Cold Case at Carlton's Canyon. Rita Herron

his eyes stormy with emotions and red rimmed from crying or lack of sleep. Maybe both.

      Finally he released a heavy sigh and dropped back into the chair. “All right. But I love Kelly, and I’d never do anything to hurt her.”

      Justin studied him, wondering how he’d react if he was in this man’s shoes. He’d be tearing apart the office, demanding answers, pushing for the police to comb the streets.

      Ready to kill the person who’d stolen his fiancé.

      That is, if that was what had happened.

      Fisher took the pen and began to scribble names and phone numbers.

      Sheriff Blair and Lambert appeared in the doorway, Lambert’s face ashen.

      “Mr. Lambert, Mr. Fisher, I’d like your permission to put a trace on your phones,” Sheriff Blair said. “Just in case Kelly calls, or you receive a ransom call. We’ll also need to look at Kelly’s computer and phone records.”

      “Of course, whatever you need,” Fisher said.

      “Yes, check the phone records and computer.” Lambert’s eyes cut toward her. “Do whatever you have to do. Just find my daughter.”

      Sheriff Blair nodded, but she looked worried. “I’ll get Kelly’s picture in the missing-persons database and on the news right away. Hopefully someone saw something and we’ll get a lead.”

      Fisher shoved the paper into Justin’s hands. “Call us if you find her.”

      Fisher huffed, then strode out the door. Lambert glanced at Justin. “I saw the pictures of those other young women back there. I don’t want Kelly’s picture up there. I want you to find this bastard.”

      Justin shook the man’s hand. “Yes, sir. We’ll do everything we can.”

      “Do more than that,” Lambert said sharply. Heaving a labored breath, he followed Fisher out the door.

      Justin couldn’t blame the man for being angry and frustrated. He didn’t even know Kelly Lambert, and he felt like kicking something.

      “I didn’t mean for him to see the wall of photos,” Sheriff Blair said.

      “He’s scared,” Justin said. “Do you believe him?”

      Sheriff Blair winced and gestured toward the notepad in her hand. “I think he loves her. I want to look at his financials. He turned down some folks for loans this year, had to foreclose on a couple of people.”

      Justin arched a brow. “So this could be about money?”

      “We’ll see if he receives a ransom call,” Sheriff Blair said. “Maybe someone he angered decided to get their loan money from him after all.”

      “Revenge is a powerful motivator,” Justin agreed.

      “What about the fiancé?” she asked.

      “He seems sincerely distraught, but it could be an act. Apparently a former boyfriend contacted Kelly recently and wanted to see her before the wedding. He or Fisher could have had a jealous streak.”

      Sheriff Blair nodded. “I’ll have my deputy pull financials and talk to the folks at the bank.” She made the call while he finished his coffee.

      “I have a list of Fisher’s friends and the ex’s name and phone number,” he said as she turned back to him. “I’ll request Kelly’s phone records and access to her computer as well as Fisher’s and the ex’s.”

      “Sounds like a plan,” Sheriff Blair said. “At least a beginning.”

      “Maybe we’ll find something at Kelly’s place.”

      “Let’s go,” Sheriff Blair said. “You can make the phone calls in the car.”

      Justin followed her outside, then climbed in the passenger seat as he removed his phone from the clip on his belt. “Sheriff, if we’re going to work together on this case, let’s start by getting on a first-name basis.”

      An almost panicked look flickered in her eyes, making him wonder why she was so wary. Was it him personally or his badge that she didn’t like?

      “All right,” she said tightly. “But just so you know, I don’t mix business with pleasure.”

      He hadn’t asked her to.

      She shot him a fiery look. “I may be a woman, but I can do my job.”

      “I never said you couldn’t,” Justin said. Although her statement told him far more about her and her past than she probably realized.

      Amanda chewed her bottom lip as she started the engine. “Good, I’m glad we got that out of the way.”

      He had to admit he was intrigued at her spunk. Obviously she’d battled her way up against men in her field who probably thought she was incompetent based on her sex.

      Either that or they were sidetracked by her good looks.

      He wouldn’t make that mistake.

      And he certainly couldn’t or wouldn’t allow her pretty little face to distract him. He was here to find Kelly Lambert and to solve the case of the missing girls.

      Nothing else mattered.

      Especially the little zing of lightning that had sizzled between them when he’d brushed her hand earlier.

      * * *

      THE DATES FOR the tenth reunion had been posted on the marquis in front of the high school. The members of that graduating class were returning to town to celebrate their accomplishments.

      They would be partying and drinking and rehashing their fun times. The pep rallies. The football game wins. The dances. The bonfires by the canyon.

      Graduation night.

      They’d all be happy and laughing, bragging about their accomplishments and careers and awards. Showing off their wives and husbands, and their children.

      Back together for the first time in years.

      Which would make it easier to find the next ones who had to die.

      Chapter Four

      Amanda silently chided herself. She shouldn’t have blurted out that comment about being able to do her job.

      But Sergeant Thorpe’s—Justin’s—suggestion that they use first names felt somehow intimate. Friendly.

      Tempting.

      Because he was the first man she’d met in years that made her want to forget her vow to not get involved with a coworker.

      But doing so would mean losing his respect.

      And holding on to her respect was all she had. She’d had her heart broken too many times to trust it to someone again.

      Her own mother had left her father because she’d said he was married to the job.

      Amanda was like her father—married to the job, too.

      Justin phoned his superior to request phone records for Kelly, her father, her fiancé and her ex-boyfriend, then disconnected.

      “Your father was a Texas Ranger, wasn’t he?”

      His question took her by surprise. “How did you know?” Had he researched her?

      “I saw his photo on the wall at the central office. He was a hero.”

      She focused back on the road to keep her emotions at bay. He’d been gone for five years, but his death had left a hole in her heart. “Yeah, he was.”

      “He died saving a little boy?”

      She nodded, proud of her dad. Yet his death had left her alone.

      Still, she had to understand