Jodi Thomas - Indigo Lake

Reid glanced over the sheriff’s shoulder, gagged, and stumbled backward.

Blade and the sheriff moved in closer, trying to see something, anything, that might give them a clue.

“We’re dealing with a crime scene now,” Blade whispered.

“Shut the ranch down.” The sheriff’s voice bore no hesitation.

They both knew what had to be done. Blade offered, “I’ll help stand guard until the state troopers get here, Sheriff. We don’t want anyone trying to cover this up.”

Both men walked toward the sheriff’s car. “I’ll call it in.” Dan’s voice hinted at how tired he was already, and his day wasn’t close to over. “We may have a murder here. Unless he was the one setting the fires and got caught in the last one.”

“Not likely. I want to go back to the other site with equipment as soon as it cools. This was the only lock on any door that I saw,” Blade said. “He might have been sleeping it off in the barn, or maybe riding the land and spotted the arsonist setting the fire.”

Blade turned to Dice. “What do you think? How many cowhands were out riding last night?”

“Half a dozen, maybe more, but all the hands knew this barn had locks on it, front and back. Collins put them on six months ago. I figured it was to keep drifters out, but he said it was because as soon as the hay was gone he planned to store cars in there.”

“Did he store cars?”

Dice shook his head. “Not that I ever saw, but he did keep this one barn locked.”

Blade pushed. “You didn’t think that was strange?”

Dice grinned. “I’m a cowboy. I’m not paid to think beyond cow level.”

He pointed with his thumb. “We got a new problem.”

“What’s that?” Brigman said as he opened his car door and tugged out his radio.

Dice pointed back in the direction he’d come. “Boss man fainted.”

All three looked back at Reid lying spread-eagle in the mud halfway between the rubble of the barn and the cars.

“What do I do, Sheriff?” Dice tugged off his hat and started worrying the brim. “Officially, I don’t work for him since the night of the fire, and if he ain’t breathing I’m sure not giving him mouth-to-mouth with all that throw-up on his face.”

Brigman looked like a man who had his hands full. “Check to see if he’s breathing. If he is, leave him. He looks like he could use some sun.”

When Dice walked off, Brigman moved to the trunk of his car and pulled out a box. “You got a weapon, Hamilton?”

“I do. I carry a Glock 17 and my badge in my saddlebags. They’re in the back seat of your cruiser.”

“Then strap on a weapon.” He pulled another badge from the box. “I’m also deputizing you.” The sheriff glanced at his watch. “I don’t know what we’re facing but as of 1:45 p.m., I want you working for the county. We’ll finish up here and by four I’ll have men coming in to question. I’m going to need your help.”

Blade slipped the badge in his pocket and reached for his saddlebags. “This mean I’m getting paid?”

“Nope, but if you don’t want the job my next recruit is Dice.”

They both looked back at Dice slowly walking around Reid Collins like the ranch owner was a half-dead snake.

Blade knew he was cornered. “I’ll take the job.”

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