where murder was very rare. He opened the front door and let Caitlyn go outside first. “If that caller hassles you, please let me know.”

“I’ll help you any way I can. Just like old times.” She strolled beside him down the sidewalk toward her car. “But I won’t need your help. For all I know, the caller doesn’t even live in Longhorn.”

He gestured toward her Thunderbird. “When did you get this baby? I’m jealous.”

“Nine months ago, when my program was syndicated across the country. It’s my one extravagance. I live in a two-bedroom town house. Nothing fancy.”