One Night Standoff - By Delores Fossen Page 0,53
latest call and sank down on the edge of the desk next to where she was sitting. “We got the search warrant, but it might be too late. Two FBI agents just showed up at the Abilene police department.”
Lenora groaned and dropped the back of her head against the chair. “Dr. Landry must have told James about the recording.”
He nodded. “Probably because he threatened or intimidated her.”
Yes, but Lenora hadn’t thought they could keep something like that a secret for long. Essentially it would be withholding evidence, maybe even obstruction of justice, and she couldn’t imagine the doctor willingly becoming embroiled in something that could land her in jail. Still, Lenora wished that James hadn’t managed to get agents over to Abilene P.D. so quickly.
“We do have something going for us,” Clayton continued. “Several Abilene officers will accompany the FBI to conduct the search. So maybe James won’t be able to have the recording hidden or destroyed, if that’s what he was planning to do.”
That was a big maybe. If James was the person on the recording, he would no doubt do whatever it took to make sure his guilt didn’t come to light. If he was innocent, then they had nothing to worry about, because this could be a key piece of evidence that would blow the case wide-open.
Clayton turned the laptop in his direction and scanned through some emails. They’d been in the office for several hours now, and Lenora had noticed the email alerts popping onto the screen. Most were from Clayton’s brothers, who were all working hard on the investigation. He clicked on the most recent email from Harlan, and she leaned in closer and read it along with him.
It wasn’t good news.
Harlan still hadn’t been able to get any info on the bank-account numbers that Quentin had given them.
“He hasn’t been able to link the money to Melvin,” Lenora mumbled. Yet another possible key piece of evidence that could still pan out.
“There might not be anything to link,” Clayton reminded her. “The numbers could be bogus.”
True, but if they did turn out to be real, that particular piece of evidence might confirm what was on the recording. And even if the account numbers didn’t lead back to Melvin, that didn’t mean the man was innocent.
Clayton looked at her and at the phone he’d just put back into his pocket. “Why don’t you go ahead and get some rest?”
It wasn’t that late, just past nine-thirty, but with the hellish events of the day, it felt a lot later. Of course, it’d been a while since she’d actually slept, and that was adding to the fatigue, too.
“The ranch is locked up tight,” Clayton went on, “and the security system is set. The ranch hands are all armed and doing patrol. Around midnight I’ll relieve Cutter so he can rest.” Clearly, he was trying to convince her to go to bed.
Alone.
Lenora nearly stood and did as Clayton had said. But then she saw him glance at his phone again, and she frowned. “What are you planning to do?”
She saw the debate go through his eyes, and Lenora kept her stare firm. “I’m calling Melvin,” he finally admitted.
Well, that certainly seemed safer than some of the other possibilities that had gone through her mind—like Clayton going to Abilene to keep an eye on the agents James had sent to retrieve the recording. She didn’t want him anywhere near James, but more important, she didn’t want him away from the ranch. Right now it seemed the safest place for both of them to be, especially since two of his brothers, Declan and Wyatt, were there, as well.
“You think Melvin might confess to receiving money for the hired guns?” she asked.
He lifted his shoulder and gave a weary huff. “No.”
That’s exactly what she figured. “Then don’t put yourself through that. Just wait until some of the other evidence comes through for us, and maybe that evidence will be what you need to arrest Melvin.” Lenora paused. “It will be so much easier if Melvin is guilty.”
Clayton made a sound of agreement. “Arresting him would give me a certain satisfaction.” But he shrugged. “It wouldn’t change things, though.”
“Would you want to change things?”
He blinked, maybe surprised that she’d want to launch into a discussion about their old baggage. She didn’t. Not really. But old baggage had a way of making it into the present.
“Rocky Creek Children’s Facility was a bad place,” he said, obviously thinking about his answer. “But if I hadn’t