“It doesn’t mean your mother was involved in hiring the men to take you out,” Dan said to Addie, feeling terrible for her and ready to take out her mother, if she was responsible for the attempted hits on Addie.

Addie shook her head. “I know she didn’t. Why would the piece of paper be found lying on the ground? Why wouldn’t the assassin have it in his pocket? And why have it at all? The name isn’t hard to remember. He wouldn’t need to carry it with him. I doubt assassins carry information with them that would identify who hired them. At least, none that I’ve ever dealt with have.”

“Then it’s a setup to put us on her trail. Maybe so we’d go after her next,” Dan said. “Give me her number. I’ll call her. I was on her list. She must have seen something in me that told her I could keep you safe.”

Addie snorted.

Dan raised a brow and smiled a little.

“I don’t mean that you couldn’t keep me safe. You did. But that my mother wished it?”

“That’s what we need to find out.” Dan took the phone number for Addie’s mother and called it. He got an answering machine. Naturally. “Hello, I’m Sheriff Dan Steinacker of Yuma Town, Colorado, and I’m working with your daughter, Addie. For now, I’m keeping her—” The message machine cut off. “Hell.”

“Message machine?” Addie said.

“Yeah. She’s sure to know my number so if she doesn’t return the call by tonight, I’ll call her back. Did you learn anything else?” Dan asked Yvonne and Rick.

“Still working on leads. We’ve got a couple of people checking into several queries we had. The men were known assassins. Why they would want Addie dead is a mystery. Why not just kill her anytime?”

“After I was targeted the first time, I disappeared for good. I had only been back at the job for two days, had another courier meeting, and the same result—an assassination attempt on my life. I never had any trouble before this, not for the last ten and a half years.”

“Then it has to be something to do with the last two assignments you had,” Rick said. “That’s when everything changed for you. Not when you began working with Dan. Unless the person who arranged for that to happen knew it would come to this and so set the plans in motion early on to have a protector for you.”

“Did anyone ever try to convince you to leave the Bureau?” Yvonne asked.

“No, and I’ve enjoyed working for it. It’s just been the last six months, and really just these two cases, that have made me reconsider working for the Bureau. If every assignment you get, someone’s targeting you, there’s no fun in that.”

“These are the only two cases you’ve had when you were targeted,” Dan said.

“True. In the past, I always had the upper hand. I was targeting the perp, and getting my man, or woman, as the case might be.”

Someone unlocked the front door and everyone pulled guns.

Leyton smiled, walked inside the house, and locked the door. “Glad to know everyone’s on high alert. How are you feeling, Addie?”

“Much better,” she said. “Thank you. How’s Kate?”

“Good. She went in late to work today. No emergencies.” Leyton took a seat on one of the chairs and they filled him in about Addie’s mother and the note Ricky had found.

Chase called Dan from the sheriff’s office after that and he put it on speaker. “We’ve got a problem. That pesky reporter from Denver, Carl Nelson, was snooping around, heard gunshots fired, and was looking for a story.”

“Just tell him we were hunting on my property. Was he on my property? Arrest him for trespassing if he’s still around.”

“Will do if I see him around your place again. He left after I spoke with him. He was eyeing the work being done on your place to repair things. No one was talking to him about anything. Not that anyone working on the repairs really knew what had gone down.”

“Hell, I thought he wouldn’t ever show his face around here again after all the trouble we had with protecting Shannon from being his front-page news story.”

“Don’t I know it. I thought we’d run him out of town for good, but he just happened to be driving through town when he heard all the gunfire.”

“Wait, you know him. If he heard the gunfire, he would have hunkered down to watch what was going on.”

“Okay. I’ll check it out. If he left his scent in the area, then what?”

“He could have been video recording the whole thing.”

“Not without a camera equipped with night-vision ability.” Chase paused. “Hell. He could have taken video of us fighting the men as cougars.”

“Removing the bodies. Not reporting it. Find out where he is now!”

“And arrest him?”

“Yeah.”

“We’ve also got a single car wreck out by Dottie’s place. Do you want me to take care of it too?”

“I’ll get on it,” Stryker said.

“Thanks, Chase, Stryker, for helping to hold down the fort on the sheriffing business.” Dan’s thoughts were so tied up in the business with Addie, it was hard to think of anything else.

“That would be great. If Stryker has a minute, there’s a cat in a tree he can rescue too,” Chase said.

Dan smiled.

Stryker shook his head. “Chase is doing some real deputy sheriff business and I’m stuck getting a cat out of a tree.” Stryker rose from his chair. “I’ll look for Carl Nelson while I’m at it.”

Dan swore Stryker liked how a couple of their older cougar widows always asked for him, even if he pretended not to want to waste his time over it, knowing perfectly well the cats would get down on their own.

“Keep me posted, and while I’m rescuing a cat, if I see anything suspicious with regard to Addie, I’ll call it in.” Stryker left then.

“We’ll keep looking into the Bureau situation,” Yvonne said and Rick agreed. They left then too.

Leyton leaned back in his chair. “If anyone needs to do anything else, run errands, or whatever, feel free to. Kate’s working at the clinic now, and I’m free to do guard duty. Unless you need to take down a reporter.”

“Chase will call up everyone to make them aware we’ve got a potential ticking time bomb running loose. Unless Carl tore off for Denver, my bet is he’s still here looking for more details. I’ll give him credit for that, at least. He’s a good investigative reporter. Only we sure as hell don’t need him reporting on anything here.”

“Agreed,” Leyton said.

“I need some more groceries,” Bridget said. “Is there anything you’d like, Addie?”

She shook her head. “We’ll probably be returning to Dan’s house soon, won’t we?”

“Only if we have some extra firepower,” Dan said. “I think for now, even after we get the house repaired, we should stay here. The likelihood that someone else would come for you at my house would be greater.”

“I can’t believe you’re a brunette, after Mrs. Fitz said she saw a blond enter your house,” Leyton said.

“A wig. I was incognito. I’m glad she was fooled then.”

“She has an eagle eye. I’m surprised she didn’t realize it wasn’t natural,” Bridget said. “I really expected a blond too.” She grabbed up her purse and headed for the front door when someone knocked. She pulled out her gun and continued to the door. When she looked out the peephole, she shook her head. “Speak of the devil, it’s Mrs. Fitz, Florence Fitzgerald, bringing pastries from her shop, no doubt, to learn more about what’s going on.” She opened the door. “Why, Mrs. Fitz, how lovely to see you again.”

“After last night’s escapade, and knowing you’d all be here, and with so many dropping in and out, I thought I’d bring by some cupcakes, cookies, and other pastries to celebrate having a new cougar in town.”

“Thank you,” Bridget said.

Dan knew Mrs. Fitz wanted to come in and meet the mystery woman, since she left last night before she could do so. He should have said no to it, but she always knew the gossip of what was going on in town even before they knew it. She could be a valuable resource.

“Bridget was on her way out to do some grocery shopping. Come on in, Mrs. Fitz, and have some coffee with us,” Dan said.

“Oh, my, certainly, thank you.” Silver-haired, and always smiling, Mrs. Fitz hurried to join them while Bridget grabbed a couple of chocolate-chip cookies, thanked her, and left.

“This is Addie, my guest, and as you’re well-aware, we’ve had a bit of trouble. She’s a federal agent with the FBI,” Dan said. “She’s been injured and we’re taking care of her.”

Mrs. Fitz’s blue eyes widened. Then she hurried to offer the treats to everyone, like the perfect hostess would.

Addie selected an apple turnover and thanked her.

Leyton declined. “Kate said she’s eating for two, but I wasn’t allowed to.”

Everyone laughed.

Travis helped himself to a chocolate-frosted, chocolate cupcake.

Dan thanked her, but said he’d have something later. He needed to get down to business. “All right, so Chase has put out the word that we need some help locating that reporter, Carl Nelson. He might have gotten some video of us as cougars last night when we had so much trouble at my house.”

“Oh, no,” Mrs. Fitz said.

“Right. That’s bad news. Everyone usually ends up at your place sometime or another, so if he shows up, let us know, but don’t let on you’re calling us about him.”

“He was there this morning already. He asked me a million questions. I told him I’d tell him anything I learned, but that I didn’t know what had happened. Which is why I came by here bearing treats, in case he’s watching to see where I go. Of course, I’d never tell him anything you didn’t want him to know, which is why I wanted to learn what it is you want me to share.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Fitz. It’s a dangerous business,” Dan said.

“Absolutely. What is it that you want me to say?”

“Just that federal agents are involved, and it’s an ongoing investigation. Which is the truth.”

“What about Addie’s identity?”

“No. We’ll keep quiet about that.”

“All right.” Mrs. Fitz slapped her lap, a smile stretched across her face. “I’m going to get out of your hair so you can take care of this business.” She stood, then leaned over and gave Addie a hug. “Welcome, dear. I hope you’re going to stay around for a while longer this time.”

Dan stared at Mrs. Fitz. She couldn’t have known Addie was the same woman who came to his place six months ago.

Mrs. Fitz smiled and whispered conspiratorially to them. “Something you might want to know about me. I’m a former CIA operative. So was my husband, Ralph. We were both retired. I know everything that goes on. It’s hard to let go of all the training I’ve had in the business. If you run out of treats, let me know and I’ll drop them off, being that you might not be able to leave here for the time being.” She smiled brightly.

Dan swore everyone was gaping at her, like he was, but then he thought she had to be teasing.

Leyton escorted her to the door so he could lock up after her. “CIA,” Leyton said, smiling at her.

“Yeah, who would have thought it.” She smiled up at him. “Having the bakery was my dream occupation once I left the Agency as well as being among my own kind again. Your secrets are safe with me.” Then Mrs. Fitz patted him on the chest and left.

“Well, hell, I wondered why I always liked the old gal,” Dan said, figuring she was telling the truth.

“Maybe she’s got some friends in the CIA who could check this out,” Leyton said.

Dan got a call from Chase and put the phone on speaker. “Yeah, Chase?”

“Ricky and Kolby are out at your place looking around for Carl’s scent, and they found he’d been all over the place. We can’t determine when exactly though. Last night? Or sometime today?”

“All right. That’s what I figured.”

“It’s okay if the boys are out there looking for any other evidence, isn’t it? They didn’t want to get into trouble with you.”

Dan snorted. “They think to ask now?”

Chase laughed. “Yeah, I know.”

“Mrs. Fitz just dropped by with some treats and gave us a heads up on Carl. He’s trying to learn what he can about what went on last night.” Dan told Chase what the story would be. “She also dropped a bomb. She says she’s a retired CIA operative.”

“What? Do you believe her?”

Dan got another cup of coffee to go with a vanilla cupcake covered in maple frosting. “Knowing Mrs. Fitz, I wouldn’t be surprised. She seems to know so much of what’s going on way before we do, sometimes. She seemed to realize Addie was the one who came to see me, and that she hadn’t really been a blond.”

“Well, I’ll be. She was helping to cover for her, even back then.”

“Seems like it.”

“Way to go, Mrs. Fitz,” Chase said.

“I’m still shocked at the revelation. Have you seen any sign of Carl?” Dan asked.

“No, but since the call went out, I’ve been hearing from tons of people who either have seen him or who have fielded his questions.”

“Okay, well, keep me posted.”

“Will do.”

When they ended the call, Dan called Addie’s mother again, but it just went to voicemail.

“Until the next storm hits, I think I’ll lie down for a while.” Addie couldn’t believe the woman who had brought pizzas to the shootout last night was Flo, her mom’s old friend, and that now she was operating a bakery in Yuma Town. She never would have connected her with the name Mrs. Fitz, or Florence Fitzgerald. Her mom had only introduced her as Flo and that was it.

“Need any company?” Dan asked.

She chuckled. “Tonight. For now, I think I’ll sleep better, alone.”

“All right.” Dan turned to Leyton. “Do you have a less squeaky bed?”

Leyton laughed. “The one I used at the end of the hall is nice and quiet.”

Addie said, “We’re moving to it.” Then she disappeared upstairs. She hated feeling this out of it, just like the last time when the assassin had tried to kill her. She wondered then if it was the same man. She hadn’t had a chance to take him down. At least now, this one was dead.

She had business to take care of too. She found a home phone in the bedroom and used it to call Mrs. Fitz’s Bakery. “Hello, Flo? It’s me, Addie. It’s been a long time since I last saw you. What do you know about my mother?”