The Marshal's Hostage - By Delores Fossen Page 0,41
lovers again that I wanted proof to show Owen.”
Dallas repeated Joelle’s “Why?”
“So he’d break things off with her, of course.” Lindsey’s tone indicated that the reason was obvious.
But it wasn’t obvious to Dallas. Nor to Joelle, judging by the way she groaned. Before either of them could respond, Clayton’s phone rang, and he stepped outside the room to take the call.
“What did Owen tell you about our so-called engagement?” Joelle demanded from Lindsey.
“We’ve got another visitor,” Clayton called out. “Must be our lucky day,” he added, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
More footsteps, and someone cleared their throat. A moment later, Owen appeared in the doorway. Obviously, he’d heard their voices from the interview room where he was supposed to have been waiting, and he looked about as pleased with Lindsey’s accusations and revelations as Joelle did.
“I told Lindsey the truth.” Owen planted his stare on Joelle. “And the truth is we’re in love and are getting married.”
The words were right, with even a touch of affection in them, but Dallas knew it was a coldhearted threat for Joelle to play along with the lie.
“But she doesn’t love you,” Lindsey snapped. “I can see it, and you could, too, if you’d just look at her. She’s still in love with the marshal.”
“I’m not.” But then Joelle shook her head. “And it doesn’t have any bearing on what’s happening.” She turned her own stare on Owen. “Someone tried to kill us again. Any idea who might have done that?”
Owen glanced at Lindsey. “I heard her say that she hired the man to follow you. Maybe she hired him to set the fire, too.”
Lindsey made a helpless sound, part gasp, part sob, and she snapped toward Owen. “I love you, but I couldn’t do something like that.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “I just wanted you to see what she is, and that she’s not the right woman for you.”
Owen’s expression softened a little, and he brushed his hand down Lindsey’s arm. “Yes, she is, and you’re just going to have to accept that.”
Lindsey made a sound of outrage, and it was so loud that it had Saul stepping from the interview room. He took a look at them all, cursed and eased the door shut.
“This better not be a witness interrogation,” Saul warned.
“It’s not,” Dallas quickly assured him. “Owen didn’t stay in the interview room, and she showed up out of the blue.” He pointed to Lindsey. “She claims she hired the man inside that room to watch Joelle.” And then he pointed to Owen. “I’m guessing he’s just here to tell more lies.”
Owen smiled, probably because he thought Dallas couldn’t elaborate on those lies.
Especially the lies that mattered.
“Uh, guys,” Clayton said, stepping back into the mix. “I got some news.” He looked first at Dallas and then motioned for Saul to step aside.
Saul did, but he didn’t just back away from them, he went much farther down the hall with Clayton. All of them watched and tried to listen, but Dallas couldn’t hear a thing. Whatever Clayton said to him caused Saul’s eyes to widen, and Dallas could have sworn the man blew out a short breath of relief.
“You’re sure?” Saul pressed.
“The fax is on the way,” Clayton explained.
“What’s going on?” Joelle whispered to him.
Dallas had to shake his head. He had no idea, but they didn’t have to wait long because both Saul and Clayton started back toward them.
“You,” Saul said, pointing to Lindsey. He hitched his thumb to one of the interview rooms. “Wait there. No reason for you to be in on this conversation.”
Lindsey huffed and looked around as if she might argue, but she didn’t. Maybe because she figured out it was an argument she couldn’t win. She stormed away, went inside the room and slammed the door.
“The lab just sent us the preliminary test results on the knife and handkerchief,” Saul announced to the rest of them. “The knife’s clean. No prints. No DNA.”
Dallas had to do a mental double take. “What?”
“Nothing on it,” Saul verified. “That puts you and your brothers in the clear. Not Kirby though.”
Any relief that Dallas felt went flying out the window. “What the hell does that mean?”
“The handkerchief had Kirby’s DNA and some blood spots that the lab hasn’t been able to ID yet. If it’s Webb’s blood...” But Saul didn’t finish that thought.
Didn’t have to.
Kirby would be questioned, maybe even charged with the murder, if it was Webb’s blood.
Except Dallas wasn’t going to let that happen.
“You’re sure the knife