Addison Fox - Cold Case Colton

“You want to go this morning?”

A wry, sheepish expression crossed his features. “Can we?”

“Can I finish the errands I came here for?”

“Of course.”

“We’ll swing by his ranch on the way back into Shadow Creek.”

An image of bringing a man home to meet her surrogate father filled her mind’s eye.

And somehow, despite all the surprises they’d suffered over the past few months since her mother’s escape from jail, Claudia figured Hawk’s suspicions were one surprise Mac had never seen coming.

Hell, she had to admit to herself, neither had she.

* * *

She had a protector.

Those words whispered over and over in the mind of the Forgotten One as Claudia traipsed down Main Street.

Wasn’t this a surprise?

The weeks of planning and waiting, plotting and calculating were coming to a close and now she’d found someone to guard her?

Tall and stoic, he had the classic Texas cowboy look down to a T. He even swaggered, his long strides eating up the sidewalk beside the princess. But make no mistake about it; that was no hayseed cowboy walking beside the newly crowned queen of Shadow Creek.

That man was there to watch over her.

The Forgotten One knew that—sensed it—and wouldn’t make the mistake of underestimating him. Or the appreciative look that rode the man’s gaze as he stared at the figure she made as she walked down Main Street.

Which meant months of planning needed to be adjusted. Refined. It was simply a matter of regrouping and reassessing, identifying a new opportunity to get Claudia Colton alone. One of those quiet, early mornings when she let herself into her pretty new shop. Or maybe late at night when she drove herself home from dinner with family.

Or maybe outside her brother’s wedding.

The thought struck, swift and hard as the Forgotten One reassessed.

Regrouped.

And settled on a new plan that was far more exciting than the old.

Chapter 4

Acres of farmland spread out before them as Claudia took the turn onto Mackenzie land. Hawk studied the area, assessing as both first-time visitor and as someone who’d read the blog article.

He’d give the writer credit. Of all the things the blog had gotten wrong or insinuated or flat out made up, the beauty of the Mackenzie property wasn’t one of them. Several head of cattle roamed on the front pasture while a horse corral took up a place of prominence on the opposite side of the long driveway. The land was wide-open, yet there was an intimacy, too.

And a fierce pride that reflected from the gleaming fence that rimmed the corral or the perfectly placed posts that made up the enclosure for the cattle. This was a working ranch and, from what Hawk could see, the place hummed.

“He’s probably with the horses this time of day.” Claudia pulled into a small lot on the back side of the barn and cut the ignition. She turned toward him, and for the first time that day Hawk saw real nerves in her expression.

“Let me tell him why we’re here,” Claudia added.

“You think I’m going to blurt it out?”

“No.”

“Then trust me when I tell you I will handle the situation with absolute discretion.”

In the same way his back had stiffened at the coffeehouse, Hawk knew it the moment the conversation shifted.

“Trust you? I don’t know you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“It’s hard enough to trust the people you do know. Of all the things you can ask me, Mr. Huntley, don’t ask that.”

Before he could stop her, she’d sailed out of the car and headed for the big man standing watch from the middle of the corral.

“Well played, Huntley.” He muttered the words to himself before he swung out his side of the car. He ignored the sense of having overstepped and followed her to the corral. The man she lovingly referred to as a father figure already had her in a big bear hug, his smile deep and loving as he laid his head against hers.

Mac Mackenzie.

Hawk filed through the details he knew of the man. Although slim, they all painted the same picture. Mac was a man of his word. Proud and determined, he’d made a home for his son, Thorne, and the rest of Livia Colton’s children, including taking in Claudia and her sister Jade before they turned eighteen.

“And who’s this young man?” The words boomed his direction as Hawk slipped into the corral.

Mac and Claudia had already begun walking toward the fence so Hawk stilled, waiting with an outstretched hand. “Mr. Mackenzie.”

“Most folks call me Mac.” The man extended his hand, his grip firm as Claudia jumped in with the final introductions.

“Hawk paid me a visit this morning. A few things he wanted to discuss about Mom.”

“Oh?” Mac’s eyebrows rose but his dark brown eyes remained hard. Unyielding. “What is this about?”

“I’m a private investigator based out of Houston.” Hawk already had a card out which he handed over. “I’ve been working a cold case for the Krupid family.”

Again, he dropped the name, curious if it would ring any bells. And yet again, he was met with a blank stare and an absolute lack of response.

“You’re a detective?”

“No, sir. I’ve remained in private practice my entire career.”

Mac had tucked the card into his pocket, but pulled it out once more, reviewing the face. “Cards can be faked.”

“They can and I’ve investigated more than a few people who’ve proven that in spades. If it’ll ease your mind, I’m happy to share the references of a Captain Andrew Radner of the Houston PD.”

The card disappeared back into his breast pocket as Mac returned his steady gaze. “I’ll take your word on it for now. What can we do for you, Mr. Huntley?”

Hawk walked Mac through the same details he’d shared with Claudia, saving the picture for the end. From Annalise’s trip out of Russia, to her travels into Mexico and then on into Texas, Mac listened and nodded, adding a few questions where he wanted clarity.

But it was the photo that had the man going still as a block of Texas granite. “This woman looks like you, Claudia.”

“I know.”

Mac wrapped an arm around Claudia’s shoulders. “We’ll figure this out.”

Claudia laid her head on Mac’s shoulder, peace and relief welling in her gaze. “Everyone’s got a twin, right?”

The question may have been a grasp at straws, but she wasn’t entirely incorrect. A photograph wasn’t foolproof, nor was a hunch.

“Of course, sweetie.” Mac’s eyes met Hawk’s. “I suppose there are only so many faces in the world.”

“Besides,” she said. “There’s an easy way to figure this out.”

“What’s that?”

“Tell me what you remember about Mom’s pregnancy.”

“She was—” Mac broke off, his gaze narrowing as if he was trying to focus on something far into the distance. “Well now. I suppose I don’t remember that time.”

“What don’t you remember?”

“Any of it. She wasn’t here.”

Claudia stood up straighter, her spine going stiff at Mac’s pronouncement. “Wasn’t here?”

“No. She was in Europe. Came home with you once she came back to Shadow Creek.”

* * *

When she was a small child, Claudia had fallen into the large pool that occupied the back lawn of her mother’s home, La Bonne Vie. She’d been told repeatedly by the housekeeper not to go near the edge because she didn’t know how to swim, but she’d stared at that welcome pool of water day after day, longing to go in.

Good manners and the subtle sense that always pervaded their home of needing to obey in her mother’s domain had kept her away from the pool for several days, but she’d finally given in to the longing one hot afternoon. A small window of opportunity had opened up when the adults had left the room and she’d taken it, slipping into the backyard and heading for the welcome of cold water on a hot summer afternoon.