Given no other option, Selena took Finn with her to the sheriff’s station to reclaim her repaired SUV. Chase Rawlston was technically in charge of her team, but since he’d gone back to Elk Valley, Wyoming, she, Kyle and Meadow were sharing the Randall murder investigation and the small temporary office they had set up locally.
Sheriff Unger entered the room, crossed to the desk where Selena sat and leaned on it, facing her. “How much longer?”
“As long as it takes,” she replied. “And good morning to you, too, Sheriff.” Resting in the cubbyhole where her feet were, Scout shifted, ears perking up. Selena reached down and gave him the signal to stay.
“Morning.” Unger tilted his head in Finn’s direction. “What about him?”
“That depends on how soon his attorney can get all his ducks in a row. You know that.”
“And the kid?”
“Still waiting to hear about relocation with his mama. For the time being, he’s staying with me.”
“That’s a houseful.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I just did. Seems to me you used to be kind of a loner, Smith. What changed?”
The temptation to point at Finn and grin was strong. She overcame it. “My job. You were part of the problem, if you’ll recall.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. I was perfectly content to chase a serial killer all the way to Idaho and nothing more. You complicated everything when you put me on temporary guard duty.”
A side glance at Finn showed him striking a nonchalant pose, hands raised, palms up, in a gesture of surrender. Sheriff Unger reacted with a scowl. “Not my fault. It was supposed to be routine.”
“Which it wasn’t,” Selena reminded him. “It would help if you’d bring the Double Y foreman, Ned Plumber, in for questioning again now that we have witnesses available to discredit him. That will keep Finn from going out in public and risking getting shot at again.”
“I still don’t buy the flat-tire incident.”
Selena snorted a chuckle. “I can show you the bullet hole in the SUV door.”
“Which is not to say that happened at the same time your tire went flat. They didn’t find a second bullet in that, did they?”
“No. It apparently passed through. Considering all the traffic on that street, it’s no wonder the techies didn’t come up with physical evidence.”
Unger straightened and backed a few paces toward the open office door. “When do you want to interview Plumber?”
“We’ll need to set up something with Finn’s attorney. I’ll let you know.”
“If the witness admits lying under oath, I can arrest him then and there, you know.”
“I know.” Selena looked to Finn. “We’d rather pick him up at the same time we arrest whoever he IDs for bribing him so there’s no chance of a warning.”
She noticed Finn fidgeting and didn’t want him to mention Edward by name. Whatever evidence they did manage to obtain must stand on its own, not be influenced by the suspicions of the man originally convicted of the crime. Yes, she agreed that Edward had to be behind Zeb’s murder, but no, she wasn’t ready to say so.
The sheriff turned to leave. “Okay. You win. Let me know when you’re going to want to question Plumber and I’ll have him brought in.”
“Thanks,” Selena said, standing politely as her former boss left the office.
“That was interesting,” Finn said.
“How so?” She was busy with a computer mouse and looking at the monitor screen instead of her prisoner.
“Sounds like he wants to get rid of you.”
“Probably. I’m not trying to undermine his authority, but he’s well aware that I and my team are sworn federal officers. Technically, we all outrank him.”
“Ah, no wonder he wants you to leave. He wants Bearton County back in his pocket.”
“Unger’s a good man,” she said, rocking back in the desk chair, “He’s just a little hardheaded.”
“I don’t know what that’s like,” Finn quipped.
“Yeah, you and your baby brother. If that kid had a car instead of a bicycle, he’d be dangerous.”
“If he had a car, he’d be impossible,” Finn agreed. “Farm kids usually learn to drive when they’re pretty young because they have access to tractors and open fields to learn in. City kids have no idea how great it is to live outside town.” A scowl knit his forehead. “The last I remember, Sean was learning on Dad’s John Deere.”
“He drives? Seriously?”
“I suppose he could if he had the chance. Hopefully, he won’t decide to add car theft to his record.”
Selena rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Hopefully not.” Musing, she gazed out the window without seeing what was really there. In the back of her mind, she was picturing Sean Donovan and remembering how quick-witted he was. It had been impossible to keep him from knowing the details of his brother’s case since he’d been underfoot for the last day and night, not to mention privy to seeing the fleeing dog poisoner. If his sense of justice was half as strong as that of his older brother, there was no telling what he might try to do. Or how.
Deciding what came next, Selena motioned to Finn, then fastened a lead to Scout’s working harness and stood. “It has just occurred to me that Kyle and Meadow had plans to canvas pet shops today. They want to find the place that sold the dog collars with Killer on it.”
“So?” Finn casually joined her.
“So, I’m going to ask them to wait until we’ve picked up your brother before they go. Leaving him alone all afternoon isn’t the smartest choice.”
“You just figured that out?”
Selena scowled. “Don’t start with me. He was sound asleep when we left, and the others were still there to look after him.”
“So, what’s changed?” Finn returned her frown and tilted his head for emphasis.
“Learning he can drive, for one thing. I’ve been thinking of him as a little kid when I should have realized his adult capabilities. He has the brain of a teenager. Studies have shown that males, in particular, don’t develop mature thinking processes until they’re older.”
“You’re saying girls do?”
“That’s irrelevant,” Selena said. “Sean is all boy and positive that you’re innocent. There’s no telling what he may decide to do to help prove it.”
“Surely, you don’t think he’d go to the Double Y?”
“Not on a bicycle, no. If he got his hands on a car, I’m not so sure.”
“So, call Kyle already.”
That order was unnecessary because Selena already had her phone in hand. The call to Kyle was answered immediately.
“Where are you?” Selena asked him.
“About to check the pet department at a store on Main. Why?”
“What are you driving?”
“My car, of course.”
“Is Meadow with you?”
“Yes. Why? What’s going on?”
Noticing her hand beginning to tremble slightly, Selena grasped the cell phone more tightly. “She left her SUV back at my place, didn’t she?”
“Where else?”
“Right.” Selena grabbed her jacket and started for the office door with Scout at heel, expecting Finn to follow, which he did. “Was Sean still in bed when you left?”
“Affirmative. He’s not under arrest, so I didn’t see any reason to babysit him. Was there one?”
“Only his record for misbehaving,” Selena said. “Don’t worry about it. Finn and I are on our way to pick him up. We’ll keep you posted.”
Pocketing the phone, she straight-armed the exit door and hurried to her official team vehicle, donning her jacket as she walked. Scout jumped into the rear on command, and by the time she slid behind the wheel, Finn was in the passenger seat.
She fastened her seat belt and pulled out before he had time to secure himself, so he braced with a hand on the dash. “I think you’re overreacting.”
“It’s better than letting this slide. I don’t know your brother that well, but if he’s as much like you were, as I suspect he is, he’s going to do something he shouldn’t.”
“Thanks a lot, Selena.”
“I didn’t mean that as a bad thing. I just meant that he has the same desire to see justice done that you and I do, only he’s operating on impulse instead of being rational.”
“Half a brain?”
It was hard to tell whether or not Finn was joking, so she opted to treat his comment seriously. “It’s not his fault that he lacks experience. Wisdom comes with age.”
As they entered the highway, the SUV accelerated and so did her thoughts. “All I want to do is make sure he lives long enough to gain that wisdom.”
“You’re really worried about him?” Finn crossed his arms. “I’m not. He promised me he’d behave, and I trust him.”
“I trust him, too,” Selena countered. “To stick up for you in any way he can, including leaving the house after you’ve told him to stay there.”
“Naw.”
A sidelong glance at Finn showed confidence in his baby brother, yes, but his lips were moving. It would not have surprised her to hear words of fervent prayer if he had chosen to make them verbal.
She’d been praying, too. Often. Ever since the moment she’d learned that escorting Finn Donovan was her extra assignment when she returned to Idaho for the task force.
The yard bordering Selena’s home looked peaceful, calming Finn’s fears until Selena said, “Oh no.”
“What’s wrong? It looks fine to me,” he said.
“No, no, no.” Out of the car and running, she used her key to unlock the front door and went inside.
Confused by the outburst, Finn followed. There was no doubt she was frantic, but so far, he hadn’t figured out why. “Simmer down. What’s going on?”
Passing, she skidded to a stop and faced him. “Do you see him? Huh? Where’s your brother?”
“Probably still in bed.”
Making a face, she gestured at the hallway. “Okay. Go look.”
In less than ten strides, he was standing at the door to the room the men had shared. The cot they’d prepared for Sean was clearly occupied. Finn exhaled noisily, then called to Selena. “It’s okay. He’s here,” adding, “Sean? Sean, wake up.”
The figure beneath the covers didn’t stir. Finn crossed to the cot. Drew back the blanket. His breath caught. Sean had fashioned the shape of a sleeping person out of extra bedding.
Whirling as Selena joined him, Finn stared. “You were right. He’s not here. How did you know?”
“A missing vehicle,” she said, looking dejected. “Meadow rode with Kyle again and left her SUV here. I knew the minute we pulled into the driveway and didn’t see it.”
“Maybe she came back for it.” Pushing past her, Finn hurried through the kitchen to the backyard, then reported, “His bike is gone, too. He probably rode that.”
“Or put it into the back of the borrowed SUV,” Selena countered. She made another call.
Watching, waiting, Finn felt the same kind of fear he’d experienced as the jury had returned his guilty verdict. There was a boulder the size of the missing car at the pit of his stomach, his hands were perspiring, and his bones threatened to let him collapse. Sean was all their mother had left of her once perfect, happy family. Nothing must happen to him. Nothing.
“Meadow is still with Kyle,” Selena announced.
Breathing hard, Finn waited for the rest of her report. When it came, he experienced a glimmer of hope.
“All our cars and SUVs are equipped with tracking systems,” Selena told him. “Our boss is being informed of the situation, and measures are being put in place to tell us exactly where Meadow’s SUV is.”
Despite knowing it was inane, Finn said, “If Sean took it.”
The roll of Selena’s eyes demonstrated her mood.
“Okay, okay,” Finn said. “I know he probably did. You don’t have to make faces at me.”
“Sorry—not sorry. This is as much my fault as yours. I should have thought about keeping Sean in my custody, whether it was an official order or not.” She paused. “And just so you know, it wasn’t. The kid was supposed to be smart enough to stay out of sight and wait to be taken to Mary.”
Finn nodded. “His problem is, he’s too smart. Or he thinks he is. How long will it be before we know where he’s gone?”
“I can get that info on the fly,” Selena told him. “Let’s get back on the road with Scout and drive around a little. We may spot him.”
“Do you really think so?” Finn knew she was going to say no before she answered, yet a part of him kept hoping.
“I think—” Selena was interrupted by the beep of her phone. She studied the screen, then showed it to Finn.
“That’s the road to the ranch,” he said, incredulous. “Sean is going to see Edward? Really?”
Passing, she grabbed Finn’s arm. “Let’s go.”
The possible scenario of Sean confronting a suspected murderer turned Finn’s blood to ice. And on the man’s home turf, besides. Was that kid crazy?
No, his heart answered. Sean simply loved his family and was trying to return them all to normalcy. Someone with more life experience would have gone about it differently, of course. There was right and there was wrong. In Sean’s eyes, the lines had apparently blurred.
“He thinks he’s doing the right thing,” Finn told Selena as they sped toward the outskirts of Sagebrush. “He’s trying to save me because he loves me.”
“I know,” she answered without taking her eyes off the road. “Me too.”
Finn knew she had only meant she believed in his innocence and was trying to see that he lived to be exonerated, yet his heart was more than willing to add the element of love to the equation. Letting himself consider mutual affection would be as foolish as the steps Sean was currently taking. Finn knew that.
He also knew how deeply he wished love was becoming part of their shared emotions. Had he prayed for it to be? No. Why? Because, in his heart, he was afraid of what the answer might be.