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

“Logan was meeting his wife here?” Gina tried to wrap her mind around the thought in the context of everything else she knew.

“Doesn’t exactly sound like someone who is guilty of murder.”

“Then again, maybe he was deterred at my mother’s house. It could be a good alibi that he was on his way here and couldn’t possibly have been in two places at once.” None of it added up in her mind but then she didn’t exactly think like a criminal. Gina always walked a straight line. Maybe it took another criminal or someone trained to think like one to make sense of a case like this.

Deputy Sayer knocked on the interview room door. Griff told him to come in.

“Can I see you for a second, sir?”

Griff didn’t look pleased at the interruption. “It must be important.”

“It is, sir.”

“Excuse me.” Griff left the interview room and brought the deputy into the observation room. “What’s going on?”

“A body believed to be that of Logan Simmons was found shot to death in his vehicle at Breaker’s park. There was a note.” The deputy’s voice was low.

Suicide? The air thinned. Logan Simmons was a cheater and he’d seemed desperate not to let his wife find out about his philandering but suicide? It was the ultimate end. Nothing could be fixed or worked out.

“What did the note say?”

“It was addressed to his wife. He took responsibility for Brittany’s murder.”

“Dammit. We need to get an official ID on the body.” Frustration filled Griff’s tone.

“The vehicle is registered to Simmons. The wallet had an ID belonging to Simmons. Given the nature of the bullet wound, it’s difficult to make a positive ID of the individual.” He motioned toward his temple.

“If he’s in the database his print will show. I can ask Mrs. Simmons if there are any identifying marks on her husband’s body.” Griff excused himself, went into the room and returned a moment later. “She says her husband has a birthmark on the top of his left foot in the shape of a strawberry. It’s an inch in diameter.”

“I’ll radio and get back to you, sir.” Deputy Sayer stepped into the hallway.

Gina knew exactly what Ashley Simmons was about to go through if the birthmark was confirmed. The initial shock that would stretch on for days. The disbelief that her vibrant and very much alive husband was suddenly gone, light extinguished. The denial that any of this could be happening would give way to anger and bargaining. The anger had been the worst for Gina. Eventually, acceptance would arrive. Acceptance that her child’s father would never hold his child. Acceptance that her daughter would never know her father. Acceptance that life had altered forever.

The deputy returned with a resigned look. His lips pursed together. “There’s a birthmark.”

Griff cursed under his breath. Gina didn’t envy his job. He was about to deliver news that would change a family. “Let’s break. Gina and Isaac, you guys can wait in my office if you’d like.” He turned to his deputy once he got a nod of acknowledgement from Gina and Isaac. “Make sure clergy is available. I’ll ask about next of kin. I really don’t want her to deal with this alone.”

“I’ll make a few calls, sir.”

“Have whoever is on scene send pictures right away. I want every angle covered and I want to know every detail of what the deputy thinks happened.” Griff took in a sharp breath. He looked to Gina and Isaac. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Gina followed Isaac into the office where he closed the door behind them.

One hour and two cups of coffee later, Griff met up with Isaac and Gina. “Sherry told me what happened earlier. My deputies are on the lookout for anyone matching the description. There’s no word yet.” He paused. “Right now, photos from the crime scene should be in my inbox.”

Isaac didn’t need to ask how Logan’s wife was doing. He could see in the deep lines etched in his cousin’s forehead what his past hour had been like. Griff was a great sheriff because he cared. He couldn’t turn that off any more than Isaac could during his service.

Griff took a seat behind his desk. Gina stayed put across from him while Isaac moved behind his cousin.

A knock sounded as Griff opened the first file.

Sherry opened the door. “Bo Stanley is here.”

“See him to the interview room.” A day late and a dollar short didn’t begin to describe Bo Stanley’s arrival.

“Good of him to finally show his face in town.” Isaac couldn’t help but make the sarcastic comment. Based on Griff’s reaction, he thought the same thing.

There was something niggling at the back of Isaac’s mind, though.

“Does anyone have an estimate of what time Mr. Simmons took his life?” he asked Griff.

“Coroner hasn’t given an update just yet. I’ve asked for his initial findings, so I’m hoping to hear from him at any minute.”

The first picture filled the screen. No matter how many times Isaac had seen death in battle, he’d never get used to it. As picture by picture came into view, a story emerged. The note left behind an admission to killing Brittany because of the child. Logan said he couldn’t risk allowing his wife to find out about the baby.

“Weird, don’t you think?” Isaac asked.

“That a man so hell bent on keeping the truth from his wife would write a note admitting to having a child with another woman during the marriage.”

“Exactly. I would’ve thought there’d be an apology to his wife here and maybe an allusion to the killing but a confession?”

“Guilt does strange things to people. But, I just had the same thought.” Griff’s admission got the wheels turning.

“Was Logan a lefty?” Isaac asked.

“Hold on a minute.” Griff took a picture of the note. “I’ll be right back.”

He disappeared out the door and down the hall. Isaac continued to flip through the photos.

“What is it, Isaac?”

“The angle of the shot bugs me. It works if Logan is left-handed. It’s probably nothing. Me being overly paranoid.” The suggestion that Logan didn’t