Page 41 of Maverick Detective Dad
Good question, and Everly very much wanted to hear the answer. Because that could indeed be the evidence to link River to the murders.
“What money?” River demanded, but then he stopped and muttered, “Oh, that. It has nothing to do with murder or explosives.”
“Then, you won’t mind explaining it,” Noah insisted.
River groaned and muttered something she didn’t catch. “I took out a personal loan. I’d overextended myself and had to pay the taxes on the ranch or I would have lost the place.”
Noah didn’t miss a beat. “I want the name and contact info for the person who loaned you the money.”
River’s next groan was even louder. “I don’t have his name. It’s a friend of a friend sort of thing.”
“A loan shark.” Noah rolled his eyes.
“I guess you could say that. High interest, but I’m paying it all back.”
“I want his name,” Noah pressed.
“I don’t know it. He said I was just to call him Freddie, and I meet him once a week at a coffee shop in Bulverde to give him the payment. He’s a big, mean looking guy so I’m never late. I’ll have the loan all paid off in a couple of months.”
All paid off with plenty of interest, no doubt. Well, if River was telling the truth. Everly wasn’t so sure that he was.
“Look, I told you about the mud on Jared’s shoes,” River went on. “I’m trying to help you find this killer because, hey, I could be a target.”
Noah made a noncommittal sound. “Be at the sheriff’s office tomorrow morning at nine,” he ordered. “If you don’t show, I’ll have you arrested.”
With that, Noah ended the call and looked at her. “I got a glimpse of the person in the greenbelt. It could have been River.” He shook his head, cursed. “But it could have been Jared or Bobby, too.”
Yes, and so far the killer hadn’t made a big enough mistake to help them catch him. Maybe the phone at the lab could help with that.
Noah sent the message to Grayson to let him know they were ready, but then his phone dinged with a text that came too soon for it to be a reply from the sheriff. Everly braced herself for bad news, but the corner of Noah’s mouth lifted when he looked at the screen. He turned it to show her the photo. One of Ainsley asleep in the crib Noah had set up for her at his place. Her little girl looked so peaceful.
Sleeping like a baby, Darcy had texted with the photo.
Everly couldn’t help it. Despite everything else that was going on, she also smiled, and she knew she was going to owe Noah’s family a huge thanks when this was over. They’d not only kept her baby safe, but they were also taking good care of her.
There was a knock at the door, and a moment later, Grayson opened it and peered inside. His attention went straight to Everly, and he frowned. Maybe because he didn’t approve of her being up without waiting for agreement from the doctor.
“I’m okay,” Everly told him, and that was more or less the truth. She still felt a little woozy, but she was already a lot better than she had been when she’d first woken up.
Grayson made a sound as if he didn’t quite buy what she’d said, and he turned to Noah. “There’s a problem. Not with any of the suspects or another attack,” he quickly added when Noah groaned. “Some of the roads between here and the ranch are flooded.”
That was not what Everly wanted to hear. “I need to see Ainsley,” she insisted.
Grayson nodded. “One of the hands was trying to drive back to the ranch, and he reported the Silver Creek bridge is completely covered with water. It’s too dangerous for you to try to use it.”
Her stomach sank, and the dread washed over her. She’d held on to the hope of seeing Ainsley tonight. Of holding her. Because she thought just being with her child might soothe some of her raw nerves.
“The ranch is secure,” Grayson went on. “Everything is on lockdown and the security systems are all set. Nate, Darcy and two armed hands are at your place,” he added to Noah.
Everly fixed the image of her peacefully sleeping baby in her mind. The image, too, of the Rylands and the ranch hands standing guard to make sure no one got to her. That soothed her some, but there was nothing soothing about being in the hospital, especially since the killer would almost certainly know she’d been brought to the ER.
“I don’t want to stay here,” Everly heard herself say. She expected Grayson to argue with that. He didn’t.
“I agree,” Grayson said without hesitating. “Way too many places for someone to slip into his building and lay low to wait for an opportunity to strike. The two of you can come back with me to the sheriff’s office and bunk in the break room. There’s no bed, but you could take the couch.”
“And where will you sleep?” Noah asked.
“My office,” he answered.
