Texas Cowboy's Protection, - [books you need to read .TXT] 📗

Isaac stared at the man in the one-way mirror. It took all the will power Isaac had not to burst through the door and find a way to punish the man sitting in the chair. At the very least, he had no respect for women. “I need fresh air.”

“I’ll go with you.” Gina became his shadow as he moved down the hallway and then outside. It was dark. He’d lost all track of time.

The night air was heavy and thick. The threat of a thunderstorm hung in the air.

“Sorry, I couldn’t look at that lame bastard another minute without going a little insane.” Isaac rounded the corner and started pacing.

“He’s a class-A jerk.” Gina balanced against the brick wall.

Isaac released a grunt. “That’s putting it lightly. Someone he was supposed to care about enough to have a relationship with is dead. I don’t care what the man’s marital status is he should care more about Brittany than that.”

“At least he came to ensure his son is taken care of.” There was no conviction in her words.

“We both know he most likely came here so no one would show up at his door and ask questions he doesn’t want to answer in front of his wife.” Frustration seethed.

“Isaac. Slow down. You’re going to wear a path in the grass.”

He turned around and stalked over to her. He knew exactly what he needed to calm down.

Looking into those glittery eyes of hers only caused more tension to pinch his shoulders. Granted, it was a whole different type of tension and he realized the second his mood shifted from anger to awareness. Awareness of how much more beautiful she’d become over the years. Awareness at how every time they were near each other electricity pinged between them, heating the room. Awareness that shock vibrated through him with every touch.

Since doing what he really wanted was out of the question given their location, he settled on, “I’d like permission to kiss you again.”

“Why ask? Why not take what you want?”

“Because I don’t work that way. You’ve had one helluva day. You’re not used to dealing with murder and the evil inside some people. It can mess with your head. I need to give you a chance to decide. Kiss or no. It’s simple.” Even though his feelings for her were far from it.

“We got close in high school once. You rejected me. It hurt. What’s to stop you from doing it again?” He’d hurt her? That was new.

“Des said you told him you loved him.”

“What?” The unadulterated shock widening her eyes made him feel like a fool for believing Des.

“I thought you and I were starting something special. But the two of you had history and I knew I had to get out of town right after graduation or go crazy. So, when Des said you two were back on I stepped aside.”

“You should’ve said something. I never told Des I loved him back then. He told me that he loved me—”

“And he knew he wanted to offer something real. I had nothing to give you.”

“The answer is no.” She folded her arms over her chest like she was cold and he could tell a wall had just erected between them. “I don’t want you to kiss me.”

Before he could explain himself further Sherry peeked around the corner and cleared her throat. “I’m sorry to interrupt. Your cousin is looking for you, Isaac.”

“Be there in a minute, Sherry. Thank you.”

Gina caught his gaze and held onto it. “No. We’re done talking.”

Isaac stood there, figuring what he wanted to say wouldn’t go over too well. So, he waited for Gina to make the next move and followed her inside. Tension radiated from her and it dawned on him that she might’ve been that hurt fifteen years ago.

Questions died on his tongue. If she’d had a good marriage would she still have held onto her pain? If he’d known she cared about him would it have made a difference?

He would’ve signed on with the military anyway. Getting away from T.J.’s heavy hand had been important to Isaac. He’d come home to see his brothers over the years but never to see T.J.

This wasn’t a good time to mull over the past. Isaac pushed those unproductive thoughts aside and refocused on the case.

Sherry led them back to the observation room where Logan Simmons was asking to speak to an attorney. Perspiration marked his shirt. His face had paled.

“You’re not under arrest, Mr. Simmons. You’re free to go.”

“I am?” Simmons stood up.

“That’s all for now. We’ll be in touch when we have more questions.”

He started toward the door and then froze, jabbing his fingers into his brown hair. “What does that mean exactly?”

“I’ll send a deputy by your house when we need to ask more questions.”

“I-uh—” He seemed to be searching for the right words. “I’m here right now. Ask what you need to now.”

“This is an ongoing murder investigation, Mr. Simmons. You gave us a swab so we can verify paternity and we appreciate your cooperation. We expect that to continue as we’re certain, considering you were in a personal relationship at one time with the victim, you’ll want to do everything within your power to ensure justice is served.”

“Of course. Naturally.” He took another swipe through his hair. “The bastard should rot in jail for the rest of his life. I just…could I make an appointment to come back and talk?”

The man didn’t realize how lucky he was to be walking out of the sheriff’s office today.

A deputy walked in and handed Griff a file.

“Thank you.” Griff cracked it open and walked toward the table. He turned his attention to Simmons. “Before you go. If I could have another moment of your time.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever you need.”

Griff pulled several eight-by-ten sized pictures out and dropped them on the table where they fanned out. “Take a look at these and tell me what you see.”

Simmons blanched and quickly looked away. Isaac knew instantly what Griff was doing, horrifying Simmons with the photos. So far, the man hadn’t had one iota of emotion for what had happened to Brittany. Griff was shocking Simmons to gauge his reaction to what would be the gruesome reality of what had happened to her.

The man looked truly horrified. Guilt? Remorse? Isaac couldn’t be sure. Simmons turned his face away from the images and took a couple of quick steps backward. He looked like he’d crawl out of his skin in order to get away from what was on the table.

Gina dropped her gaze to the tile flooring a second too late. She swayed, and Isaac’s strong hand steadied her. She whispered a thank you and took hold of his arm.

“That’s horrible.” Simmons turned on the tears. It was difficult to know how much was for show or if there truly was any sincerity. Then again, a killer being confronted with his own crime scene might be shock enough, especially if he wasn’t a skilled murderer.

“Mr. Simmons, one more question if I could.” Griff apologized for the photos and gathered them up.

“Ask anything.”

“How’d you and Brittany talk to each other? How’d you arrange to meet up?”

“At first, we used fake e-mail accounts to communicate. Once we got serious, we used cell phone mostly. Talking via texts.”

“Then your number should show up on her phone.”

“No. And she won’t show on mine, either. I bought pay-as-you-go phones at the convenience store once we decided to hook up.” He seemed relieved the pictures had been tucked away in the folder. “I’m sorry this happened to her. She didn’t deserve it. Sure, she got a little clingy once things got hot and heavy between us. When my wife decided to come home and I broke it off, Brittany flipped out. Said I couldn’t do that to her.”

Was the man trying to build a case that she’d done this to herself? Because strangling herself from behind would be a pretty damn difficult feat to pull off. And, what? Afterward, she managed to cover herself with a raincoat?

The guy was grasping at straws in trying to point the finger away from himself.

“So, about stopping by my house. Is there any way I can come back in a few days instead? Maybe check in on a regular basis?” This guy was an insufferable jerk. But then he’d had an affair. No one looked like they believed the story about his wife leaving him and then returning out of the blue. His explanation for the affair was too convenient. Besides, didn’t Brittany’s mother say her daughter was still seeing the jerk? Wasn’t that one of the many reasons she’d wanted her daughter to get together with Gina? So she could talk some sense into Brittany?

There were stronger words than slime ball to describe Logan Simmons. Gina held her tongue. There had to be a special place in hell for a man so callous about someone he’d been in a relationship with and supposedly cared about.