Beneath the Badge. Rita Herron

tensed at his brusque tone. Just when she thought he was human, he turned back into a growling lion. “What else do you want to know?”

      The bite to her voice echoed in the silence for a moment before he replied. “You didn’t see the man’s face?”

      “No. He was wearing a mask.”

      “Like a ski mask?”

      “Yes. And gloves. Latex gloves.”

      His brows pinched together with his frown. “Maybe those will turn up or we’ll lift some trace off of your fingernails.”

      She nodded, glad she’d fought back.

      “Anything else you remember about your attacker? A particular odor? His height, size?”

      “No, it’s all so foggy.”

      His dark gaze met hers. “Tell me about your day, what happened earlier, before the attack.”

      She scrunched her nose in thought. “I don’t see how that’s relevant.”

      “Just do it, Taylor. Retrace your steps.”

      “All right, but you don’t have to be so ornery.” She tried to think back. “I spent the morning handling routine business matters for the foundation. Had lunch there. Then a business meeting with the City Board at five that ran till about seven. After that, I met a friend for dinner in San Antonio.”

      “Did you notice anyone following you during the day? Or when you left the restaurant?”

      She rubbed her temple where a headache pulsed. “No.”

      He folded his arms. “Who attended the board meeting?”

      “All of the board members. Sarah DeMarco, Devon Goldenrod—”

      “Kenneth Sutton?”

      “Yes.”

      “I was told that he and Kimberly McQuade had an argument before she died. Do you know what their disagreement was about?”

      She frowned. “No. Kimberly was looking over the campaign budget, and she’d also reviewed the other finances for the board. Maybe there was a problem.”

      “So they might have argued about money?”

      “I really don’t know. Why is that important?”

      “I’m just tying up loose ends. Sometimes small details can offer clues.”

      She conceded his point. After all, he was the cop. The chip-on-the-shoulder one, but it looked as if she was stuck with him.

      “So, did anything unusual happen at the meeting?”

      She hesitated, hated to impugn Kenneth unnecessarily.

      “Taylor, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me the truth.”

      “Kenneth seemed excited about planning ahead for the gubernatorial election, but we did have a tense moment.”

      He leaned forward. “About what?”

      “The bid for the new city library and to extend the tourist area by the Riverwalk. There’s talk that the bid was tampered with.”

      “And that Kenneth was involved?”

      “That’s what I’ve heard, but he denied it and I believe him.”

      Silence met her statement, making her wonder what he was thinking. “You don’t like Kenneth Sutton, do you?”

      “He’s a politician. No, I don’t trust him.

      “And after the meeting? Who did you have dinner with?”

      She hesitated.

      “Taylor?”

      She twisted her hands together. “Margaret Hathaway.”

      His jaw tightened again. “You two are friends?”

      “Yes. We met at our favorite restaurant and sushi bar, Bluefish. Margaret’s wedding to Devon Goldenrod is around the corner, and we were finalizing wedding plans.”

      “Did anything unusual happen while you were there?”

      “Not unusual. But I ran into my half brother, Miles.”

      His mouth thinned. “How did that go?”

      She sighed, knotting the bedsheet between her fingers. She hated to discuss family. But if the ranger asked at the restaurant, he’d find out on his own. Her problems with her brother weren’t exactly a secret.

      “Taylor, I know that Miles has been hitting up friends for loans. Caroline told us that already.” He cleared his throat. “Is that what he wanted with you?”

      So much for family privacy. Then again, she should be used to it. Just because she was wealthy, tabloids, reporters and neighbors thought her life was food for the gossipmongers. “Yes, but I turned him down again. He blew up, made a scene….”

      She looked away, his phone call echoing in her head.

      Hayes narrowed his eyes. “He threatened you, didn’t he?”

      She sucked in a sharp breath. “Not exactly.”

      “What does that mean?”

      She finally faced him. “He told me I’d be sorry for turning my back on him.”

      He stood, bracing his feet apart, and hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “That sounds like a threat to me.”

      She shrugged, unable to voice the truth. That she was afraid of Miles.

      “I’ve posted a guard outside your door.”

      “You think that’s necessary?”

      He nodded. “And your father called your house. I told him I’d protect you 24-7.”

      Taylor’s stomach dipped.

      “I’m going to talk to your little brother. Find out if he tried to make good on his threat.” His snakeskin cowboy boots pounded the floor as he pivoted. “Meanwhile, think hard, Taylor. In the morning I want you to make a list of any enemies you might have, former boyfriends or current ones who might want to harm you. Is there one you can think of offhand?”

      She lowered her head. “No. I haven’t been involved with anyone recently.”

      “In the past?”

      She hadn’t broken any hearts if that’s what he meant. She’d never let a man get that close. “Maybe this was a random break-in.”

      “Just make the list. If it wasn’t a robbery then someone wanted you dead.”

      A chill went through her. “You don’t have to remind me, Sergeant.”

      “No? Well, think about this. The person who tried to strangle you could be someone you know from the foundation, someone who has it in for your family, someone who wants your money.”

      His dark gaze pierced her. “And it very well may be someone you know and trust, someone you’re even close to. Someone you think is a friend, or your very own brother.”

Chapter Four

      Taylor’s heart raced. Surely the ranger was wrong. None of her friends would actually harm her. Although neither she nor Caroline had thought that Carlson Woodward was dangerous and they’d been mistaken.

      And what about Miles? He’d always been jealous of her and had done some underhanded things when they were younger, but he’d never been violent.

      Not until recently. But lately she’d seen a spark flare in his eyes that scared her.

      His substance abuse