The Marshal's Hostage - By Delores Fossen Page 0,26

unloading boxes in the kitchen about that time. Wyatt was apparently in one of the storage sheds making out with Amy Simmons, the caretaker’s daughter.”

Dallas nodded, probably because he remembered Wyatt’s string of hot and heavy romances. It seemed that Wyatt had grown up a lot faster than the rest of them had, and his rock-star cowboy looks hadn’t hurt one bit. Back then, anyway. Wyatt was the only one of them to have ever married. Of course, that hadn’t worked out so well for him. His wife had died two years ago, and he hadn’t put those rock-star looks to use by jumping back into the dating pool.

“That leaves Declan,” Dallas finally said, “and he was in the infirmary because Webb had given him a beating just hours earlier.”

Now, it was her turn to nod. “But no one can verify that Declan was actually there.”

Dallas’s next round of profanity was raw. “Declan was barely thirteen and scrawny. No way could he have stabbed a man Webb’s size.”

“I agree. But he could have gotten the drop on him and surprised him. Declan had a strong motive. And he threatened to kill Webb when he beat him.”

“Hell, I threatened Webb, too.” Dallas groaned, put his hands on his hips. “This sure as hell better not be the secret—that you’re going to tell the governor that Declan is the killer.”

“No.” And that’s all she said for several seconds. “A few weeks ago, Kirby called me and said he had proof that he’d murdered Webb.”

“He didn’t!” Dallas shouted.

Since Dallas looked on the verge of exploding, she hurried toward him and took him by the arm to keep him from storming back to Kirby’s room for an explanation.

“I don’t believe Kirby killed Webb, either,” Joelle said, blocking Dallas’s path.

Another bad idea. Because they slammed into each other again. She still wasn’t too steady on her feet, and she stumbled. Right into Dallas’s arms.

Instant contact again. Instant memories.

Instant heat, too.

She had to take a moment before she could continue. “I think whatever proof that Kirby claimed he had was fake. Or circumstantial at best. He was adamant that if it came down to one of you being arrested, that I would help him release the so-called evidence so that he’d be charged instead.”

Dallas froze, obviously thinking about that. “You agreed to that stupid plan?”

“No. Because I knew none of you would allow it. But Dallas, I’m betting if one of you is arrested, whatever Kirby has will show up in some law enforcement office. And if he doesn’t actually have anything, he might try to create it.”

He didn’t argue with that because he no doubt knew it was true. Joelle also figured it would be impossible to talk Kirby out of it. Even though until this incident she’d been out of touch with him for years, the man had always been a little pigheaded. And a lot pigheaded when it came to his foster sons.

Dallas again noticed the close contact between them and he moved away from her. Not far though. In fact, they ended up leaning against the same wall. Practically shoulder to shoulder.

“What specific evidence did Kirby say he had?” Dallas asked. He blew out a long breath and scrubbed his hand over his face.

“He didn’t. But when Owen told me he had the knife, I thought maybe he’d stolen it from Kirby. Kirby denied that.”

“You and Kirby have been having a lot of conversations,” he grumbled.

“Not long ones, I assure you. I know how sick he is, and I didn’t press him on anything. In fact, I didn’t want anyone to know about what he told me.”

“A secret,” Dallas repeated in the same tone as his profanity. “How did Owen find out?”

She blinked, and Joelle could have sworn her heart skipped a beat.

“Owen said you had secrets,” Dallas clarified. “How did he find out this possible package of evidence that Kirby has?”

“I’m not sure,” she answered as soon as she got her mouth working. “Maybe he bugged my condo. Maybe Lindsey did.”

Oh, mercy.

With everything else going on, she hadn’t considered that until now. Of course, either Lindsey or Owen was capable of doing something like that. Especially Owen. He would have definitely wanted to learn everything she’d found out about him.

“What exactly do you have on Owen that would make him go to these extremes?” Dallas asked.

Finally, an easy question, but she doubted he’d like this answer any more than the others she’d given him. “Investments with shady businesses, and Owen wasn’t