“I need help. Somebody’s outside my house.”

“How do you know?” Cade asked.

“Because I saw him!” The tears finally spilled down Paige’s cheeks. “I got away, but…”

“Where are you now?”

“Inside.”

“Okay. Just stay put and lock your doors,” Cade ordered. “I’ll be right there.”

She hung up and went to make sure all the doors and windows were secure. Merely knowing that the Ranger was on his way was amazingly comforting.

It belatedly occurred to her that most people would have called 911 instead. Not her. Any time she could rely directly on the Texas Rangers for help, they’d be her first and only choice. Even the one she’d just phoned.

In her mind, that statement was immediately altered to Especially the one she’d just phoned.

TEXAS RANGER JUSTICE:

Keeping the Lone Star State safe

Daughter of Texas—Terri Reed, January 2011

Body of Evidence—Lenora Worth, February 2011

Face of Danger—Valerie Hansen, March 2011

Trail of Lies—Margaret Daley, April 2011

Threat of Exposure—Lynette Eason, May 2011

Out of Time—Shirlee McCoy, June 2011

VALERIE HANSEN

was thirty when she awoke to the presence of the Lord in her life and turned to Jesus. In the years that followed she worked with young children, both in church and secular environments. She also raised a family of her own and played foster mother to a wide assortment of furred and feathered critters.

Married to her high school sweetheart since age seventeen, she now lives in an old farmhouse she and her husband renovated with their own hands. She loves to hike the wooded hills behind the house and reflect on the marvelous turn her life has taken. Not only is she privileged to reside among the loving, accepting folks in the breathtakingly beautiful Ozark mountains of Arkansas, she also gets to share her personal faith by telling the stories of her heart for all of Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired lines.

Life doesn’t get much better than that!

Face of Danger
Valerie Hansen

MILLS & BOON

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

You will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say, “Here I am.”

—Isaiah 58:9

As always, many thanks to the other authors involved in this Texas Ranger series: Terri Reed, Lenora Worth, Margaret Daley, Lynette Eason and Shirlee McCoy.

And, of course, my Joe, who works hard to keep me fed and happy while I’m chained to my computer!

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

ONE

Texas Ranger Cade Jarvis gripped the wheel of his pickup truck, his neck and shoulder muscles knotting. He was on the most important mission of his career and nothing was going to stop him from reaching Austin. Nothing.

His glance darted to the rearview mirror. He’d been keeping an eye on the erratic movements of a set of headlights approaching behind him. The SUV was speeding, cutting in and out of the heavy traffic as if that driver thought he was on a racetrack instead of the highway.

Cade tensed. The guy was crowding everyone he passed and scattering them like a flock of scared chickens.

The dark SUV drew parallel with his truck and swerved toward him. Cade sounded his horn. There was no discernible reaction from the speeder.

Cade managed to avoid physical contact once, twice. Again. He muttered, “Sober up before you kill us both,” and clenched his teeth.

The SUV matched him move for move while other drivers did their best to distance themselves from the obvious confrontation.

The reckless driver closed the sideways gap so abruptly, so forcefully, Cade couldn’t dodge this time. The sound of rending, crushing, sliding metal against metal squealed through the cold November night.

Hitting his brakes, Cade braced for an even worse collision. He glanced over at the evidence case resting next to him on the seat and prayed instinctively, “Dear God. Don’t let anything stop me from getting that to the forensic artist.”

Tires sliding, truck body slewing sideways, Cade felt his front bumper clip the supporting post of a highway sign. The pickup’s chassis did a 180 and ended up half on and half off the road, facing oncoming traffic, before Cade was finally able to bring it to a stop.

The high, bright headlights of an eighteen-wheeler were bearing down on him. He could hear the semi’s air horn blasting, its brakes locking and tires squealing. Throwing his arms over his face, he prayed he’d live through the next few seconds.

The usually busy Texas Ranger headquarters building in Austin was quiet—except for the beating of Paige Bryant’s heart and her niggling feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

“Stop it. Just stop it. You’re being silly,” the forensic artist told herself as she leaned out of her studio and peered down the empty hallway. It looked as though everyone in that part of the office had already gone home for the night. Which was where she should be. Where she would be if she weren’t waiting for a delivery.

She closed her office door and began to pace. It was only about seventy-five miles from Company D in San Antonio to this main Ranger office in Austin, and easy, highway driving almost all the way. What could be keeping that Ranger? She didn’t know Cade Jarvis well, but the few times they had met she’d been favorably impressed.

Paige huffed, disgusted with herself. Impressed? Boy, was that an understatement. If Ranger Jarvis was half as good-looking as she recalled, he’d be attractive enough to curl her toes. He stood nearly six feet tall, with dusky blond hair and mischievous eyes the color of warm mocha java. And when he smiled, the fine lines of an outdoorsman crinkled at the corners of those appealing eyes, though she doubted the man was much over thirty, if that.

She was about to give up on him and head for home when her phone rang. She snatched it up before the second ring. “Hello?”

“Ms. Bryant? This is Cade Jarvis,” the slightly breathless male voice said. “I’m going to be a little late.”

He was already more than a little late but something in his tone gave Paige pause and made her ask, “Are you all right?”

“Boy, news travels fast.”

“I beg your pardon?” It was becoming clear to Paige that this call was not the result of a normal travel delay. “What news? What’s happened?”

“I was run off the road not far from there.”

Her free hand flew to her throat and her eyes widened. “Oh, no! Are you all right?”

“Fine. Actually, I’m in better shape than my truck is. It would have been a lot worse if other drivers hadn’t steered around me after I spun out. As soon as the troopers finish their report, I’ll hitch a ride with one of them and have him drop me at your office.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. Thankfully, there’s no problem with the remains I’m bringing you, either. I had the skull packed in a padded evidence bag, so it wasn’t damaged by the collision. I figured you’d probably make a composite copy to model the clay over, anyway, but I’d still like to get it to you in one piece.”

“It is a lot easier—and more accurate—if I don’t have to work with an original that starts out looking like a jigsaw puzzle.” Still concerned, Paige paused. “Listen, if you tell me exactly where you are, I’ll be glad to drive over and get you.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“I don’t mind. It would give me a chance to peek at the evidence, too. I know how important it is to ID that victim ASAP.”

The Ranger’s chuckle struck her as sounding a bit cynical. When he spoke she was certain. “Oh, I get it. It’s not me you’re worried about, it’s these bones.”

“I didn’t mean anything of the kind.” Glad he couldn’t see her blush, Paige realized she was embarrassed by how close he’d come to the truth. “I do care about my job,” she insisted. “A lot. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about living people, too.”

“Hey, I was just teasing. No offense meant, ma’am.”

Whew. “None taken. So, do you want me to come get you or do you think you’ll be here fairly soon?”

“Hold on a sec.”

While she waited, Paige listened to a hodgepodge of muted conversations in the background. Between the overlap of voices and the humming traffic noise, it was hard to pick out individual words, at least not well enough to tell what was being said.

“Ma’am? You still there?” Cade finally asked.

“Yes. What did you decide?”

“One of the troopers will give me a ride while they haul my truck in so the lab boys can take paint samples from the parts that were sideswiped. I should be at your office within a half hour. Do you mind waiting just a little longer?”

“Not at all. See you soon.”

Hanging up, Paige busied herself tidying her office and trying to catch up on paperwork. Details like that always fell by the wayside when she was concentrating on drawing or sculpting the faces of nameless victims. Victims just like her sister.

Paige purposely tried to redirect her thoughts. There was nothing to be gained by beating herself up over past events. Amy was gone. Had been for sixteen years. The pretty three-year-old would probably never be located, alive or otherwise, and there was no way to change what had happened no matter how much Paige wished otherwise.

She pulled herself together and lifted her chin. “It wasn’t my fault,” she whispered into the silence. “I did my best to help her.”

That was true. And now she reached out to other victims of horrendous crimes and gave them faces. Gave their families closure and a chance at justice. What she did was more than a job. It was her calling.

It was also her atonement.

Cade thanked the trooper for the lift, squared his white cowboy hat on his head and straightened his tie before heading toward the main Ranger headquarters. He smiled when he saw a slim woman in jeans and a denim jacket waiting for him next to the rear entrance. “Ms. Bryant?”

“That’s me. We have met before, you know.” She extended her hand and Cade shook it. “In San Antonio.”

“I do remember you. It’s just kind of dark out here and I wasn’t positive.”

Actually, he’d recalled very little about the Rangers’ only forensic artist other than her being in her mid-twenties and having long, dark hair that she’d kept tightly gathered at the nape of her neck. Add to that the plain, half glasses she’d worn for close work and the woman had been the spitting image of a stern schoolmarm in an old Western movie.

When he saw her this time he immediately changed his mind. Paige Bryant was lovely, with expressive green eyes and long, loosely swinging dark hair that rippled around her shoulders and brushed against her cheeks as she tilted her head.

“I waited out here for you because I figured you didn’t have a key card for this door.”

“You’re right. Thanks.”

“Is that the victim you told me about?” she asked, eyeing the blue, cubelike case.

“Yes.” Sweeping his free arm toward the door he said, “Shall we? It’s cold out here and I know you’re anxious to see what I’ve brought you.”

She slid her card through the reader next to the outer door and led the way to her office.

Cade had never visited this particular room before so he was taken aback. It looked more like a cozy artist’s studio than it did a scientific laboratory. He spotted several computers at work stations and a small, boxy, black machine he didn’t recognize. Beyond that, the place was arrayed in a personal, extremely artistic manner.

There were rows of framed pictures of faces on one wall, a window on another and tall filing cabinets on the third. Beside them hung a painting of an ethereal-looking child whose face seemed to drift in the mist of the artist’s imagination.

Cade set the case on the nearest table and approached the painting while Paige removed her jacket. “This picture is amazing. Did you paint it?”

“Yes.” She was unzipping the carrying bag as she spoke. “Tell me again what you know about this victim.”

“Not a whole lot,” Cade replied as he joined her. “We’re pretty sure he’s tied to Gregory Pike’s murder. We just can’t prove exactly how.”

“I guessed as much when I was told to drop everything and give your case my full attention,” she said with evident empathy. “We’re all still in shock after what happened to Captain Pike. How’s the rest of that investigation coming along? Any hits on the sketch I made from his daughter Corinna’s description of her stalker?”

Cade nodded soberly. “Yes. We got him.”

“Wonderful. How about the likenesses I created from my photos of the man in the coma?”

“Those helped, too. We still don’t know his name, but a witness saw the pictures and came forward with some information.”

“So, what do you know?”

“He’s Irish. The witness remembered his brogue.”

“Good. At least that’s a start.”

“Yeah. A mighty slow one.” Cade sighed. “Greg was special. He was more than my superior, he was my friend and mentor. I owed him plenty. Still do.”

Paige donned latex gloves and carefully lifted the skull, supporting the lower jaw as she turned the relic in her hands to assess it. “I’m confused. What makes you think this death is associated with Captain Pike’s? Under normal conditions it can take from six months to a year to reduce human remains to a skeletal state. This man must have died long before the captain was killed.”

Cade nodded. “The Lions of Texas drug cartel is the link. It has to be. Did you know that Pike had ordered all of Company D to rendezvous at his house just before he was shot and killed?”

“Yes. Corinna told me all about it while I was making the sketch of the man who broke into her house. Did you ever figure out what her father was so eager to tell all the other Rangers?”

“We have an idea. Apparently, the Lions were afraid there was incriminating evidence in the house. They sent someone to retrieve it, and Corinna interrupted. Since she could ID him, he decided to take her out.”

“Poor Corinna. Is she all right?”

“Yes. Now she is. When we finally nabbed her stalker, he told us he worked for the Lions and mentioned a drug drop site the Lions were still using. We put a Ranger undercover and staked it out, hoping to catch them in the act.”

“Did you?”

“In a manner of speaking. We may have gotten something better.” He pointed. “The skull you’re holding was dug up on that property while we had it under surveillance. It’s too big a coincidence to overlook. There has to be a connection between that murder and the drug cartel.”

“Were you able to arrest anyone at the grave site?”

“Not at that time, but it worked out in the end. All we got at first was the jacket of the guy who was trying to retrieve the skull. Later, a man named Greco came after Jennifer Rodgers, the woman who owns the property on which the drop site and skull were located. Greco was killed by the Ranger we had working undercover there.”

“Uh-oh. He didn’t talk first?”

“No.” Cade frowned and gestured at the skull. “If you can help us ID this guy, we may be able to make more progress than we have lately.”

“What about the guy in the coma? Could he have been a secret informant for Captain Pike? He was found shot at the house alongside Pike’s body, right?”

“Yeah. He’s still in a coma so we can’t question him, although we do have hope he may recover. They say he moved his fingers slightly. All we have to work with right now is his photo and the fact that he’s Irish.”

Cade tilted his head toward the skull she was holding so gingerly. “Which leaves that as our only other clue at present. That’s why it’s so important. So important that I’ve been ordered to stick around until you finish the facial reconstruct—”

Without any warning, all the overhead lights blinked off.

Cade heard Paige gasp.

“Hold your horses,” he said. “I’m sure it’s nothing. The emergency generator should kick on in a few seconds.”

“I wonder. Look outside. The lights in the parking lot are still working.”

Cade’s right hand instinctively went to his gun, his palm resting on the grip, his thumb unsnapping the tab that kept it in the holster. “You’re right. Stay where you are. I’ll go have a look around.”

He heard shuffling. Then she grabbed the sleeve of his leather jacket.

“I’m going with you.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“The silly part is how afraid I get when it’s totally dark. Either you take me with you or I’ll probably panic and get hysterical.” She drew a noisy, shaky breath. “I mean it. I know it’s stupid and irrational but I’m really, really scared.”

“Okay. You can come. Grab the evidence. We’re not leaving it unguarded.”

He heard the slide of a zipper as she closed the carrying case. Now that his vision had adjusted more to the darkness he could see enough via the reflected exterior lights to move around safely, even in such unfamiliar territory.

“Got it,” Paige said. “I’m ready.”

Judging by the quaver in her tone she was truly frightened. Although such unfounded fears made no sense to him, he was willing to indulge her, particularly in view of the Rangers’ desperate need for her talents. The last thing he wanted to do was alienate her.

They crossed the room, moving as one.

Cade grasped the doorknob. He had no sooner started to twist it than he heard a clicking, sliding sound. He froze. Was that a bullet being chambered in an automatic weapon?

If someone else was outside in the hallway, as he now suspected, they might very well be getting ready to shoot the first person dumb enough to stick his—or her—head out.

Cade steeled himself. He wasn’t going to make it that easy.

TWO

Staying close to Cade, Paige kept out of the way of the Ranger’s drawn gun. He’d tensed and stopped dead in his tracks when they’d heard the metallic sounds on the other side of the door.

It was ludicrous to assume they were in any serious danger. This was one of the safest buildings in the whole state. The sprawling complex of the Texas Department of Public Safety housed both the State Troopers and the Rangers. With all those lawmen roaming around, not to mention enough professional bureaucrats to scare the socks off anybody, no criminals would dare set foot in the place.

When the Ranger reached back and gave her a gentle push, she resisted. “You’re not leaving me.”

His tone was brusque and civil at the same time. It rumbled along her nerve endings and raised goose bumps on her arms. “Just stay back while I check. You’re not going out there till I say it’s clear.”

“Yes, sir.” Feeling contrite, Paige eased away from him slightly. The padded case bumped against her knees. She shoved it toward the hinged edge of the opening door for added security, thinking belatedly that maybe she should put her own body in its place. She didn’t.

“Who’s there?” Cade called loudly. “Identify yourself.” No one answered, and he said more quietly to Paige, “Do you happen to have a flashlight? I left mine in my truck.”

“Yes. I’ll get it. What are we going to do?”

“We’re not. I am.”

As soon as he had the light in hand, he eased the door open another six inches, then a foot, then all the way. Swinging out in a half crouch, he aimed both gun and light first in one direction, then the other.

“Okay,” Cade told her, straightening. “Looks like the coast is clear.”

“Now what?”

“We find the main panel that controls the lights in this place and try to figure out what’s wrong. Any idea where that panel might be?”

“Up front. We throw those breakers whenever we have a fire or disaster drill.”

“That’s what I’m looking for.”

Paige pointed down the hallway toward the reception area. “Go that way. There’s a fuse box in a utility closet. It’s on the left, not far from the front door.”

“Okay. Follow me. And stay close.”

She chuckled derisively, positive that doing so was a lot better than letting herself be too serious. “Close? Trust me. That’s not going to be a problem.”

The farther they traveled, the more the hair on Paige’s neck and arms prickled. She shivered. Listened to the echo of their soft footfalls. Suddenly, there was something else. What was that noise?

Tapping the Ranger on the shoulder, she saw the beam of the light he was carrying jump and realized he wasn’t nearly as calm and collected as he’d wanted her to believe.

“Stop,” Paige whispered. “Did you hear something funny just now?”

“I don’t think so. Did you?” He played the light over the walls and floor and shined it into the distance, forward and behind. Its beam vanished into the gloom.

“I don’t know. I thought so but now I’m not sure. I do have a very active imagination.”

“In your line of work that’s probably an asset.”

She huffed softly. “It’s not so hot when I’m trapped in a dark building, even if I do have one of Texas’s finest to protect me. I was sure I heard something. Besides our footsteps, I mean.”

They stood quietly together, listening to the silence, before Cade said, “Maybe you aren’t the only one who stayed to work late and somebody else is trying to fix the problem, too. Come on.”

Carrying the evidence bag behind her, Paige stuck close to Cade as they tiptoed along the hallway. Each private office door they tried to open was locked, as they should have been. Unless the prowler—assuming there was one—had individual keys, there was no way he could be hiding in any of those rooms.

“You said the controls for the overhead lighting are around here, right? Show me.” Cade painted the beige-tiled floor with the narrow beam of light.

It took her only a few seconds to guide him to the gray metal box containing the electrical panel. He located the breakers and flipped them all to On.

The resulting illumination was blinding. Paige shaded her eyes with her free hand and could feel the tension flowing out of her. “Whew. That’s better. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. We’ll need to report this incident to Captain Parker. It may have been just a blown breaker from a power surge or something, but an electrician should have a look at the whole system just the same. No use taking chances.”

“If you say so.”

“I do. Anything that scares you as much as this incident did should definitely be investigated.”

“Me? I wasn’t the only one on edge. You almost hit the ceiling when I tapped you on the shoulder.”

“That’s because I never did find a logical explanation for what sounded like somebody cocking an automatic weapon right outside your office.”

“Now that I heard, too,” Paige said. “So tell me. After what already happened to you on your way here, do you honestly think this electrical problem was an accident?”

She saw more worry than she was comfortable with in the Ranger’s eyes when he shook his head and said, “No. I can’t say I do.”

Remaining on his guard, Cade escorted the artist back to her studio. He didn’t know what was going on but he didn’t believe in chance. The incident on the highway that had almost gotten him killed had been too convenient. So had this supposed power failure.

In his view, there was a good possibility that someone wanted to keep this victim’s identity a secret. That made perfect sense, particularly if the Lions of Texas cartel really was involved.

Paige once again removed the skull and started to study it.

“The lab boys said he was a man in his thirties,” Cade offered. “Do you agree?”

“Perhaps. I suppose they took dental X-rays and checked the opacity of the teeth to help decide.” She was rotating the skull as she spoke. “It has large brow ridges and blunt orbital borders, plus a dandy occipital protuberance. Nasal openings and the structure of the inner ear fit, too.”

“In English, please?”

Paige grinned. “Congratulations. It’s a boy. An older one, like you said.” Her grin widened when their glances met. “Probably of European ancestry. I’ll check my conclusions when I look up the tissue depth measurements, just to be absolutely positive.”

Cade didn’t mind seeing that his request for plainer speaking had amused her. There was little enough laughter in the world, particularly their corner of it.

“Okay.” He held up the open carrying case. “Better let me have him back for now. I’ve delayed you long enough. We can get down to serious business tomorrow.”

“Fine with me. It is getting late. Max will be wondering what kept me.”

To Cade’s surprise, he felt a twinge of emotion that was too akin to envy to suit him. “Max? Are you married?”

Paige shook her head and the sparkle in her emerald eyes was so appealing, he almost stared.

“No,” she said. “Max is short for Maximum, which is what I named the biggest dog I’ve ever had. He’s part Old English sheepdog, part fence-jumper, I think. I have to keep trimming his hair so he can see where he’s going.”

Cade gave a soft chuckle. “Well, I don’t want to keep you, ma’am.”

Paige stripped off her gloves and disposed of them while he zipped the bag closed. “You can leave that here so you don’t have to tote it all over Austin with you,” she said. “I have a big vault for secure storage.”

“Thanks. After the strange goings-on tonight it’ll be a relief to have it locked away safely.” Cade patted the closed top of the bag. “Are you the only one who knows the combination to your vault?”

“Of course not. Why?”

It occurred to him that maybe he should keep the skull with him, even if it would be a real pain to guard it every second. “Sharing the combination is not good. I told you how important this clue is. We can’t take any chances on losing it.”

“I have never lost a shred of evidence. Not once.”

“You probably aren’t normally as edgy as you were tonight, either. Suppose somebody was prowling around looking for this skull? What then?”

“We never saw a soul,” Paige countered.

“True. But if the Lions of Texas are as well connected as we suspect, they probably already know you’ve been chosen to do the facial rebuild.”

She arched her brows and rolled her eyes, almost making Cade laugh out loud. “That doesn’t take a rocket scientist. I’m the only forensic artist the Rangers have.”

“My point, exactly,” he said, watching her expression until he sensed that she’d begun to comprehend the importance of his warning. “They know what your job is.”

“And maybe they were watching you instead of me and knew you’d just delivered that evidence. Did you think of that?”

“Unfortunately, yes, which means your safe is the most secure option.” He took the carrying case to the safe. “Let’s get this guy locked up and get out of here. I’ll check in with the troopers before I go and have them keep an eye on this building. Especially your office.”

To his chagrin, Paige began to laugh softly.

“What’s so funny?”

“You are. You seem to have forgotten you’re on foot. You don’t have your truck anymore.”

“It’s around here somewhere. Probably still in the maintenance garage. It’s dented and scraped but the running gear didn’t look damaged. If they aren’t through checking it for clues yet, I can probably borrow some decent wheels from the motor pool.”

Taking her arm as soon as she locked the safe, he started to urge her toward the door. “Come on. I’ll walk you out.”

“Okay. Give me a minute to grab my things.”

Cade stayed on alert and by her side as she secured her office. Watching Paige that closely, it was impossible to avoid noticing how attractive she was. Her jeans, plain green T-shirt and fitted denim jacket were extremely well suited to her. So was the soft, draping leather shoulder bag she carried. They also indicated that she wasn’t into fancy clothing and such. His kind of down-to-earth, simple-pleasures woman, not given to prissiness.

Oh, well. He shrugged with resignation. He knew from his fellow Rangers that her assignments were usually completed quickly and efficiently, which meant his stay in Austin would be brief. Too bad he and Paige would never have a chance to really get to know each other.

That thought brought him up short. It wasn’t bad, it was good. Not only were in-house romances frowned upon, he’d had his fill of ladies who fretted over his dangerous occupation so much that it drove them away. The nervous tendencies Paige had recently demonstrated meant she was not suited to being any part of a Ranger’s personal life. Matter of fact, he was a bit surprised that she was able to cope with her daily tasks as well as she did.

Puzzled, he wondered what had formed such a forceful personality, yet had left an unreasonable fear of the dark and perhaps other vulnerabilities in her psyche? If he had some spare time, maybe he’d look into her past.

Just to satisfy his natural curiosity, of course.

Paige led the way across the well-lit parking lot with Cade at her side. “Do you think I need to take any extra precautions?” She smiled. “Except for not staying after hours in a deserted building while I wait for a tardy Ranger, I mean.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.”

“No problem. It’s my hang-up, not yours.”

“Well, it’s always good to keep an eye out for the unusual,” he said.

“Like what, for instance?”

“Anything out of the ordinary.”

Although she nodded to indicate she understood and agreed, there were several reasons why Paige doubted she’d be able to spot danger before it was too late. For one thing, her head was usually in the clouds and her mind drifting, or so she’d been told often enough, first by her parents, when she was younger, and then by her friends and coworkers.

“Earth to Paige. Which is your car?”

“The baby blue pickup right over there. It’s not necessary for you to walk me all the way. I can take care of myself from here on.”

“Humor me.”

Paige huffed and gave him a lopsided grin. “I’m starting to get the idea that you intend to do as you please no matter what I say.”

Touching the broad brim of his cattleman’s hat and, nodding politely, he drawled, “Yes, ma’am. And it will be my pleasure.”

Being on the receiving end of the Ranger’s overt courtesy made Paige feel decidedly shamefaced. She climbed into her truck while he held the door, then said, “Why don’t you hop in and let me drive you over to the motor pool? I’m sure you must be tired.”

He yawned, covering his mouth. “You could say that. It’s been a long day.”

“And a long last few months, I imagine. I can’t believe the Rangers haven’t solved the murder of one of their own yet.”

“Neither can I.” She saw him eyeing the passenger side of her pickup as he asked, “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all.” Paige concentrated on bestowing a gracious smile to confirm her invitation. She understood his frustration with any unsolved case, especially the one he was currently working. Even this many years after the fact, she sometimes found herself wondering about her sister’s disappearance and wishing she could go back in time and do things differently.

Starting the engine as soon as Cade had joined her and slammed his door, Paige began to drive toward the garage where the State Troopers stored and processed their vehicular evidence.

A sudden thought caused her to hold out her hand. “You’d better give me your card so I’ll have your cell number handy, just in case.”

“In case of what?”

She chuckled wryly. “If I knew that, I could tell you now and forget using the phone.”

“Very logical.” Smiling, he pulled out a business card and passed it to her. “Here you go. I keep my cell as close as I keep my Colt .45, so feel free to contact me anytime, day or night.”

“Thanks. See you bright and early tomorrow? I usually start around seven.”

“Boy, you don’t kid around, do you?”

“Nope. What I do is too important. When I have work like this waiting for me, I make sure it gets done ASAP.”

“Understood.” He saluted with a nod as he stepped out of the truck and paused. “Night, ma’am.”

“Good night.” As he closed the door, she hit the button to roll the window down so they could continue to hear each other speaking. Beyond lay the garage where his damaged truck would be waiting. It disturbed her to think of how close they may have come to never getting together at all, let alone having the opportunity to discuss their mutual goals regarding Captain Pike’s murder.

Paige leaned across the truck seat to watch his face when she added, “Take care of yourself.”

“I will.”

He’d tossed off the comment too blithely to suit her. “I mean it. I’ll worry.”

Cade grinned, making her glad she was still seated because she suddenly felt a little off balance—and more than a little charmed.

“Don’t waste energy fretting about me,” he said. “Everything will be fine. I got the evidence delivered and we’ll be done with it in no time. I’ve heard you’re a genius with clay.”

“Thanks. I do have my moments.”

He waved goodbye and so did she.

Watching him walk away, Paige was struck by a strong sense that, given what had already happened, the rest of this case was not going to be a stroll in the park.

That particular choice of words did not sit well. Her hands fisted and clenched on the steering wheel. Her heart began to beat faster. There was nothing peaceful or relaxing about a visit to a public park when those grounds might hide a waiting predator. She, of all people, knew that.

Pausing by the garage entrance to watch the attractive forensic artist drive away, Cade realized how much she had impressed him. Considering Paige’s strong work ethic, it was no wonder the Texas Rangers were able to get by with only one artist. A person like her was worth a dozen who treated their tasks as nothing more than an everyday job.

He was totally dedicated to the Rangers, too. In that respect, he and Paige saw things in the same light. What else they may or may not have in common remained to be discovered.

He sighed and saw his breath cloud in the cold night air. Perhaps this evening at the motel, he’d see what background info he could turn up on Ms. Bryant. She would never have been hired in the first place if she’d had a criminal record, of course, but he was positive the young woman was hiding something. His gut told him so.

And, he added, if he could find out a few things to help him guide their daily, casual conversations, perhaps she’d open up and tell him what was really bothering her. Something was. He’d stake his badge on it.

THREE

The house Paige shared with Angela, her paying roommate, and Max, the freeloading dog, was located in a semirural area outside Austin. The entire neighborhood had seen better days, but the place sure looked inviting when she pulled into her drive and her headlights illuminated the front of the property. Yes, the scraggly lawn needed mowing more often—or rather, the volunteer weeds did—and the green shingled roof should have been replaced years ago instead of merely patched, had she been able to afford it. Still, this old house was more like a real home than anywhere Paige had lived since she was a child of ten.

She reached for her purse, realizing belatedly that in all the confusion at the office she’d failed to pick up her laptop the way she usually did. Rats. Oh, well, it would be waiting for her in the morning.

Before she had time to reach the house, the porch light blinked on, the front door swung open and Max galloped out. From the look of him, he’d been into mischief very recently. His shaggy white beard and front paws not only looked wet, they were tinted pink.

“Glad you’re home,” Angela called from the doorway. “That dumb dog just knocked over a whole glass of fruit punch and stepped in the puddle.”

Paige couldn’t help laughing. “He looks like it.” She bent to ruffle the sheepdog’s thick coat while pushing him away to keep him from getting punch on her. “What happened?”

“Max happened. You know him. If we’re interested in anything, so is he. I was getting myself a drink and he tried to stick his big nose into the glass. I yanked it away and…”

“Aha! You spilled it.”

“It was still his fault,” the slightly built, dark-haired, young woman insisted. “He made me do it.”

Paige continued to wiggle her fingers in the dog’s thick coat while she murmured to him as if he were human. “She was trying to blame you but I didn’t let her. No, I didn’t. ’Cause you’re the best dog in Texas. Yes, you are. You’re a good boy, Max.”

The black and white behemoth panted and wiggled happily all over in response to her loving tone. Since he lacked a tail to wag, he did the best he could with his whole rear half.

Laughing, Paige led him over to a faucet and held on to his collar while she tried, one-handed, to hose off the worst of the punch stain without getting him, or herself, too wet. Even in the shadowy light from the porch she could tell that the attempt was less than successful. Finally, still chuckling, she shut the dog in the fenced backyard for his own safety and ducked into the house without him.

Angela had finished cleaning up the spill and was wringing out a rag over the sink. She grinned sheepishly. “I still say Max deserves the blame.”

“I’ll let you two share it.” Paige eyed the packed suitcase in the hallway and her roommate’s navy blue flight attendant’s uniform. “You have another assignment tonight?”

“Yes. Austin to LAX via Dallas. I know it’s my turn to cook so I left your dinner in the fridge.”

“You ate? Already?”

“Let’s just say I defrosted something,” the perky twenty-something said. “And I only ate because you were so late. I have to leave here no later than eight-thirty so I didn’t dare wait. You could have called, you know.”

Angela’s quizzically arched eyebrow was amusing enough that Paige made a face. “Okay, I apologize for not letting you know I was going to be delayed. I got involved and then distracted.”

“By your work?”

“Of course. What did you think?”

Angela huffed. “Well, I have hopes that someday a handsome stranger will sweep you off your feet, but I guess that’s expecting too much, huh?”

“A handsome what?”

“Stranger. What did you think I said?”

Paige was not about to admit that she’d thought Angela had said Ranger. She knew she was blushing as she envisioned the good-looking man she’d just left. Every facet of their conversation was still so fresh in her memory that she could have recited it verbatim. And those dark, compelling eyes of his. Wow!

Her gut-level reaction was what was most astonishing. She worked shoulder-to-shoulder with literally dozens of Texas Rangers, yet Cade Jarvis stood out for her like a glittering, polished gem among a pile of plain old rocks.

That was ridiculous. Insane. No doubt he turned on the cowboy charm for all women, so why did she keep recalling the way his quiet yet strong, vibrant voice had made the hair on her nape prickle and raised goose bumps on her arms? Or was that just another consequence of being caught in the dark?

Angela waved a hand in front of Paige’s face. “Hello in there. Anybody home?”

“Barely,” Paige replied with a sigh. “I was just thinking about my new assignment. I have a feeling it’s going to be a real challenge.”

“Oh. Well, I have to go. You gonna be okay?”

“Sure. Fine. As soon as Max gets dry I’ll let him in to keep me company.”

“Just keep him away from the fruit punch. Believe me, it was all his fault that it got spilled.”

“Right. Have a safe flight. When do you expect to be back?”

“Not before Friday, unless I get another assignment or decide to fly standby.” Angela paused, frowning. “Why? You don’t usually care when I come and go. What’s changed?”

“Rough day at work,” Paige said, raking her fingers through her long hair to comb it back and let it fall around her shoulders. “Don’t worry about me. I’m just a little jumpy. The power went out in my office and you know how I hate the dark. If I hadn’t had a Ranger with me at the time, I might have lost it, right then and there.”

Checking her watch, Angela made a face. “A Ranger? As in too handsome for words?” She rolled her eyes. “Now you tell me, when I don’t have time to stay and listen to the whole story.”

Laughing, Paige shooed her with both hands. “Go on. Scram. I’ll tell you all about it when you get back.”

“Promise? All the romantic details?”

“There weren’t any of those but I will tell you everything, I promise.” She drew a finger across her chest for effect. “Cross my heart.”

“Okay. I plan to hold you to that.”

Paige was still chuckling softly and thinking of how she was going to explain her evening with Cade Jarvis when she heard Angela’s car drive away.

Cade had managed to talk the Troopers into letting him liberate his battered truck. It wasn’t pretty after the accident but it still beat walking. Besides, all his Ranger gear was in it and making a transfer to another vehicle would have wasted time.

Once he’d registered at the motel and been given a room, he powered up his laptop, made a short report to Benjamin Fritz, his captain, via email, then checked his messages. Outside of a few jokes and personal notes, there wasn’t anything important. At least nothing that required a reply.

He rubbed his eyes and noticed a headache beginning to thump in time with his pulse. Thinking he’d just rest for a few minutes before doing more, he unbuckled his gun belt and stretched out on top of the bedspread. His mind wandered to Paige Bryant and the way she’d over-reacted to an apparently simple power outage.

“Assuming that’s all there was to it,” he argued with a yawn as he let his eyes drift closed. In minutes, he was asleep.

Nearly an hour later, Paige opened the kitchen door and called, “Max.”

Waiting, she was puzzled to see no sign of him so she flipped on enough outside lights to brightly illuminate the entire yard. “Come on, Max. Aren’t you hungry?”

The lovable mutt didn’t respond. Paige frowned and stepped out onto the back stoop. The icy air made her shiver and fold her arms around herself. “Max? Max? Where are you?”

Nothing stirred. Slowly, deliberately, she descended the stairs to what was left of the sparse, backyard grass.

There was no valid reason for Paige to be fearful again, yet she was. Instinct kept insisting that something was amiss. Max had many faults, including being shy, but failing to answer her call had never been a problem. On the contrary, he was usually right there at her feet the moment she moved, as if she were his entire flock of sheep and guarding her was his only duty.

A rustling and whimpering behind the large evergreen bushes that grew along the house’s foundation drew her attention. She bent down to peer underneath. “Max? Is that you? Are you stuck?”

Momentary relief at spotting the dog’s white markings and hearing one sharp yelp was instantly replaced by shock, then dread, as she realized Max was being physically restrained.

The next moments passed in a haze of conflicting thought. Shoes? Yes, she did see shoes. Men’s dirty running shoes. And pant legs, ankles to knees. The rest of the shape of a large body disappeared into the thick leaves above except for one meaty fist that was grasping Max’s collar and twisting it.

Full recognition seemed delayed, as if everything were moving in slow motion. Paige stiffened. Every fiber of her being was taut, every nerve singing with a silent scream of terror.

She started to straighten and ease away, barely able to make her feet move, partly because she desperately wanted to rescue Max.

A burly, bare arm thrust through the foliage. A hand clutched at her. Beefy fingers encircled her wrist and part of her forearm, holding tight. Hurting her.

Paige gulped air. Filled her lungs. Began to scream and kept wordlessly screaming, over and over, until she was so lightheaded she was afraid she might pass out.

Her assailant’s grip merely constricted more.

All logical thoughts fled, leaving Paige feeling as if she were trapped in a horrifying nightmare. Only this was all too real.

At her wits’ end, she began to twist and cry, “Help! Help me!”

The man who had grabbed her stepped out of the bushes and in doing so apparently freed Max, because Paige saw a flash of fur passing on her left.

At least her dear pet was safe, she thought, realizing that she was still in terrible danger.

“No. Let me go! Help!” she kept shouting.

Kicking and thrashing at the man who held her prisoner, she tried to land a blow that would be forceful enough to make him release her. All he did was laugh at those feeble efforts while Max circled, barking furiously.

The man’s wicked-sounding laughter cut straight into her mind like the blade of a knife and made Paige so angry she lost normal rationality. The man who had kidnapped her sister had laughed like that. And she’d been too young, too weak, too frightened to stop him. Well, not this time.

She came alive. No longer feeling like a victim, she became the aggressor. Flailing with her free hand and both feet she managed to land a hard kick to the man’s kneecap that made him grunt and stagger.

Then, bringing the heel of her hand up under the fleshy part of his nose, she heard a sickening crack. Yes! She’d done real damage.

He howled, cursed unintelligibly, and let go of her arm so he could cup his face with both hands.

Paige fell backward, landing so hard it knocked the wind out of her. Scrambling to her feet, she saw her usually timid dog worrying one of the man’s pant legs. Because of the distraction, she realized she now had a chance to escape. Praise the Lord!

She whirled and started to run, leaving her attacker apparently trying to staunch blood from his broken nose and shake off the growling dog at the same time.

“Max!” Paige screeched as she neared the back door, hoping and praying he’d heed her command. “Max!”

Her hand closed over the knob. She twisted and jerked open the door, afraid to look behind her.

Was the man at her heels? Had Max come? She didn’t dare wait to see.

A sob of relief caught in Paige’s throat when she saw a large, furry, black-and-white form whiz by her legs and barely beat her through the doorway.

Slamming the door, she locked it, then leaned against it to catch her breath. They’d made it! They were safe, at least for the time being.

Now what? How do I protect us if he recovers and tries to break in? she asked herself, knowing the answer immediately. If ever there was something important to report, this was it.

She raced to her purse, found the card Cade Jarvis had given her, punched in his private cell number with shaky fingers, then plopped into the closest chair.

By the time the phone had rung twice, Paige had managed to catch her breath enough that she was positive she’d be able to deliver a clear report.

The instant she heard the Ranger sleepily say, “Jarvis here,” however, she felt tears welling and a lump in her throat that refused to go away no matter how hard she swallowed.

“It’s me. Paige Bryant,” she managed to squeak out. “I need help. Somebody’s outside my house.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I saw him!” The tears finally spilled down her cheeks. “I got away but…”

“Where are you now?”

“Inside.”

“Are you armed?”

“No.” She heard him muttering under his breath as soon as she answered.

“Okay. Just stay put and lock your doors,” Cade ordered. “What’s your home address?”

She told him, then hung up and went to make sure all the doors and windows were secure. Merely knowing that the Ranger was on his way was amazingly comforting.

It belatedly occurred to her that most people would have called 911, instead. Not her. Anytime she could rely directly on the Texas Rangers for help, they’d be her first and only choice. Even the one she’d just phoned.

In her mind, that statement was immediately altered to be, Especially the one she’d just phoned.

FOUR

Thankful that he was still fully dressed except for his normal armament, Cade slung his gun belt around his waist, grabbed his jacket, hat and keys and hit the motel parking lot at a dead run. It only took him a second to program the truck’s GPS for finding Paige’s house.

Good thing he hadn’t changed vehicles, he thought, his jaw clenching and hands gripping the wheel. He needed every bit of his familiar equipment, including the navigational system.

Lacking a siren or flashing lights, he nevertheless made excellent time. When he rounded the corner on to her street, he knew instantly which house had to be Paige’s.

One dwelling, halfway down the block, was lit up like a Christmas tree. Not only were there floodlights in the yard, the entire house was illuminated. Every window shone brightly, as if calling to him the way a lighthouse guided mariners.

The female GPS voice said, “Approaching destination. Slow down and prepare to turn right in one hundred yards.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Cade grumbled.

“Fifty yards. Right turn coming up.”

“I’m way ahead of you, lady.” He knew it was silly to argue with the nav unit but it gave him an outlet for his anxiety. He fisted the wheel and whipped into Paige’s driveway.

There was no sign of life in the house. No human silhouettes at any of the windows.

“Good girl,” Cade muttered. “Keep your head down.”

He slid to a stop behind her familiar blue pickup and left his truck as he’d entered it—at a run.

Gun ready, eyes darting to any shadows that could conceal an adversary, he sprinted up the steps onto the porch and announced himself.

“It’s me. Jarvis. Let me in.”

His heart remained in his throat for the long seconds before Paige opened the door a crack and peeked through the narrow slit.

“It’s okay. I’m here,” Cade assured her. He turned his back to the doorway to face out, his pistol raised, his senses sharp. “Have you had any more trouble?”

“No. Not since I called you.”

“Okay. Let’s go inside and you can fill me in.”

He didn’t holster his gun until she’d closed and latched the door, and even then he was anything but relaxed. Noting the presence of the dog at Paige’s side, he arched a brow. “Is he going to be okay with me being in here?”

Paige nodded and managed a slight smile, laying her hand atop the animal’s broad head without having to bend over. “Yes. He’s usually a wimp, although he did try to bite the guy who came after me out in the backyard.”

“Good. I didn’t understand all you said on the phone. Start over, tell me everything, and take your time.” He hesitated, eyeing the windows. “After we close these drapes.”

“I—I never thought of doing that. Guess I was too scared to think clearly.”

“No problem. It helped me find you even before the GPS told me I was here. This place has so many lights it glows for miles.”

“I told you I hated the dark.”

“Fine, as long as you don’t mind paying a high electric bill.” He was going from window to window, jerking the curtains closed as he spoke. Her small living room contained a side table stacked with books, an easy chair and a floral upholstered sofa. There was little room for more furniture other than a television stand.

“I think the kitchen is the safest place for us to talk,” Paige said as he finished covering the windows. “I did close the shutters back there. And I didn’t come out till I heard you drive up.”

Cade noticed the flush of her cheeks and wondered if it was from lingering fright or if she thought he had been chastising her. “You did fine. I might not have thought about drawing the curtains if I hadn’t noticed how visible you’d be from the street with them open.”

Following Paige and the dog, which hadn’t left her side since his arrival, he was led into the kitchen. Like the living room, it looked as if it had been cut from the pages of a decorating magazine published forty or fifty years ago. The counter was made of the kind of material that was supposed to resemble butcher block. The cabinets were of the same blond color. So were the closed shutters.

He wiggled the knob of the back door out of habit and made sure it was locked. “After you called me, did you hear or see anything else?”

“No. Nothing. I think the prowler is gone.”

“Probably. I didn’t see anybody lurking around outside when I drove up. I’ll check closer later. First, I want you to sit down and tell me exactly what happened, from the beginning, so I know what I’m looking for.” He motioned to the chrome-edged dinette set and pulled out a chair for her.

Paige started to join him, then paused. “Would you like some coffee?”

“If you think it will help you focus better, fine. Otherwise, never mind.”

As he watched her jerky motions at the sink he realized how close she still was to being scared out of her wits. And the enormous dog seemed to be in much the same condition. It had not left her for a second, not even to give him a quick sniff and check him out the way most dogs would have. It was as if both animal and owner were traumatized.

“Look. Forget the coffee and just come here,” Cade said as he unzipped his leather bomber jacket and draped it over the back of an empty chair. He was not a patient man, especially in cases where he didn’t have enough hard facts to be certain he could avert further problems.

“Okay.” Paige sat and folded her hands in her lap while Cade circled to the opposite side of the small kitchen table. “Everything seemed fine when I got home. When Angela—that’s my roommate—left. Max was outside in the yard.”

Cade had taken out a pad and pen to jot notes as she cited the prowler’s approximate age, height and weight.

It was when she began to relate the rest of her story that he leaned forward, rested his elbows on the table and closely studied her. In view of the fact that nothing disastrous had occurred, he was wondering why she hadn’t regained a little more of her composure during the fifteen or twenty minutes it had taken him to reach her.

“When I called Max and he didn’t come, I went outside to look for him,” Paige said. “That’s when I spotted a strange man in the bushes.”

“And you ran.”

Her green eyes misted and widened. “No! He caught me.” Extending her left arm and resting it on the table, she displayed the beginnings of a wide band of bruising near her wrist.

Cade was astounded. No wonder she was still so upset. Without thinking, he reached out and traced the injury lightly, gently, with one finger. “I’m sorry I was so short with you. I had no idea he’d actually made contact.”

To his surprise, the corners of Paige’s mouth started to twitch. Was she thinking of smiling? Now? After all the shaking she’d been doing?

“He made contact all right,” she said with a nod. “And he had a good, strong hold on me. His hands were enormous. You can see that from the marks he left.”

“So, how did you get loose?” Cade glanced down to recheck his notes. “If he was as big and strong as you say, he should have been able to easily overpower you.”

The smile was now unmistakable. “I know. He shouldn’t have started to laugh at me. That made me so mad I went a little crazy. That was what saved me.”

“Really? What happened?”

“I’m not sure. All I remember is being absolutely furious and then cutting loose with more force and strength than I’d ever imagined I had. First I kicked him in the patella—the kneecap. Then, when he bent over to grab his leg, I straight-armed his face. Caught him right under the nose with an upward thrust from the heel of my hand.”

“Ouch. Did you break his nose?”

“If the cracking sound was any indication, I sure did.” She sobered. “I know I shouldn’t be happy about inflicting pain on anyone but this guy deserved everything he got. And more.”

“Did he say anything?”

“Nothing I care to repeat, thank you.”

Cade had to chuckle. “I don’t mean when you busted his nose. I mean before that. When he first grabbed you. Think. Anything? Anything at all?”

She paused and closed her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line. Finally, she looked at him, shook her head and said, “I can’t recall a thing. Not even a threat. I wish I could.”

“Okay. Tomorrow we’ll…” He broke off, grinning.

“What?”

Stressing the humorous aspect of his random thoughts, mostly for Paige’s sake, he admitted, “I was just making plans to take you to see a sketch artist. Then, I remembered that you are one.”

To his relief her smile returned. “That’s actually how I got my start with the Rangers. I can start drawing the man I saw in the bushes right away, so I won’t take any time away from work on the skull. If I hadn’t left my laptop at work I could use it, too.”

She pushed back her chair and got to her feet. “First I’ll make us both some strong coffee, then I’ll go dig out my artist’s materials.”

“I’ll make the coffee, if you want, as soon as I get my evidence kit out of the truck. I intend to have a good look around your yard and see what I can pick up before we notify the local sheriff.”

“And tell him what? That I was dumb enough to go outside and confront a prowler?”

“I wouldn’t put it quite that way.”

“Doesn’t matter. There’s more to this attack than just some lowlife hiding in my bushes.” Paige was scowling. “You see it, too. I know you do. Or you wouldn’t have asked me if the man made any specific threats.”

It was only fair to level with her. Cade nodded as he took a few steps toward the living room. “Yes. I think it’s likely that all the peculiar things that have been happening to you, and to me, are related to the Pike case. That’s the most logical theory. I hope I’m wrong.”

“I hope you are, too, but I’d had the same idea.” She managed a smile that he could tell was partly forced. “Hurry back, okay?”

“Will do. I think you’d better follow me to the front door and lock it after me so nobody can sneak in. I won’t be out there long.”

The smile she’d displayed before became softer, as if muted by new tenderness. “Max and I will miss you.”

“I’ll only be gone for a minute or two.”

The smile widened. Her eyes twinkled. “We’ll still miss you.” She reached for her dog and began to scratch behind its ears. “Won’t we, Max?”

The kitchen table became Paige’s drawing board, the Ranger hovering in the background, her catalyst. Taking information from another person and putting a suspect’s face on paper or inputting data into a computer program was a lot easier when she wasn’t the victim, she realized belatedly. Nothing about this sketch seemed quite right. She kept wanting to imbue the assailant’s face with the evil she’d sensed rather than sticking to his basic features.

Cade handed her a fresh mug of the coffee they’d been sharing. They were already on their second pot. She glanced up at him and lifted her eyebrows. “Do you live on that stuff?”

“I’ve been known to, especially when I have night duty.”

“Is that what this is? Are you on duty?”

“Might as well think of it that way,” he said amiably. “Just because I didn’t find any clues in the yard tonight doesn’t mean he won’t come back and try again.”

“I sure hope not.” She laid aside her drawing pencil. “I still don’t get it. Why me? I’m harmless.”

Pointing to the sketch she’d been laboring over, Cade said, “Not from where I stand. If I were a criminal, I sure wouldn’t want somebody with your talent and memory for faces drawing my picture.”

“Thanks.”

The notion of someday portraying Cade’s likeness struck her as a good one, although if and when she did decide to sketch him, she didn’t intend to let him know what she was up to. This Ranger’s portrait should be done the way she’d done Amy’s, she decided. With more than just features and color. It needed feeling. The sense of strength and uprightness she felt when she was with him. She didn’t intend to drape him in the Texas flag or add a superhero’s cape, but that was the overall impression she intended to convey.

“So, how much longer do you plan to keep working on that sketch?” Cade asked. He was leaning nonchalantly against the kitchen counter, his boots crossed at the ankles, as he took cautious sips from his own mug.

“I don’t know. Maybe all night, unless I can get it right before then. Why?”

“Because it seems sensible for at least one of us to grab some shuteye. Your couch looks pretty comfortable. Mind if I bunk there? I’m not wearing my spurs so it shouldn’t hurt a thing.” He held up one foot. “See?”

“Nothing except my reputation,” Paige countered.

“Suit yourself. One way or another, I’m staying.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no reason to put yourself out like that. I’ll be fine.”

“It’s not open to discussion.”

She glanced past him into the living room and shook her head. “No way.”

“Why not? I’m totally trustworthy.”

“I don’t doubt that for a second. So am I. The trouble is, it would give the neighbors the wrong impression about me.”

Cade nodded. “Understood.”

“But…?” Paige arched her eyebrows. “I know you’re going to keep arguing. I can see it in your face.”

“Um.” He began to give her a lopsided grin. “I thought I was better at hiding my motives than that.”

“You’re as transparent as Max is.” To her chagrin, that comparison seemed to amuse the Ranger further.

“I see. Well, I guess I’m in good company then.” He set his mug in the sink and picked up his jacket. “You win. I’ll bunk in my truck tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll discuss making other arrangements.”

“Like what?”

“Like moving you closer into the city for the time being. I can get you a motel room next to mine so I’ll be handy in case you need me.”

“Oh, no. I’m not running away. This is my home.”

“What about Max? Don’t you want to protect him?”

“Sure I do. He can come to work with me.” Paige could tell by the stubborn set of the Ranger’s jaw that he wasn’t planning to back down. He had raised some logical concerns, ones she hadn’t considered before. And now that he’d started her thinking along those lines, there was also the question of how she’d know the house was secure when she returned to it after having been gone all day with Max.

She capitulated with a sigh of resignation. “Okay. I’ll think about moving. Do you need to borrow a pillow or blanket or anything for tonight?”

“Nope. I carry everything I need with me in case I have to spend the night camped on the prairie.” His smile returned. “Or the wilds of a pretty artist’s driveway.”

He’d bid her a quick good-night and was gone before she had time to react to his characterization of her as being pretty. Wondering if he’d slipped or had delivered the compliment on purpose, Paige locked the door, then stood at one side of the front window, pulled the drapes aside a smidgen and peeked through that slit until she was certain he was settled.

She’d never admit it, especially not to the Ranger, but she was very glad he’d stuck around. There was something amazingly comforting about knowing that one of Texas’s finest was personally looking after her.

Returning to the sketch, she sat there and stared at it till her eyes refused to focus. Her eyelids were heavy but she refused to surrender to sleep. There was too much to think about, too many unanswered questions.

Whoever had attacked her had left them with no tangible clues. Neither did whoever had run Cade off the road and had probably followed him all the way to her office.

Between her and the Ranger, however, she was certain they’d be able to outwit whatever adversaries they might have. Their only real problem was going to be getting the skull copied in resin and the face reconstructed before something happened to disrupt the process. As long as the original skull stayed locked in her safe when she wasn’t working, and Cade continued to act as her bodyguard, everything should turn out fine.

Another concern was making sure Angela didn’t come home unexpectedly and get sucked into the same touchy situation.

“That’s easily remedied,” she muttered. “But what should I do about Cade Jarvis?” Paige could still recall his parting words so clearly it was as if he were standing beside her.

“Keep your cell close at hand and be sure I’m on speed dial,” he’d said. “Any little noise, any sign that Max is upset, call me.”

Even now, hours later, Paige was continuing to draw strength from him. The man’s persona had seemed to fill her home completely. Overwhelmingly. Unmistakably.

It wasn’t just because of his badge or the gun holstered on his right hip, either. It was much more. He was a Texas Ranger. The best of the best. Someone she not only admired, but trusted implicitly.

Like it or not, Paige knew she’d rather place her future in the hands of a man like Cade Jarvis than trust it to anyone else.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.