Innocent Target. Elisabeth Rees

for it.”

      She was incredulous. “Are you saying it’s my fault someone tried to kill me?”

      “Absolutely not. You have the right to ask questions and print newspaper articles and challenge the jury’s decision to convict. You have the right to do all of those things without fear of repercussions, but I’m just asking you to consider whether it’s in your interest to continue pushing your opinion on people.” He pulled a small twig from her hair. “I really don’t want to see you get seriously hurt.”

      She picked up her empty coffee mug and walked to the sink to rinse it out.

      “I have to take that risk,” she said, her back to him. “I don’t expect you to understand and I don’t even expect you to care, but I know that my father didn’t kill Molly. He gave her a ride to a party at the Suttons’ farm after she’d fallen at the side of the road and cut her knees. That was why her blood was in his car. He left her alive and well at the bottom of the lane that leads to the farmhouse.”

      She watched Ryan’s reflection in the kitchen window, rubbing his neck and giving an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

      “I guess it sounds crazy to you,” she continued. “You see my dad as just another ex-con who’ll say anything to pass the blame on to someone else. Plus, I’m guessing you know that he served time in prison for armed robbery when he was eighteen.”

      Ryan nodded.

      “He changed his ways a long time ago. He’s not a bad person.”

      “From what I understand, he tied up two people at a post office and threatened them with a shotgun before robbing the place. Is that correct?”

      Kitty ran a hand through her hair, gathering the strands in her fist and gripping them tight in frustration. “That was thirty-five years ago. Don’t you think people can change?”

      Ryan scraped his chair on the linoleum as he stood. “Like I already said, I’m more concerned about you than your father. I don’t like the thought of you being here all alone.” He shifted on his feet, fingering the edges of his hat. “So I might have a potential solution.”

      She turned around and leaned against the sink. “You do?”

      “I’ve been commuting eighty miles from Lawton and it’s pretty tiring, so I’d rather live closer to the station. I’ve been looking for a room to rent.”

      She smiled wryly as she realized what he was getting at. “You want to rent the apartment?”

      “It would mean I’m only ten minutes from work, and I can be here on hand in case your attacker comes back.”

      She said nothing for a while, listening to the clatter of raindrops on the deck outside. This man had admitted that he thought her father guilty. Could she stand to share living space with someone who so openly doubted her father’s innocence? All she wanted was for one person to believe her, just one single individual to support her investigation. When Ryan had rushed to her aid, she had briefly hoped he might be that person, but now those hopes were dashed.

      “You should know that I use this house to coordinate the campaign to free my father,” she said. “So if you’re likely to be offended by that, you should look for another place.”

      “I don’t share your opinion,” he said calmly. “But I’m not offended by it.”

      She wanted to shout and scream, to tell him that her opinion was correct. But doing so would be a pointless waste of energy.

      “Some of the townsfolk might turn on you,” she added. “Lodging here could seriously damage your reputation.”

      “My reputation can take the hit,” he said. “Please don’t worry about me, Kitty. You’re the main concern here.”

      She had to make a decision either way. She would feel safer with someone else here. And the electricity bill was overdue. “When would you like to move in?”

      “Tomorrow afternoon?”

      She swallowed her doubts and took the plunge. “Okay. I’ll get the place ready for you.”

      “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

      Following him to the front door, she said, “The only thing missing from the apartment is a kitchen, so you’ll have to share mine. Maybe we could decide on a roster so we won’t get in each other’s way.”

      “I won’t get in your way. You won’t even know I’m here.”

      Somehow, she doubted that very much.

      “Lock all the windows and doors when I’m gone,” he said. “And if the intruder returns, call me immediately.” He handed her a card containing his contact details. “Even if it’s the middle of the night.”

      She took the card, rubbing her finger over the embossed lettering of Chief Deputy Ryan Lawrence, and watched him sprint through the rain to his truck. The air temperature had plummeted with the storm and she shivered, feeling the sinister presence of her masked attacker all around her.

      The intruder would return. Of that she was sure. The only question was when.

       TWO

      “You’re doing what?” Deputy Shane Harmon slapped his thigh while doubling over with laughter. “You’re renting an apartment at the Linklater house? You sure must be a glutton for punishment. Some people say that she’s bad news.”

      Ryan bristled at the criticism of Kitty. She might be mistakenly loyal to her father, but she was a good and decent person underneath it all. After a lot of reflection, he’d concluded that her heart was in the right place. He only wished that her head would overrule her strong emotions.

      “Come on now, Shane, she’s not that bad,” Ryan said. “She’s had a rough couple of years, what with all the publicity about her father’s crime, and now she’s convinced that somebody is trying to kill her.”

      “Kill her?” Shane questioned with a dubious frown. “She’s not exactly Bethesda’s favorite person, but I don’t think anybody would want her dead.”

      “Well, someone certainly tried to hurt her yesterday. I chased him to a boat on the lake, which I’d like you to try to trace.”

      “There are a lot of boats that use the lake, so it’ll be tough to locate the owner,” Shane said. “Does Kitty have any idea who it might be?”

      “No, but she reckons the attack is linked to her investigation into the Molly Thomas murder.”

      Shane pinched his lips together in disgust. “The Molly Thomas murder is solved. Can’t we just let that little girl rest in peace, so her family can try to move on?”

      “You won’t hear any argument from me on that,” Ryan said, instantly conjuring up an image of his parents, and how hard the loss of Gina had been on them. If anyone had been around, constantly talking about the trial, trying to cast doubt on the conviction, it would have destroyed their tattered peace of mind. “But Kitty’s got it in her head that the real killer is trying to stop her from getting to the truth.”

      “The only truth is that Kitty’s made enemies around here, asking all her intrusive questions and publishing newspaper articles criticizing our police work. If somebody is targeting her, she’s only got herself to blame. She needs to stop what she’s doing or else she might come to real harm.”

      “That’s not fair,” Ryan stated. “She’s not doing anything illegal and she has the right to live in peace, just like everyone else. We don’t have to agree with her, but it’s our sworn duty to protect her.”

      “Yes, sir.” Shane appeared contrite. “I guess I went too far there. It’s a touchy subject, but you’re right that she shouldn’t