in case something bad should happen. I didn’t realize why, not until she was gasping for breath. She told me to run. I did. I was so afraid . . . !”
“It’s all right,” he said gently, calming her. “Nobody will blame you for that. Certainly not the authorities back in Aspen. But you will need to come back and testify.”
“Darrin has friends in organized crime. He also has somebody in the police department,” she added solemnly.
His eyebrows arched. “He does?”
“Yes. So the minute I go back, I’ll have an accident, and Darrin will go free. I’m the only eyewitness. Isn’t that how it works? If I don’t testify, he can’t be convicted.”
The man looked thoughtful. “I suppose so.”
“Then what can I do?” she asked. She noticed that he was giving her diamond ring a long, careful scrutiny, and that there was the faintest smile on his face.
“Where’s the will?” he wanted to know.
She thought it an odd question. She was about to tell him, however, when the bell on the front door rang and Butch walked in, tall and handsome in jeans and chambray shirt, boots, wide-brimmed Stetson and a shepherd’s coat. He looked around, spotted Esther, and made a beeline for her.
“Butch,” she exclaimed, with some relief, and smiled at him. “This is Mr. . . .” She paused. “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name,” she said.
“Cameron,” the other man replied, and shook hands with Butch, who pulled up a chair.
“Butch Matthews,” came the answering greeting. “You’re the investigator.”
Cameron nodded. “I’ve just been going over the case with Miss Marist here.”
“I wonder if you could put it off until the morning?” Butch asked with a smile. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got an emergency and I need her to help me with it. It’s Two-Toes,” he told Esther.
“Oh, no!” she exclaimed. “What happened?”
“He got out into the road,” he said heavily. “A truck hit him . . .”
“He’s not dead!” she exclaimed, almost in tears.
“No!” he replied at once. “But he’s bruised and I’m pretty sure his hind leg is broken. I need you to help me get him inside.” He looked at the investigator and indicated his empty sleeve. “She’s handy. I can’t manage a lot of things on my own.”
“Well . . .” The investigator hesitated. “I could go with you, I guess . . .”
“Two-Toes would eat you. He’s a wolf,” he added, his dark eyes meeting the other man’s. “I’m a wildlife rehabilitator, and he lives with Esther and me. She’s the only other person he’ll allow to touch him,” he informed the other man, with a quick warning glance at Esther, who read it at once and didn’t blurt out that Parker was familiar to Two-Toes and would certainly help if asked.
“I’ll come with you right now.” She turned after she got to her feet. “I’ll be working in the morning, if you could come back then?” she asked. “If it’s not too much trouble?”
“No trouble at all,” Cameron said with a forced smile.
“Okay, then. Butch, let’s go. I’ll stop by and tell them why I’m leaving . . .”
She headed to the counter, with Butch right behind her.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Okay, what’s going on?” Esther asked Butch when they were in the truck and headed home. “Parker would have been glad to help you get Two-Toes inside.”
“Sure he would, if I needed help. Two-Toes is watching television. Sorry I had to scare you, but I had to get you away from Cameron in a hurry and that was the best way. You looked upset when I walked in. Why?”
“He asked me where the will was. Mama’s will.” She frowned. “Isn’t that an odd question for an investigator to ask?”
“It would be, if he was one,” Butch said curtly. “One of the sheriff ’s deputies called Aspen to ask if an investigator had been sent out here. They said no.”
Her lips parted on a breath. “Oh, my gosh, Darrin’s found me, hasn’t he? You’re in danger!” she exclaimed, looking at Butch with sheer horror in her eyes.
His heart jumped. Her life was in danger and she was worried about his safety. It was enlightening. Flattering. He felt like dancing. Except that the situation was dire and getting more dire by the minute.
“Yes, I’m afraid the man knows your mother’s boyfriend. Aspen authorities told the deputy that the coroner actually did find your mother’s death suspicious, but they aren’t looking at you. They’re looking at Darrin. The way she was tossed down the staircase isn’t something