Cardwell Ranch Trespasser - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,49
of his office. Colt mouthed Thank you and quickly left. It wasn’t until he reached home that he finally unfolded the sheet and saw what was written on it.
He went straight to his computer. It didn’t take long before he found what he was looking for—and then some.
Chapter Twelve
Hilde knew things hadn’t gone well at the marshal’s office the moment she opened the door and saw Colt’s face.
“What happened?” she asked, as she let him in.
“Nothing to worry about.”
“He found out that you sent Dee’s fingerprints to the crime lab.”
“I knew there was a chance that might happen.”
“Tell me he didn’t fire you,” she cried.
“He didn’t. Suspended for two weeks. As it turns out, the suspension couldn’t come at a better time. I’ve got some news.”
They moved into the kitchen, where Hilde got him a beer and poured a glass of wine for herself. She had a feeling she was going to need it. “I hate getting you into trouble.”
“You didn’t. I’m in this just as deep as you are,” he said, and kissed her as he took the cold bottle of beer she offered him. He took a sip. She watched him, desire making her legs weak as water.
She dropped into a chair in front of the fireplace, curling her legs under her and taking a drink of her wine. She’d built a small fire since he’d said he would be back. She’d tried not to count the minutes.
Colt didn’t sit but stood in front of the fire. She could tell he was worked up, too antsy to sit.
“You have news?” she asked, afraid what he was about to tell her.
“Rick Cameron’s real name was Richard Northland. Cameron was apparently one of a number of aliases he has used. He was a small-time con artist, been arrested a couple of times, but nothing that got him more than a little jail time. The person he cheated tended to drop the charges.”
Hilde felt her eyes widen. “So he and Dee had a lot in common.”
“I’m sure Dee was shocked by the news when Hud told her.”
Hilde let out a humorless laugh. “I’m sure she was.”
“There’s more. Her fingerprints weren’t on file. But when I did some digging online, I found a story about Richard and his sister, Camilla Northland.”
“His sister?”
Colt nodded. “The two of them were the only survivors of a fire at their home in Tuttle, Oklahoma. Both parents were killed. Apparently there was some suspicion that one or both might have purposely started the fire. Richard was fourteen at the time, Camilla sixteen.”
“Are you saying what I think you are?” Hilde asked.
“I’m trying hard not to jump to any conclusions. All we know for sure is that the man lying in the morgue is Richard Northland from Tuttle, Oklahoma. I’ll know more once I get there.”
“Get there?”
“I’m flying to Oklahoma tomorrow on the first flight out.”
Hilde got up from her chair and moved to the fire as a sudden chill skittered across her skin like spider legs. “You think there’s a possibility that Dee is his sister?”
“A possibility based on nothing more than a feeling that the two of them knew each other longer than Dee said.”
She recalled how Rick had turned around when the naked Dee had gotten out of the lake. “Dana thought Rick was Dee’s boyfriend.”
“Probably because that’s what she told her. I haven’t been able to find out much of anything about Camilla because she dropped off radar right after the fire. According to a newspaper account, the two were going to live with an aunt since their parents were the only family they had.”
“She dropped off the radar because she’s not using her real name?”
“That would be my guess. While I’m gone I want you to stay clear of Dee.”
“If she finds out where you’ve gone...”
“She won’t. I’ll tell someone at the station that I’m going to Denver to see my brother. I’m sure by now they all know I’ve been suspended.”
“Colt,” she said, touching his strong shoulder. “I don’t want to see you lose your job.”
“I won’t. I think whatever I find out in Oklahoma will change things drastically.”
Hilde couldn’t help being nervous. “Be careful. I’m just afraid what Dee might do if she thinks you’re onto her. So far it’s just me she’s after.”
“Yeah, that’s what worries me. Look what happened to Rick,” Colt said.
Hilde shivered and he took her in his arms. “I just don’t want her moving up her plan, whatever it is.”
“I’m more worried about you. I wish