Guardian. Terri Reed

with me. I would like to hear it for myself.”

      Her eyes darted to the chief. “I’d prefer not to explain in front of my son.”

      Charlie didn’t need to hear the details now or ever. When she’d first arrived a female officer had taken Charlie aside for the few moments it had taken Alicia to explain to the chief what had happened.

      Jarrett stood. “Alicia, Agent Gallagher will be taking the lead on this case. Come on, Charlie. Let’s take a walk.”

      Alicia bit her bottom lip to keep from protesting. She didn’t like having Charlie out of her sight. But she could hardly protest given that the chief would protect her son. Not only because it was his job, but also because they were a close-knit community. The folks of Settler’s Valley took care of one another. The adage that it took a village was true for this small town.

      After her mother’s death, the citizens had rallied around her father and made sure he’d had everything he needed. Alicia regretted she hadn’t been here at the time. But she was now, and she had every intention of making up for lost time.

      When the chief and Charlie were gone, the agent hitched a hip on the edge of the desk. “Now, start from the beginning.”

      The dog took his cue from his handler and lay down with his head on his paws.

      “Fine.” Though the two officers might be relaxed, an anxious quiver ran through her. She fought to keep her voice even as she described what she’d witnessed on the river, the killer chasing after her and Charlie, the gunshots assailing them, and finally ending up at the police station.

      The agent’s stoic expression never wavered. “The truck was reported stolen from the marina a half hour ago.”

      “That makes sense,” she said. “He’d come from upriver.”

      “If you sat with a forensic artist, would you be able to give a detailed description of the suspect?”

      Acid churned in her tummy as she recalled the man’s face. “Oh, yes. I doubt I’ll forget his image anytime soon.” She shuddered. “Dark, cold eyes. He had a shaved head. Not tall, but bulky.”

      “I’ll send for an artist. Did your son see the man as well?”

      “No, thankfully.”

      “That’s a blessing,” the agent murmured.

      Was this man a believer or was he using the word as a nicety as some people did? “It is a blessing from God. A huge one.”

      Something flickered in his eyes before his expression turned all-business again. “The woman you saw go into the water... Did you get a look at her face?”

      “No. I only saw her long red hair and her limp body.” She shivered at the horrible memory.

      “Would you be able to pinpoint where the body went into the water?”

      “Of course, Agent Gallagher. I’m surprised the police haven’t already gone out to drag the river.”

      “Call me Leo. Settler’s Valley isn’t necessarily equipped for that. A diver is on his way from Sheridan. I’d like you to go with us to the scene of the crime. My partner and I will find the body so the diver can bring her up. True’s a trained water-search dog.”

      Doubt made her voice quiver. “But it’s been hours. The woman is at the bottom of the river. It’s deep in the canyon.”

      “The woman’s body will give off gases and liquids that True will pick up.”

      She swallowed back the bile rising up. This was one of the many ugly sides of police work. “I can’t leave Charlie.”

      “He seems to be in good hands with the chief.”

      “Wouldn’t the chief want to be at the river when they bring up the victim?”

      He arched an eyebrow. “You heard the chief—I’m taking the lead on this case.”

      Not liking his superior tone, she lifted her chin. “Why? What does a small-town murder have to do with the feds?”

      He pressed his lips together and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “I can’t divulge the details of the case, Ms. Duncan.” He held open the door. “Shall we?”

      She hated being left in the dark. Irritation spread through her chest. She preceded the agent out of the office, determined to get this over with so she and her son could resume their quiet life without murder, mayhem and too-handsome federal agents with secrets to muddy the waters.

      * * *

      Leo brought his vehicle to a halt in the gravel parking lot behind the Blackthorn River marina. He glanced at the woman beside him as she stared straight ahead in stony silence. Alicia Duncan had a nice profile, a straight nose, with high cheekbones. Her long, wavy dark hair hung over her slim shoulders. She wore a light pink tank top and jean capris with hiking boots. Very earthy.

      Nothing like any of the schoolteachers he’d had as a kid. From the dossier he’d read, he knew she’d grown up in Settler’s Valley but had lived in Tacoma, Washington, for the better part of a decade.

      She popped open the passenger door, but before she could step out, he laid a hand on her arm. “Wait for me and True.”

      She met his gaze and blinked, the pupils of her bright blue eyes a bit too large, indicating she hadn’t fully recovered from her earlier ordeal. Leo would imagine the pretty single mom had never been shot at before, nor ever had to run for her life.

      Leo hated that she and her son had had to witness such evil and be put in danger. But while he was on the case, he wouldn’t let anything happen to them.

      He gave her arm what he hoped would be a reassuring pat before he climbed out of his SUV and released True from the compartment in the back. The Lab sniffed the air, his tail stiffening, his ears forward and his mouth closed—all signs that he was detecting something of interest to him, but not yet a threat.

      No doubt he could smell or hear the rushing of the river, which told him they were about to go to work.

      Leo walked around to the passenger side and opened Alicia’s door. She gave him a tight smile as she slipped out of the vehicle. A police cruiser parked beside them and two officers stepped out.

      “I’m Officer Jenkins and this is Officer Reynolds,” the older of the two officers said, introducing himself and his partner. “The chief said we’re to stick close to Ms. Duncan.”

      Leo nodded and shook the men’s hands. “Much appreciated.”

      Alicia hung back with her arms down at her sides, but there was no mistaking the tension pinching the corners of her mouth.

      They didn’t have to wait long before a white truck with the Sheridan police department logo on the side turned into the parking lot. It was towing an aluminum flat-bow boat sporting an electric trolling motor to allow them to move slowly through the water while True searched the surface for scents.

      The driver pulled next to their vehicles and rolled down his window. He had a craggy face that had spent a lot of time in the sun. Dark eyes regarded them beneath black winged brows. He wore a cowboy hat pulled low over his ears. “Agent Gallagher?”

      Leo stepped over. “I’m Gallagher. You’re Craig Sampson?”

      “Yep, that’s me.” His gaze shifted to True. “He’s a handsome fellow.”

      “Thanks.”

      “I’ll put in and then you and your dog can come aboard.”

      “My witness will show us where she saw the body go in.”

      Craig glanced over at Alicia. “I don’t have room for the pretty lady and the officers.”

      “They’ll stay on land. She was upriver fishing from shore, so she’ll lead the officers through the woods to the spot.”