Chapter 9 - The Deputy
Mason ended the call immediately.
"Why did you do that?" Claire demanded.
"Because someone wants you scared and separated from protection."
"That was Noah."
"Maybe."
"I know my husband's voice."
Caleb moved closer to her. "So do I. That sounded like him."
Mason's expression hardened. "Voice cloning exists. Recordings exist. We don't make decisions because something sounds familiar."
Claire hated that he was right.
She hated more that Noah had named him.
They returned to the ranch after dark because Claire refused to stay at a hotel. Mason stationed a patrol car outside.
At 11:40 p.m., Scout began pacing.
Claire woke on the couch and saw his nose pointed at the ceiling.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
A faint electronic chirp came from above the living room light fixture.
Caleb climbed a chair and removed a device the size of a coin.
A microphone.
Someone had bugged the house.
Mason stared at it. "Nobody touches anything."
Claire looked around the room as if the walls had grown eyes.
"How long has that been there?"
Mason examined the dust ring. "Not long."
Caleb turned on him. "Your deputies searched this house after Noah died."
"So did family. So did insurance people. So did contractors."
Claire's phone vibrated on the coffee table.
A photo message.
It showed the three of them standing in the living room.
Taken through the window.
Seconds ago.
Scout charged toward the front door.
Mason killed the lights.
A shadow moved past the porch.
He drew his weapon and went outside.
Two seconds later, a gunshot cracked across the yard.
Claire screamed his name.
When the porch light came back on, Mason was on one knee beside his cruiser.
May you like
Blood darkened his shoulder.
And the patrol deputy assigned to protect them was gone.
