Deceptive Truth: Cowboy Justice Association (Serials and Stalkers Book 4) by Olivia Jaymes (reading women .txt) 📕

Not as little as my buddy Ryan, but almost. He's unreal. Sometimes I'm not sure he's even human."

He hopped out and pulled the bags from the back before unlocking the front door. The house was charming and obviously well-maintained. It was white with dark blue trim, with window boxes filled with multi-colored blooms. The whole property had a welcoming vibe that Jenna instantly liked. There was a warmth in this home that she desperately needed at the moment.

"I'll put the car in the garage after we unload," Knox said. "Apparently, they just returned it to being used as a garage. It was being used as an art studio for a long time."

An artist had lived in this house. That explained the riot of colors that greeted them when they walked inside the living room. Far from being unsettling, the color scheme actually made the interior more relaxing and warm with its mix of blues and golds, with a few splashes of red.

"This is lovely," Jenna said, peeking into the light blue kitchen with white cabinets and dark granite countertops. "Just beautiful."

"Think you could be happy here while we investigate?"

"I'm sure I can." She hesitated before asking the question that had been bugging her since this morning. Did she even really want the answer? "How long do you think we'll be here?"

His expression softened and he set the bags down and pulled her into his arms. He was warm and solid, and she could hear his heartbeat under her cheek. This...right here. This is what she'd needed all day.

"Hopefully, not long. Whomever is doing this is getting brash and arrogant. That's when people get caught. They're getting nervous and scared."

That made two of them.

"You've said that before. I hope that it's true. Michelle can't stay in Miami forever, and I'm worried about Tom all alone in that house."

"The alarm system and cameras are going in as we speak, plus he knows how to use a gun."

That was news to Jenna. She'd never seen her brother with a firearm.

"I didn't know that. Does he own a gun?"

"He does," Knox confirmed. "He showed it to me before we left and he says he knows how to use it. Why are you so surprised? This is Montana."

"My family had guns, but Tom and Anita never showed any interest."

"They probably had them but didn't say anything to you."

"You're probably right." She looked around the home they'd be living in. Together. If her life had to be in danger, there was no one she'd rather be with than Knox. "So what happens now?"

"We unpack and then head to Douglas. There's still time to talk to Lori's stalker friend Brett. Then later I'm going to talk to Cal."

"Just you?"

"Just me. By that time, Eli will be here and he can watch over you while I'm gone."

I never thought that as an adult I'd need to be watched over. How...strange.

"You don't want me there when you talk to your brother."

"It's not that I don't want you there. It's just that it will be better if I'm on my own. I know Cal well and I'm on to his tricks. He might try a few new ones, though, and I need to be on my toes and focused. Don't worry, I'll tell you every word when I get back."

"Do you think he'll lie?"

"Without a doubt. He lies all the time."

"But you know when he's lying?"

Knox leaned down, rubbing his nose against hers. "I'm talented like that."

"I believe it."

"You betcha. Now let's get unpacked and get on the road. We have a lot of work to do today."

No fire was going to stop this investigation. That would be giving them what they wanted.

Back to work. If Knox was right, they were getting closer to the truth.

They just had to stay alive long enough to find it.

19

Knox had only received a small amount of background information on Brett Hedgcock so far. Jared was still digging but he'd sent over that Brett was an only child, thirty-three years old, and worked in the accounting department at a local company. He bought a lot of takeout food and liked to read historical biographies. He'd never been married or engaged. He had no pets.

He had a mortgage on a modest home, a midsize sedan paid off, and very little other debt. He seemed like a regular guy who spent his weekends cutting the grass and watching television. But serial killers probably mowed the lawn too.

Pulling up in front of Brett Hedgcock's home, Knox paused before getting out of the vehicle.

"Okay, we're going to go in there and just be friendly. We're talking to all of Lori's friends and hoping that he might be able to shed light on the last few days before she disappeared. I'm hoping to keep the conversation light and casual, if possible."

"And if that doesn't work?"

"Then we'll go to Plan B."

"What's Plan B?"

"I don't know but I will by then."

As Logan always said, sometimes a man just had to depend on what his gut was telling him. Knox's brain sure as shit didn't have any ideas so his gut was up on deck.

The administrative assistant had called ahead, so Hedgcock must have been looking out the window waiting for them because the door opened as they were walking up the path. Brett was pretty much as he had been described by his former co-workers - medium weight, medium height, brown hair and eyes. Nothing about him stood out. He could have blended into any crowd without a doubt.

"You must be Knox Owens," Brett said pushing his front door open even farther. "And of course, I know you, Jenna. Lori talks about you