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Chapter 159
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Sirens wailed in the distance, and Ronnie sighed in relief. Dot needed care right away.EMS arrived and hurried to Dot's side. They checked her vitals, cleaned the cut on her cheek, and bandaged her head. Dot groaned as they lifted her onto the gurney but then lapsed back into unconsciousness. They pushed her out and into the ambulance and headed for the hospital.Ronnie retrieved her spool of yellow crime scene tape and began threading it around the diner, using poles and trees in between until the building was completely off-limits."I sure hope we'll be able to talk to Dottie soon. Otherwise, we have nothing to go on, here," Ronnie said once they were back inside in the office. She inspected the bookshelf. "We're going to need a warrant to do any further investigation of the records."Mitch pulled out his cell and called someone. "We can pick it up in an hour. I'll have Adam get it from Judge Matthews and bring it here.""We need to put a closed sign out. Also, we need to
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 161
"Sheriff Rogers here." He held his hand over the microphone and whispered to Ronnie, "It's Adam. Dot's awake.""Good." She returned to her inspection of the bookshelves.Mitch stuffed his cell in his pants pocket."Here's another space where something was removed." She pointed to the next shelf above."I think we need a search warrant for his residential property, but we're going to need more than 'we think' he hit Dot. We need hard evidence he abandoned his business. No crime there though. It happens all the time. Here one day operating and closed the next day when the employees show up for work. But if he assaulted an employee and was running a money-laundering operation out of here based on what Sally recorded, we need everything we can get to make it stick.""Then let's go talk to Dot." Ronnie headed for the door."Wait. We don't know if this Parker character has another key or if he'll decide to come back for something he forgot. Also, we don't know his location or any
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 162
"I'll see if I can get a locksmith out here pronto while you have a talk with Dot. Maybe a sympathetic woman will yield more helpful answers, help her remember." Mitch pulled his cell from his pocket."I'll try my best, but I don't think she's going to remember much." Ronnie unclipped her keys from her belt. "I'll call as soon as I learn something. Where do you find a locksmith around here?""I'm going to call one in Jackson. He's pretty fast to respond, but I'm also going to call my good friend Chase just in case. He owns a horse ranch and always has some hands looking for extra work.""Okay, I'm on my way to the hospital."Ronnie drove the short distance to the rural hospital and entered Dot's room. Dot's cheek was bandaged, and discoloration marred the skin around the wound. Her eyes were closed when Ronnie approached, but when she touched her shoulder, Dot's eyes fluttered open. "Hi there, Dot. Do you remember me?"Dot squinted, opened and closed her eyes, probably trying
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 163
"Well, that does it. He's done here." Mitch fisted his hands on his waist. "I've had suspicions but didn't want to admit them. I have you now, so it'll be easier to let him go, except for the arrest." He glanced at Ronnie, who stood staring out the window, as if mesmerized by the serenity of the scenic Grand Teton mountain range."Yeah, you're right," Ronnie said then turned to him. "How do you want to play this? It could be dangerous. Do we need to call in the feds?""Not right now. We can't just take a somewhat credible witness's word for it. We need substantial and tangible proof." Mitch's eyes were drawn to the mountains as he searched his memory banks for everything he knew about Damien. Just how ruthless could he be?"It's your lead. What's next?""What Dot told us about him isn't going to be enough, especially since she's his wife, right? We need to catch him with the money or drugs. Whatever he has his hands into, I'm sure it's dirty." Mitch turned to his computer."I
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 164
Sheriff Rogers followed by Deputy Adam turned their vehicle lights off before approaching Ronnie's vehicle. Once parked out of sight, they flashed a light through the windows and seeing nothing, they opened the driver's door, clicked the trunk button, and it opened. Nothing inside. Their flashlights shone brightly, streaking the dark night. Leaves rustled and limbs scraped together in a gust of wind.Mitch was beside himself when Ronnie wasn't at the house, hadn't been there yet, and didn't answer her cell. In fact, her phone was right there on the front seat. He never should have stayed behind and done all that paperwork. He should have followed her home, made sure she arrived safely. He could do the paperwork at the house. His heart sank when they found her personal vehicle parked in the weeds and behind a tree without her in it. He didn't want to think about her being abducted or maybe even killed for knowing too much. But what did she know? Had she told him everything? He was qui
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 165
The moonlight lit the way to Mitch's car and dappled through the trees on the side of the road, his face in shadows. Ronnie ran to him and touched his arm. He spun around, and the full moon cast his features in a supernatural glow.He was so handsome; he took her breath away. She stepped closer and wrapped her hands around his upper arms."Oh, Ronnie, I'm so glad you're safe. I don't know what I'd do without you." He pulled her up hard against him. Wrapping his arms around her waist; he held her tight."I was so afraid he would shoot you." Ronnie closed her eyes and savored the protection and warmth of his closeness. She liked it a lot, maybe too much.When Mitch stepped back, she quivered under his intense gaze. She licked her lips and rose on tiptoe. Her arms snaked around his neck, pulling him closer. She kissed his neck and worked her way toward his ear then savagely plundered his mouth. His lips were warm on hers, her tongue in his mouth, tasting him. She reached up and ra
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 166
Ronnie's eyes flashed open, her senses on full alert. The hair on the back of her neck stood straight out. Mugsy sat up, his ears up in listening mode. Her hand automatically found her weapon from under her pillow. She held it in her hand, listening to every sound inside and outside the house. Something woke her. Then she heard the creak. Someone had walked up the back stairs. She didn't think it was Mitch, and most guests never knew about them.She jumped out of bed in her flannel pj's, not bothering to grab her robe, thinking it would be too cumbersome and just get in the way. She opened her bedroom door and peeked out. With her weapon down at her side, she slid against the wall to the breakfast room. Mugsy whined, probably because she didn't take him with her, but she could only handle so much.Ronnie worked her way through the family room and to the back stairs. There was no one at the top or in the hallway, so she trod lightly up. She was almost to the top when she saw a man c
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 167
Mitch jogged to his four-wheel drive SUV, jumped in, and peeled out onto the highway. He had to get to Chase's ranch before Damien hurt his parents and before Ronnie arrived. He'd hold her hostage as well. What the hell does he want from me?He widened the curves like a race car driver, using the inside lanes as a shortcut to reach the cutoff ahead of them. When he saw Ronnie's police cruiser parked beside the road, he exhaled, his fist slammed the steering wheel. No, no!How far ahead of him were they? He scrambled out of the car, grabbed his long gun from the trunk, and headed up the hill toward his childhood fort. Clouds covered the moon, making it a dark night, but it didn't impede his hike. He'd done this many times as a teenager. He and his friends Chase, Dillon, and Elliott usually rode horses to the site, but Mitch only needed one wreck on a bronc ride at a rodeo to discourage him from ever riding the beasts again. Jogging in the dark wasn't unfamiliar to him, either. He kn
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