CHAPTER ELEVEN
Jake was having second and third thoughts about this meeting with Tanner, but most of his concerns centered around Maggie. The entire time they’d been at the ranch for a quick breakfast and to shower and change, he’d tried to talk her out of coming with him.
Man, she was stubborn.
He hadn’t forgotten that about her, but it wasn’t a good time for that stubbornness to surface. He would have felt a lot easier about facing down Tanner if Maggie had been safely tucked away with the Amarillo P.D.
Of course, he wouldn’t have stayed put while someone else asked the questions he wanted to ask. So, maybe they were both stubborn. Plus, the prison was the one place where Jake was sure Tanner couldn’t attack them. Still, he didn’t want to waste time here.
Jake had managed to call Royce and get an update on Sunny, but the rest of his planned calls had been a bust because of poor reception during the drive. Once they were back in Mustang Ridge and headed to Amarillo, he needed to finish up some business and arrange for duty relief for his deputy.
Maggie and he made their way through the security at the prison, and the guard led them to the visiting area where he seated them at the small table. Tanner wasn’t there yet, but when he arrived, he’d be seated behind the thick glass.
That suited Jake just fine.
Tanner was certain to push a few of their buttons, and Jake didn’t know if he could keep his temper in check, since Tanner had hired the triggerman who’d murdered Anna.
A muscle-bound man wearing a suit stood in the corner. Tanner’s lawyer, Sherman Toliver. The guard had informed Maggie and Jake that he’d be there, probably to advise his client if the need arose. Judging from his glare, he didn’t want this meeting to happen at all.
Beside him, Maggie drew in a deep breath and glanced around. Her nerves were definitely showing.
“There’s still time for you to leave,” Jake reminded her. “You can wait in the reception area with the security guard.”
“No,” she said before he even finished the offer. “I need to do this.”
Yeah. He understood that.
Anna’s death would always be a wound that wouldn’t heal. For both of them. Jake could see that now, how Anna’s death had crushed them both. But part of him still didn’t want this shared kinship with Maggie. It would cause too many complications, not just for him but for his family.
Did that make him want her less?
No.
And that’s why he reached out and slipped his hand over hers so he could give it a gentle squeeze. She looked at him, managed a slight smile, but it ended just as quickly as it came because the guard escorted Tanner to the table.
Tanner took one look at them and flashed an oily smile that put a knot in Jake’s stomach.
The man hadn’t changed much in the two years since Jake had last seen him. Tall with a sturdy build. He no longer had a two-hundred-dollar haircut and that rich facade, but he still somehow managed to look formidable even in shackles.
Tanner sat, his attention fixed on Maggie, and he picked up the phone the same moment Jake did. Since there was no speaker function, Maggie moved closer to Jake so she could hear.
“Aww, I was hoping for Santa Claus,” Tanner joked. “To what do I owe this special holiday visit?”
“You sent a message with Dr. Grange for us to see you so you could give us some important information,” Jake fired back. “Information about the person you hired to kill us.”
Tanner faked being surprised by gasping and widening his eyes. “Now, now, Sheriff McCall, you know I wouldn’t do anything that heinous. And since this conversation is almost certainly being recorded, you also know I’d never say anything to incriminate myself.”
“You’re on death row,” Maggie reminded him.
“But I do have appeals. Maybe even a pardon from the governor. A man’s gotta think about that, huh?”
Tanner stood no chance of either, and Jake hoped his stare let the man know that.
Tanner leaned closer to the glass, met Jake’s eyes. “But I don’t think it would hurt matters to say how much I despise you. Both of you,” he added, sparing Maggie a glance. “However, since you’re alive, then I guess you managed to dodge any bullets that came your way. Too bad.”
“Yeah. Your hired gun is now a DB.”
Tanner just smiled. No way would he admit to hiring that gunman, so Jake went in a different direction. “David came to the ranch and said you two were no longer in each other’s good graces.”
The man’s expression didn’t change. “He’s right. It appears David has grown a conscience or something.”
Jake shook his head. “So, I’m to believe he’s a changed man?”
“Believe what you will.”
Maggie moved closer to the phone, which put her arm to arm with Jake. Tanner’s attention went to that contact, and he lifted an eyebrow as if he sensed something between them.
“I heard rumors that you think your rift with David has something to do with me,” Maggie tossed out there.
“It does,” Tanner admitted. “Well, you and your dead sister. He heard word about the kid being sick, and David went all boo-hoo on me. Poor kid with no mom to save her life, and David believes that’s my fault. A guilty conscience is the sign of a sick mind.”
And in Tanner’s own sick mind, that might actually make sense.
“David said it had something to do with a witness,” Jake commented.
Tanner shrugged. “Maybe. And maybe David was just being disloyal to me. I mean, it’s not as if I can walk out of here and take care of things myself. Some son,” he grumbled.
“Does that mean you don’t care if our deal is broken?” Maggie asked.
Tanner’s anger was immediate, and it flashed like fire through his eyes. “Oh, I care all right.” And even though that was all he said, it was a threat. “I’m sure you remember the terms of our deal that you broke. And you no doubt remember the consequences. You’ve already reneged on the part about staying away, but the consequences will be tenfold if you renege on the rest of it.”
Jake silently cursed. That deal Maggie had made with the marshals might cause Tanner to go after her with a vengeance. Of course, he was already trying to kill her, so maybe it couldn’t get worse.
“Go ahead,” Maggie said, her glare fixed to Tanner. “You know you’re dying to tell me how much you want me dead.”
She was trying to goad Tanner into saying something incriminating. Something that could be used against him in the appeals process.
But Tanner leaned back, chuckled. “You already know how I feel about you, Maggie. No need to spell it out.”
There was some chatter behind them, and Jake looked back to see the guard escorting someone else into the room.
David.
Now, what the devil was he doing here? The lawyer, Sherman Toliver, must have wanted to know the same thing, because he made a beeline for them.
“What a treat.” But Tanner didn’t seem happy to see his son. Of course, it could be an act to make Jake believe there truly was a rift between David and him.
“Why are you here?” Maggie demanded.
David tipped his head to his father and moved closer to the phone. “He had one of his lawyers call and demand that I come. He said my visit could save Maggie’s life.”
Jake looked at Tanner to see his take on it, but he only shrugged. “I have no idea what he’s talking about.”
“You bastard.” David’s eyes narrowed to slits. “What kind of sick game are you playing now?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Tanner smiled when he looked at Maggie. “What do you think? Do you believe I’d give David any information that would save you or Jake?”
“No,” she readily answered. “But I figure you’re itching to brag about what you’ve done. For instance, you probably want us to hear why a man like Dr. Gavin Grange would possibly allow himself to be corrupted by a man like you.”
Oh, Tanner got that smug look on his face, and again Jake had to rein in his temper. “Just speculating, of course, but most people can be corrupted for money. Not you and the good sheriff, of course. Apparently not my son, either. The only thing that can corrupt you is family and the quest for justice. How nauseating, right?”
“Nauseating is right,” Maggie repeated sarcastically. “Are you saying you bought Grange?”
Tanner dismissed that with the wave of his hand.
“What about Wade Garfield?” Jake came out and asked when Tanner didn’t add anything about Dr. Grange. “Is he working for you?”
“Wade,” he repeated, the man’s name curving his mouth into another smile. “He’s some piece of work, huh? You were stupid to trust him.”
Jake had known from the beginning. “He came to you after the project I did with him?”
“In a manner of speaking. If you expect me to tell you that I did business with him, then you’re wrong.”
“You’re protecting him,” David accused.
Tanner lifted his shoulder. “I’m protecting myself.”
“You don’t stand a chance of having your conviction overturned,” Jake informed him. “The triggerman you hired rolled on you, Tanner. He had proof that you paid him. There’s no way for you and your lawyers to get around that.”
“As long as I have money, there are ways around everything.”
Jake was afraid that was the truth, and it made him sick to his stomach to know that as long as Tanner drew breath, or had all that money, he would always be a threat. It wasn’t what he wanted to do, but he might have to move Sunny and the rest of his family away from Mustang Ridge.
Away from their home.
But before things got that far, maybe he could figure out a way to stop Tanner once and for all.
Tanner turned back to Jake. “I’m surprised you haven’t asked me about the details of your father’s visit.”
“It’s on my to-do list,” Jake said.
And yeah, he would ask his father all about it, but first he wanted to hear what Tanner had to say so he could compare his version against what Chet would tell him. Jake really wanted to trust his father on this, but he wasn’t sure he could. However, he did know that his father would never do anything to endanger any of his kids or threaten Sunny’s safety.
“I guess you know all about Chet’s attempts to work out a deal with me to find Maggie,” Tanner tossed out there.
No, he didn’t know, and that’s exactly the information Jake wanted. “What did my father supposedly offer you for the information?”
“In theory?” Tanner smiled again. “He offered me nothing, but I think he mentioned something about it being dangerous for Maggie to have her relocation identity revealed.” He paused. “But what you really want to know—did Chet want me to kill Maggie after she donated the marrow to your precious daughter?”
“Did he?” And Jake hated that he even had to ask.
“What do you think?” Tanner laughed.
Jake was thinking he was glad the glass was between them or he would have punched this moron.
Maggie stood and latched on to Jake’s shoulder. “We’re wasting our time. He doesn’t know how to tell the truth.”
“Oh, I know how,” Tanner insisted. “I know you should keep your eyes open. Even around my own son. I don’t know what his angle is, but he’s not playing for me right now.”
“I’m trying to help them,” David insisted. He leaned forward, his face close to the glass. “And if you send your dogs after me, remember that I have nearly as much money as you do. I can send dogs, too.”
Jake watched Tanner’s body language, to see if he could figure out if this rift was real. But he saw no verification of that. Tanner was practically beaming. A proud father. Maybe because his son was playing along with some plan that Tanner had concocted—get Maggie and him to trust David so that Tanner could use his son to dig the knife in a little deeper.
It wouldn’t work.
Jake had no intention of trusting either of them.
David and Tanner held their stare a little longer, and then David walked out.
Jake turned back to Tanner, trying to figure out what he’d learned this visit, and he decided Maggie was right. It was a waste of time. He got up, ready to leave.
“About Dr. Grange,” Tanner said. He waited until Jake was facing him again before he continued. “Why don’t you check his banks accounts and see what you find? And I don’t mean the accounts he has in name. Look in the ones he’s set up for a certain charity organization.”
Hell. That could be a bluff, but that smug look said otherwise. Jake made a mental note to do a financial check on the doctor.
Jake hurried now to get out of there and wished he had time for another shower. He felt as if he’d been mucking around in the dirt.
Maggie and he went back through security and into the main reception area where David appeared to be waiting for them.
“I came because I thought I would help you,” David volunteered. “And if you think I’m lying, check phone records. My dad’s lawyer called me a little over an hour and asked me to come.”
A little over an hour ago was when Jake had phoned the prison to request a visit with Tanner. Maybe one of the prison officials had contacted the lawyer. Or maybe Tanner had managed to buy off one of those officials, too.
As long as I have money, there are ways around everything, Tanner had bragged, and Jake didn’t think that was too far from the truth.
“One more thing,” David said to them as they all walked toward the front door. He looked at Maggie. “I don’t know what you plan to do with the evidence against me, but I’m begging you to destroy it.”
That stopped Jake and her in their tracks. Maggie stared at him, shook her head. “Why would I do that?”
“Because I don’t want it in my father’s hands. You may not believe me, but he’s trying to set me up for something. And with that evidence, he can send me to jail.”
“Your father said he’d retaliate against me if I didn’t hold to my bargain to keep the evidence from seeing the light of day. That doesn’t sound like a man ready to use it against you.”
“Then, you don’t know him very well. I can tell you don’t believe me, but he’ll try to come after me, and he might do that with your evidence. Or God knows what else.” David shook his head and walked away.
“What the heck was that about?” Maggie watched the man disappear into the parking lot.
“I don’t know.” In fact, this entire visit had been confusing and useless. Well, except for the part about Dr. Grange’s finances.
That might give them some answers one way or another.
The moment they were back in the car, Jake called his deputy to get the number for an FBI friend, Special Agent Kade Ryland. Since it was Christmas Eve, Jake wasn’t even sure the man would answer, but he thankfully did. Jake asked the agent to run a deep financial check on the doctor and his charities, and Kade assured him that he would.
“Any idea how long it will take to get that?” Maggie asked.
Jake started the engine and drove away, heading for the back roads. “No, but Christmas will probably slow things down.” Most banks were already closed. However, there was one source of information that was available. “I need to talk to my father.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “But I don’t think he’d cut a deal with Tanner.”
“He hates you,” Jake reminded her. Or at least, Chet hated Maggie’s involvement in Anna’s murder. His father wasn’t very reasonable when it came to things like that.
Hell, neither was he, Jake had to admit.
“Chet wouldn’t have sent a gunman after me. Not like that anyway. I hadn’t even taken the bone marrow test yet.”
True. Jake hated that was how he measured his father’s innocence—in terms of the timing of that test. However, if the test had been completed and the marrow donated, then Jake would have to put his own father on their list of suspects.
His phone rang, and Jake saw his brother’s number on the screen. “Royce?” he immediately answered.
Jake heard his brother say something, but he couldn’t make out what because of the static. He checked the reception on his phone and had only two bars. He prayed they didn’t go through a dead zone, and there were plenty of them in this rural part of the state.
“If you can hear me,” he said to Royce, “we’re on our way back from the prison visit.”
“Good, because I need you to get here fast.” That part came through loud and clear, but the next few words were garbled.
“Sunny’s running a temperature,” he finally heard Royce say. “It’s not high, and the doctors say she’s not in immediate danger, but she’s asking for you.”
God, no. The news hit Jake hard. A temp for most kids wasn’t a big deal, but it could be for Sunny since she had a hard time fighting off infections.
Jake checked the time. “We can be there in about forty minutes.” The only way to the hospital was back through Mustang Ridge, and Jake hit the accelerator. There was some snow on the country road, hopefully no ice, though, and there was zero traffic. Maybe that would allow him to get there faster.
Of course, faster wasn’t nearly fast enough. Not with his little girl asking for him.
“I have good news, too,” Royce said. There was another hiss of static that cut off the rest of what Royce was saying.
“What?” Jake practically yelled into the phone. Because heaven knew he could use some.
The static popped in and out. “You did it, Jake. We have a bone marrow match for Sunny.”