The Missing Mccullen. Rita Herron

tone implied she didn’t. “You just need to push Koker to talk.”

      Anger mushroomed inside BJ. “I told you he didn’t take the boy. Have you spoken with Mr. Elmore to see if he received a ransom call?”

      “He hasn’t.”

      BJ tensed. That wasn’t a good sign. “For a moment, let’s just say I’m right, Sheriff. The first forty-eight hours are critical for a missing child case.” She tapped her watch. “Every minute counts. So while you’re sitting here on your butt, whoever abducted Tyler is getting farther and farther away.”

      Which meant they might not get the little boy back alive.

      That terrified her more than anything.

Chapter Three

      BJ stopped at the diner in town and ordered coffee and a muffin. Her stomach was too knotted to eat much, but she needed something before Cash’s bail hearing.

      She ran a search on her computer and found articles about Lester Elmore and his ranch, along with a story on his success. A photo of Sondra accompanying her father to a state fund-raiser when she was seventeen revealed the depth of the young woman’s beauty. Her father was looking at her in adoration.

      Her Facebook page revealed a photo of Sondra and Tyler. The kid had sandy-brown hair, was freckle-faced and so adorable that tears pricked her eyes. “Where are you, little guy?”

      She quickly searched Sondra’s friends and posts, hoping to find a clue as to someone Sondra may have left the boy with but came up empty. Although she had a close girlfriend named Diane who’d ridden with her when Sondra had been into showing horses. Those posts were dated two years before though.

      She punched in Sheriff Maddox McCullen’s phone number, sipping her coffee while she waited. The phone rang three times, then a male voice answered. “Sheriff McCullen speaking.”

      “Sheriff, it’s BJ Alexander.”

      A heartbeat passed. “Call me Maddox. You met Cash Koker?”

      “I did,” BJ said.

      “What do you think?” Maddox asked.

      BJ hesitated. “I don’t think he has a clue that he has brothers or any family.”

      Maddox heaved a sigh. “I figured as much. If he did, he would have probably called or shown up at Horseshoe Creek.”

      Cash didn’t strike her as the type to ask for handouts. “The bail hearing is soon.” BJ fidgeted. “Have you read the sheriff’s report?”

      “No, but when I spoke to Sheriff Jasper, he was adamant that he had the right man.”

      “He’s made up his mind,” BJ said. “I don’t think he’s even considered that Cash might be innocent.”

      “So he’s not investigating or looking for another suspect?” Maddox said with disgust.

      “No.”

      “Do you think Cash is guilty?” Maddox asked.

      BJ stared into her coffee, willing an answer to come to her. “I’m not sure,” she said honestly. “He claims that he cared about Sondra, but denies that they were lovers. Sondra had a three-year-old little boy. That child is missing.”

      Maddox murmured something beneath his breath. “The sheriff thinks Cash did something with the kid?”

      “Yes, but I don’t.”

      Maddox’s gruff voice jerked her from her thoughts. “What did Cash say about the boy?”

      BJ massaged her temple where a headache pulsed. Kids were her soft spot. Sometimes she missed her own son so badly she could hardly breathe.

      “Finding Tyler seems more important to Cash than his own defense.”

      “Hmm. Interesting.” Maddox paused. “Who is the boy’s father?”

      “He claims he doesn’t know.” BJ sighed and recounted her conversation with Cash. Maddox was paying her, but she still had to be careful with client/attorney privilege.

      “So Cash is either lying or someone drugged him and framed him,” Maddox said matter-of-factly.

      “Exactly.”

      Only to clear him, she’d have to prove it.

      “Ray’s still looking for the other twin. I’ll have the DNA tests run on Cash and compare them to Tyler’s. And I’ll dig up what I can find on the Elmore family,” Maddox offered. “Then I’ll have that camera footage analyzed.”

      “Sounds like a plan.” Meanwhile she’d talk to Elmore and get hold of Tyler’s birth certificate.

      After the bail hearing, she’d pay a visit to Cash’s current boss and the place where he’d been living. There might be something in his room to tell her more about Cash.

      Good or bad, she had to know before she committed to his defense.

      * * *

      CASH WISHED TO hell he’d had a shower and clean clothes before standing in front of the judge. But he’d had no choice. The sheriff had confiscated his clothing as evidence and given him a county jumpsuit.

      Sheriff Jasper shot him a sinister glare as he shoved him in the back of the police car.

      Cash had racked his brain to figure out who was bailing him out, and who’d paid for the lawyer, but he didn’t dare ask Sheriff Jasper.

      He kept his mouth shut on the short drive to the courthouse. Outside, dark clouds hovered as if a storm was gathering on the horizon.

      “Judge’ll go easier on you if you tell us where the kid is,” Sheriff Jasper growled.

      Cash choked back a curse. He had to remain calm or the bastard would make things worse for him. “If I knew where he was, I’d tell you.”

      The sheriff grunted. “If he turns up dead, we’re gonna fry you.”

      Sweat trickled down the side of Cash’s face. Outside, the trees swayed in the wind. Even with the breeze, it had to be a hundred degrees.

      “Instead of blaming me, why don’t you search for Tyler?” Cash said. “If he’s with Sondra’s killer, he could be in danger. Then that’s on you, not me.”

      Jasper met his gaze in the rearview mirror. Anger slashed the man’s jaw. “I got the man who killed his mother right here.”

      Cash sent him a mutinous look, but remained silent. No use defending himself. Jasper had one mind-set—send him to prison.

      They reached the courthouse, and the sheriff parked, then lumbered to the back door to let Cash out. The handcuffs and manacles around his ankles jangled as he walked, but he forced his head up high.

      Still, humiliation washed over him as he entered the building. The pretty lawyer lady was waiting. She maintained that professional mask, every damn strand of hair tucked into place.

      Did she really believe he was innocent, or was she just doing a job?

      It didn’t matter. As long as she cleared him, he’d find a way to repay her. Then he’d find Tyler and make sure the kid was safe.

      Seconds later, Cash took a seat beside her, his nerves on edge as the bailiff announced the judge’s entrance. Silence descended for a moment as the judge, a tall, imposing man with suspicious eyes, reviewed the case file.

      Finally, he pounded his gavel and called the session to order. His gaze penetrated Cash like he was pond scum.

      Cash’s gut churned as the charges were read.

      BJ gestured for Cash to stand and he inhaled a breath, willing his legs not to give way.

      “Your