Under Threat by B.J. Daniels (reading the story of the .TXT) 📕

Mary felt herself relax. Not that she’d ever let herself think Chase was capable of murder, but she’d been scared that he would be a suspect because of their altercation.

As she looked up, she saw Lucy on her way to work. The woman turned as if sensing she was being watched, and waved before coming back to the front door of the office to stick her head in.

“Mary, are you all right? I just heard the news on the radio about that deputy you were seeing, the one your cowboy got into a fight with the other night.”

“I know, it’s terrible, isn’t it?”

“You don’t think Chase—”

“No.” She shook her head. “My dad already talked to him. It wasn’t him.”

Lucy lifted a brow. “Chase sure was angry the other night.”

“Yes, but the forensics proved that Chase couldn’t have done it.” Mary waved a hand through the air as if she couldn’t talk about it, which she couldn’t. “Not that I ever thought Chase could kill someone.”

Lucy still didn’t look convinced. “I think everyone is capable. It just has to be the right circumstances.”

“You mean the wrong ones,” Mary said, the conversation making her uncomfortable. She no longer wanted to think about how Dillon had died or who might have killed him.

“Yes,” Lucy said, and laughed.

“Did you ever go out with Dillon?” Mary asked, and wished she hadn’t at Lucy’s expression.

“Seriously?” The woman laughed. “Definitely not my type. Why would you ask me that?”

“He mentioned that he might ask you out. I thought maybe—”

Lucy sighed. “Clearly, he was just trying to make you jealous. I think he came into the coffee shop once that I can remember. You really thought I was the woman who had sex with him in the woods?”

“We don’t know that’s what happened.”

“It’s what everyone in town is saying. They all think that the killer followed the deputy out to the spot where he was meeting some woman. That’s why I asked about Chase. If your cowboy thought it was you on that blanket with him...”

“That’s ridiculous. Anyway, it wasn’t me.”

“But maybe in the dark, Chase didn’t know that.”

“Seriously, Lucy, you don’t know him. I do. Chase wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“Sorry. Not something you want to dwell on at this time of the morning. I can’t believe you thought I could be the woman with him.”

And yet Lucy seemed determine to believe that Chase had been the killer.

“Coming over for your coffee?” Lucy asked. “I can have it ready for you as soon as I get in.”

“No, actually. I have an errand to run this morning.”

Lucy frowned but then brightened. “Well, have a nice day. Maybe I’ll see you later.”

From the window, Mary saw her hesitate as if she wanted to talk longer before she closed the door and started across the street. She seemed to quicken her pace as Chase drove up.

Mary hurried out, locking her office door behind her before climbing into his pickup. He smiled over at her. “You okay? I saw Lucy talking to you as I drove up.”

“Nothing important.”

“Then let’s get it over with. I never realized how...draining this could be,” Chase said.

“Who’s next?”

“Jason Morrison.”

Morrison was a local attorney. His office was only a few doors down from Mary’s. They’d called to make an appointment and were shown in a little before time.

Jason was tall and slim with an athletic build. He spent a lot of time on the slopes or mountain biking, and had stayed in good shape at fifty-five. He was a nice looking man with salt and pepper dark hair and blue eyes. When his secretary called back to say that his eleven o’clock was waiting, he said to send them on back.

Jason stood as they entered and came around his desk to shake Mary’s hand and then Chase’s.

Mary watched as he shook Chase’s hand a little too long, his gaze locked on the younger man’s.

Was it Chase’s blue eyes, or did Jason see something in him he recognized?

“Please, have a seat,” the attorney said, going behind his desk and sitting down. “What can I do for the two of you?”

“We’re inquiring about a woman named Muriel Steele,” Mary said. “We thought you might have known her twenty-seven years ago.”

Jason leaned back in his chair and looked from Mary to Chase and back. “Muriel. Has it been that long ago?” He shook his head. “Yes, I knew her.” He frowned. “Why are you asking?”

“I’m her son,” Chase said.

Jason’s gaze swung back to him. “I thought there was something about you that was familiar when we shook hands. Maybe it’s the eyes. Your mother had the most lovely blue eyes.”

As Chase started to rise, Mary put a hand on his thigh to keep him in his chair. “Chase is looking for his father.”

“His father?” He glanced at Mary and back to Chase.

“When my mother left Big Sky, she was pregnant with me, but I suspect you already know that,” Chase said through clenched teeth.

The attorney looked alarmed. “I had no idea. Wait a minute. You think I was the one who...” He held up his hands. “I knew your mother, but I was already married by then. Linda was pregnant with our daughter Becky.” He was shaking his head.

“My mother left a diary,” Chase said.

Jason went still. “If she said it was me...” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I’m not your father.”

“She didn’t name her married lover,” Chase said. “Just his initials. J.M. Quite a coincidence you knew her and you have the exact initials.”

A strange look crossed the man’s face. “I’m sorry. Like I said, you have the wrong man.”

“Then you wouldn’t mind submitting to a DNA test,” Mary said.

“I’m a lawyer. No good can come of submitting to a DNA test, not with the legal system like it is. No offense to your father the marshal, ma’am,” he added quickly.

“So you’re saying no?” Chase asked as he got to his feet.

Jason sighed. “I want to help you, all right? If it comes to that, I’d get a