Cowboy Truth: Cowboy Justice Association #3 (23 page)

George’s tone was about an octave higher than before. Logan pressed forward.

“Come off it,” Logan scoffed. “Bill’s reputation as an asshole was well-known among his rivals. People hated him. Maybe even you. He kept you out of Bryson Development, after all.”

George shifted in his chair, his neck turning red. “Now wait a minute,” he protested. “Bill didn’t keep me out of the company. I wanted my own business.”

“He kept you out because you drink and gamble. Face it – you lived in your brother’s shadow. He was the brilliant business man. Not you,” Logan countered, leaning forward in his chair. George was feeling the heat and he ran his finger around the neckline of his shirt.

“That’s not true. I always wanted to be independent.” George’s shoulders slumped and he leaned over and whispered something in his attorney’s ear. Deke Kennedy nodded and then glared at Logan.

“My brother and I,” George began, “haven’t always seen eye to eye on everything. It was better for both of us if we had interests of our own.”

Logan pulled a piece of paper from the folder in front of him and slid it across the table. “Can you tell me what the twice yearly payments of one hundred thousand dollars were for and why they stopped suddenly?”

The attorney suddenly stood and placed his hand on George’s shoulder. “This interview is at an end. You’re fishing, Logan. You’ve got nothing against my client.”

“That’s true,” Logan agreed. “But he knows things about Bill’s business that could be pertinent. You might also.”

Kennedy simply smiled and snapped his briefcase shut. “Whatever I know is protected by attorney-client privilege.”

“Privilege died with Bill Bryson.” Logan smiled right back. He loved the cat and mouse games of interrogation. He was, after all, a patient man.

“He was your father, Logan.” George stood, his expression entreating. “How can you say these things about him? He was your father,” he repeated.

“Privilege still exists with the rest of the Bryson family,” Kennedy replied. “A family you are now part of, Logan. You should remember that.”

“Being a member of the Bryson family is more important than finding his killer,” Logan mocked. “I must remember that.”

“Family should come before anything.” George’s expression was somber. “That’s how I’ve lived my life. Bill did too.”

“We’re done here, George.” The attorney took a step toward the door. “If you have any more questions for George you can submit them in writing to my office.”

“I have several more,” Logan replied, a smile playing on his lips. He’d definitely received a reaction this morning. “I’ll email them today. They’re all about Bill’s business dealings.” Logan directed the last statement to George who looked distinctly ill at ease. He knew more than he was telling.

Logan didn’t bother to stand as the two men filed out. He sat there for a long time replaying the conversation over and over in his mind. One thing was clear. George was covering up the truth.

“He was lying.” Ava stood in the doorway of his office. “I couldn’t see his face but I could tell by how tense his back and shoulders were that he wasn’t telling the truth. Do you think he’s afraid?”

Logan shook his head and stood. “I think he thinks he’s doing the right thing. He seemed genuinely surprised the vigilante killed his brother, but did you notice he didn’t go into denial that Bill could have done something to catch the killer’s interest?”

“He should have,” Ava agreed. “If my sister had been shot by a vigilante I would be arguing she’d never done a thing to deserve it and it must all be a big mistake.”

“Well, good old George didn’t do that. He started talking about turkeys and little league.” Logan stroked his chin. “I think we’ve only scratched the surface here. Let’s get into the attic tonight and go through those old files. Maybe Frank has something there that will help us.”

Ava tilted her head. “What makes you think there’s anything up there?”

“Because there has to be a reason he hid those boxes. Frank was completely disorganized and totally ignored anything to do with police procedure. Shit, I had to put fucking rules in place when I took over.”

“And you hate rules.” Ava was peering up at him from under her lashes as they both remembered last night’s conversation. His chest tightened as he momentarily relived their moments of passion. Making love to Ava was like nothing else he’d ever experienced.

“I do. But he took the time to retrieve those files and carry them all the way up into the attic. The more I think about that the more it has to mean something.”

“I hope it does. We’re at another dead end.” Ava sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. “We know Bill wasn’t above using some unsavory techniques to win. But is it motive for murder?”

“There has to be more.” Frustration made Logan rub his aching temple. The more they learned, the less they seemed to know. One mystery solved simply led to a new one. “He must have done something really terrible to catch the vigilante’s attention. We have to find out what it is.”

They stepped out into the hallway and the throbbing in his head tripled. Wade, Lyle, and Aaron were standing there, apparently waiting for Logan. Wade stepped forward.

“You’ve been avoiding our calls,” he said. “We all need to talk. A lot has happened but we’re family. We should be there for each other. Let’s have lunch at the diner.”

Feeling trapped, Logan tried to think of any reason he shouldn’t go, but failed to come up with anything that didn’t sound lame. He simply didn’t want to deal with this right now. It didn’t appear that he was going to be allowed to ignore it any longer.

He threw his arm around Ava’s shoulders, knowing he was about to announce their relationship to the entire town. “Okay, but Ava comes too. I don’t have any secrets from her.”

Logan knew he’d succeeded in shocking the three men but to their credit they covered it quickly. Wade nodded. “If that’s what you want. We just want to talk. That’s all.”

Ava glanced over at him as they headed out of the station. Logan nodded to Drake who had been patiently waiting in the corridor. He would take care of anything that cropped up while Logan was gone.

“Why am I going?” Ava murmured under her breath. “Don’t you think you should do this alone?”

“That’s the last thing I should do right now, good girl.” Logan kept his voice low. “I’ve got too many of my own emotions. I can’t deal with theirs. Not today.”

She nodded as if she understood and they stepped out into the midday sunshine. He’d keep it low key and friendly at lunch. He wouldn’t be railroaded into a family relationship he wasn’t ready for, or even sure he wanted.

*   *   *   *

“I’m sorry, Mom. It’s not working out with me staying here. I don’t want you to have to lie to Dad about where I am.”

Ava was in her room pulling clothes from the closet and drawers and shoving them into a suitcase. After the world’s most awkward lunch with Logan, Wade, Lyle, and Aaron, she was really wishing she drank more. Admitting they’d seen George sneak out the back entrance, the three brothers had quizzed Logan about what their uncle had said. She had to hand it to him. His expression had remained completely neutral and he’d refused to discuss the interview. The brothers had been frustrated but understanding.

Now Ava could only hope her mother would be the same.

“Where will you go?” Carol Hayworth had her hands on her hips. “I can handle your father. I’ve been doing it for years.”

For only a split second did Ava consider lying to her mother. When she’d told Logan she was heading home to make an appearance so her mother wouldn’t be worried and they could come up with a suitable cover story, Logan had snorted and told her to pack her bag and move in with him. She hadn’t been sure he was serious but it became quickly clear that he was.

“If we only have a few weeks, good girl, I want to spend as much time with you as possible. Let’s just not make a big deal out of it, okay?” he’d said.

It was hard not to build it into more than it was but she was pretty sure no woman had ever lived with him before. It was…something.

“I’m staying with Logan,” Ava stated, almost daring her mother to say something. Carol Hayworth’s brows flew up in surprise before schooling her features.

“Do you think that’s a good idea? Logan’s a good man but I can see you’re falling for him. You’re going to end up with a broken heart. He’s not the forever kind.”

Her mother’s voice was gentle and Ava knew she was only trying to help. “I’m not going into the details of our relationship but he’s made a commitment of sorts to me. While I’m here in town anyway. It’s good enough.”

Her lips twisted, Carol shook her head. “It won’t be in the end, sweetheart. I know you say you don’t want to get married, and that’s fine. But I do think you want a man to love you. I think you want that very much.”

Ava looked away and zipped her suitcase closed. “I do want that. Logan has feelings for me.”

“Is it love?” her mother asked softly. “Do you love him?”

Ava wasn’t ready to put a name to how she felt. “It’s too soon for that.”

“If Logan is the one, well, there isn’t anything I could say that would keep you from going. Your father is going to have trouble with this but I’ll deal with him.”

Ava finally looked up. “I’m sorry you have to do that. I know Dad is going to be livid.”

“That is an understatement.” Her mother chuckled. “I’ll fix his favorite for dinner and make sure he has two beers after work instead of one.”

“You know how to handle him, I guess.”

Her mother waved away the praise. “I did exactly the same thing when I told him you were going away to college. Then I did it again when I told him you weren’t moving back to Corville after graduation.”

“I guess I’ve been nothing but trouble,” Ava conceded. She’d never fully appreciated how much her mother had had to go to bat for her in the past.

“You’re a daughter any parent would be proud of, sweetheart.”

Before Ava could respond they heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Mary stuck her head in the bedroom, an inquiring look on her face.

“Good. You’re here. I’ve been looking for you.” Mary stepped into the room, ignoring her own mother. Her foot was tapping on the floor and her arms were crossed over her chest. “I just talked to Lyle. He said you were at lunch with him and Logan.”

Nothing good could come from this conversation.

“I was. Is that a problem?” Mary had strange ideas of what was proper and what wasn’t. Ava wasn’t in the mood for a lecture at the moment.

“Logan wouldn’t tell Lyle or his brothers what Uncle George said. I bet he told you. We want to know.”

Mary had that crappy arrogant expression on her face that Ava hated. Mary Ellen Hayworth Bryson had way too much self-esteem. She expected everyone to do things her way.

“I don’t know anything so your trip has been wasted.” Ava wasn’t about to tell them she’d watched the interrogation on a monitor and had been sworn in as an honorary deputy. She picked up her suitcase from the bed and set it on the floor, extending the handle. “I have things to do so if you’ll excuse me.”

Ava started to pull her suitcase on wheels toward the door but Mary stepped in front of her.

“You must have some theories about who the killer is. You said you were helping Logan. He must have said something. Does Logan think it’s Uncle George?”

Logan had already told her he didn’t think it was George. But he did think George knew things about Bill Bryson’s business that could lead them to the killer. He’d said that much at lunch to the brothers.

“He already told Lyle and the others that he didn’t suspect George.”

“Do you suspect George? Who do you think did it?” Mary asked, her gaze intent. Ava sighed in frustration. Most of the time Mary didn’t want to talk to Ava. Now she couldn’t get out of the house because her sister wouldn’t let this go.

“I don’t really have any suspects.” It was clear that George hadn’t told anyone that Bill’s killer was also the vigilante. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Mom.”

Ava went around her sister just managing to squeeze her suitcase through without hitting the wall or Mary’s legs. Mary followed her as Ava headed down the stairs.

“Do you think it’s someone in the family?” Mary persisted as Ava paused at the bottom of the stairs.

Tired of being questioned, Ava shrugged. “It could be anyone. Anyone on the streets you see every day. Or it could be someone you’ve never met in your life.”

“Why would someone kill a person they’d never met?” Mary scowled, obviously frustrated with Ava’s stonewalling.

“Every heard of a serial killer?” Ava asked. “They kill people they’ve never met all the time.”

“Do you think a serial killer shot Bill?”

Ava dragged her suitcase into the foyer, Mary on her heels. “As I said, it could be anyone. Hell, I once wrote a book where a family member killed a bunch of random strangers to cover up the murder of his brother. It put the cops off the scent. I also wrote a book about a business rival killing off his competition one by one. Now I need to get going.”

Ava looked pointedly at Mary who was standing in front of the door. Her sister stepped aside. “So you think the person who killed Bill will shoot a bunch of other people to cover it up?”

Ava wanted to smack her sister. “That’s what you got from what I said? I was simply telling you there are a multitude of reasons someone can be murdered either by a loved one or an acquaintance. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

Mary turned to her mother who was watching the play by play with an amused smile on her lips. “Mom, Ava is being difficult.”

Carol Hayworth nodded. “She is. You are too. You keep asking the same question over and over because you don’t like her answer. She says she doesn’t have a suspect.”

“I don’t believe that,” Mary wailed indignantly. “She must.”

“You’re calling your sister a liar then?” her mother asked calmly.

“Well, no,” Mary sputtered. “Not exactly.”

“What exactly are you calling me?” Ava asked. “I really and truly, cross my heart, don’t have any suspects.”

Mary’s shoulders slumped, a glum expression on her face. “I was just trying to help my husband.”