Nicole Helm - Wyoming Christmas Ransom

He’d noticed before, once or twice, a moment drawn out too long. Noticed the shape of her mouth, or...other parts of her. Exactly like this, a kind of faraway thing that was easy to put out of his mind. They’d always been working on the case. Pictures of Paula’s accident or reports about it or... It had always been easy to shift away from that awareness.

Maybe it was the drugs they’d pumped him full of that made it harder to shift now.

But a knock sounded on the door and Gracie all but jumped away from him as if they’d been, well, anything other than just staring at each other holding hands.

Laurel Delaney stepped into the room looking very official. Will scowled.

“Mr. Cooper, I need to ask you a few questions.”

“About whoever tried to kill me because I got too close to finding the truth?”

He’d give Deputy Delaney credit—she didn’t flinch nor did she dig her heels in. She kept that calm, equitable expression on her face and nodded. “There was some evidence of someone tampering with your car. Well, what was left of it.”

“Am I supposed to be surprised?”

“Do you have any ideas who might have wanted to cause you harm, Mr. Cooper?”

“Oh, just the man who was having an affair with my wife and probably caused her car accident in almost the exact same place.”

“Your late wife had no evidence of car tampering. It’s also been two years. What would cause someone to come after you now?”

“I found a connection. A clue. It’s why I found Gracie at your party. I told her that I had found something, right there in Rightful Claim. Then we talked outside. Anyone could have heard me and gotten to my car.”

“So, your theory is we’re all living amongst a killer and have been for two years?”

“Yeah, it is.”

Laurel pressed her lips together, clearly irritated with his steadfast determination. Still, when she spoke, her voice was even and controlled. “Do you have any evidence? Anything that might be able to help us solve this?”

“There was a piece of paper. In my clothes. I’d written it down.” He glanced from Deputy Delaney to Gracie. “Did they find it?”

The women exchanged a glance and Laurel pulled a small notebook from her breast pocket. She scribbled a few things on it. “I’m going to see if we can find a piece of paper. What kind of information does it have on it?”

“Dates. A few phrases I thought might hint at where they were meeting. I have the information on her computer, though.” He glanced at Gracie and, without him even having to ask, she nodded.

“I’ll run over and get you some of your things,” she said.

“You need some sleep,” Laurel interrupted.

Gracie opened her mouth, likely to argue, but as much as Will didn’t want to agree with Laurel Delaney, she was right. “You’ve been here all night. You need to sleep.”

“I haven’t had parents for twenty years. I know how to take care of myself, thank you very much.”

“Gracie—”

She held up her hand at Laurel and Laurel stopped. “Neither of you are in charge of me. Now, I will run over to Will’s to grab his computer. Is there anything else you’d like while I’m there?”

Since he’d never once heard Gracie use that firm, don’t-you-dare-argue tone, he decided it was best to heed its icy warning. “No, ma’am.”

“That’s settled then. I’ll be back.” She turned on a heel and headed for the door, and even though he wanted to say more, he didn’t. Because Deputy Delaney was still there, staring at him with that inscrutable cop face.

He knew she didn’t believe him. He’d never expected her to, but there being evidence of tampering in his car meant she was going to have to investigate this. She was probably going to get in his way or get him killed in all reality. Because she didn’t believe enough of his story to not be a speed bump rather than offer any actual help.

“She has nothing to do with this,” Laurel said, nodding to where Gracie had disappeared.

“Excuse me?”

“She has nothing to do with this. If you’re in danger, by allowing her to help you, you’re putting her in danger. Is that what you want?” He glanced at the door, then back at Laurel.

The thought of Gracie in danger made his stomach turn, because he’d certainly never considered that. But the thought of trying to solve this without her had a flutter of panic settling into his gut. He tried not to let either emotion show on his face. Deputy Delaney didn’t need any extra ammunition. “You really think I could stop her?”

Laurel’s mouth curved briefly. “You could at least try.”

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