Target on the Mountain by Elizabeth Goddard (the chimp paradox .txt) 📕

“Not yet. We can watch it drive by.” He pulled his cell out to take a picture. Sometimes he wished the sheriff’s department had enough funds for the deputies to wear body cams. Maybe next year. That could make his life so much easier. The van passed them.

“I can’t tell if it was our guy. The driver was wearing a ball cap. Could have pulled that on as a disguise.” Ryan took the photo of the license plate anyway. “We’ll run it and see what we come up with.”

Tori put her weapon away.

He shook his head and urged her back to the motel until they stood at her vehicle.

“I don’t like this. You shouldn’t be questioning potential witnesses. You could ruin our case. You know that, right? I was supposed to go with you.”

“What case? You wouldn’t even have this without me.”

“I thought we were working together. You were supposed to call me if you set an appointment with him. It was too dangerous for you to come here by yourself. If I had not followed you then you would have been ambushed. If I hadn’t been here, that guy would have shot you the minute you walked out that door.”

“Okay, you got me. But I can’t say I’m sorry for jumping on the chance to talk to the guy. I appreciate that you saved my life. But Dee called me. He was willing to talk, but he said no cops.”

“And we could have kept you safe while you talked to him. You know all this.” What had gotten into her except her hazardous need to find Sarah’s killer at any cost? “Well, what did you find out?”

She told him everything, including Sarah’s email about the package. “But we’re here now, and I suggest you question Dee. We don’t have time to play games.”

Ryan put his gun away for the moment. Together they headed for Dee James’s room and knocked on the door.

“Mr. James? It’s me again,” Tori said. “Detective Bradley would like to speak to you.”

They waited but no one answered.

“Mr. James,” Ryan said. “You could be in danger. Someone tried to shoot Tori as she exited your room.”

A maid pushed a cleaning cart toward the rooms. Ryan was glad she hadn’t been in the vicinity of the shots fired. Sirens resounded as other law enforcement showed up.

He flashed his badge and gestured for her to open the door. They didn’t have a warrant, but he was concerned that a stray bullet could have hit Mr. James—exigent circumstances. The maid opened the door and they found the room empty.

“He’s gone,” Tori said. “He must have left as soon as you and I chased after the shooter.”

A police officer stepped up to the room. Ryan explained what had happened and contacted Deputy Jackson to bring Dee James in for questioning.

Ryan then walked her back to her vehicle.

Tori lingered at the door but didn’t open it. “He said he was scared and didn’t know who he could trust. And he definitely won’t trust me after this.”

“I hope the feeling is mutual and you don’t trust him,” Ryan said. “That was an ambush.”

“So what if it was? It doesn’t mean that Dee James arranged it.” Despite her words, uncertainty flickered in her gaze.

“We’ll get to the bottom of this,” he said. “I’m going to follow you home.”

Tori made to climb into her vehicle, but he stopped her. “I forgot to thank you for saving me back there.”

She shrugged. “You can handle yourself.”

“No, really. You had my back. I got cornered. I honestly hadn’t expected to see someone gunning for you like that, even after everything that’s happened so far.” His heart tumbled around. He wanted to pull her to him and hold her—to comfort himself. He pushed aside the ridiculous thought.

“You’re welcome, Ryan.” She slid into the seat.

“Tori?”

She lifted her gaze to meet his, her green eyes flashing at him. If he understood the timeline, her bereavement leave would run out soon, and then what would she do? Would she really give up her career to stay here? He just couldn’t see that happening. If her goal was to be there for her parents then maybe she could somehow transfer to be closer. There was a field office in Sacramento, and resident offices. But he understood agents were often assigned and had few choices.

And why did he care?

“Yes, Ryan?”

“Let’s work together. I mean...closely. You can help us with what you know and learn about Sarah, but I can’t have you rushing in on your own, ruining our chances of charging someone or getting a conviction.”

Subtly nodding, she looked at the ground. “I understand.”

Then she started her vehicle. He got into his and followed her back to Rainey. As soon as they pulled into the drive, his cell rang.

Deputy Jackson. He answered.

“Dee James is dead.”

NINE

Tori had wanted to go to the scene where Deputy Jackson had found Dee James, but Ryan wouldn’t let her. He was letting the techs gather the evidence first, he’d said.

She’d almost been killed. Again. Now she had to wonder if Dee hadn’t been the true target. Ryan had assumed the attacker was waiting for her, but what if he’d been waiting for Dee? Or for both of them?

In the meantime, she was back at the bungalow. Another eventful morning to process through, and the day wasn’t even over yet. She’d shared with Ryan all the information she’d gathered from Dee, which left her with more questions than answers, and yet, it had sent her in a direction. She would try to find out who the legislator was that Sarah might have threatened.

Getting Sarah’s email alias and accessing those emails was critical.

So Tori peered at her own laptop again, but her mind was far from Sarah’s emails. She analyzed everything that Dee James had said from their initial phone call through to their meeting at the motel. She tried to think if she’d missed some nuance in his words. Some important