Love Inspired Suspense April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Laura Scott (free e reader .TXT) 📕

“If I said I didn’t, then I didn’t.”

If he was shooting as well and had worn earmuffs, then it was possible. Slight, but possible. “This is the cold case unit with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. We’re reopening Jared Toledo’s case.”

Sunny’s scowl deepened. “Why would you do that?”

“New information came to light. You wouldn’t know anything about Jared being approached by either an athletic recruiter or booster, like yourself, to make it worthwhile for him to play quarterback at Ole Magnolia, would you?”

“Boy, don’t think for one second you can come onto my property and implicate me in wrongdoing. I love my alma mater, but I’m not a briber. Get on outta here.”

Boy.

The word flew all over Colt. The way his father spoke to him, especially when he was drunk.

Boy, where do you think you’ve been? Boy, you ain’t worth a lick. Boy, you’re the reason your mama left. Boy. Boy. Boy.

He swallowed the bitterness rising on his tongue and replaced it with practiced cool composure as he pocketed his credentials. “Mr. Wilkerson, I think it’s clear I am far from a boy. I’m here on official business, so you can address me as Investigator, Officer or even Colt. We’ll go for now, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be back with more questions if necessary. And be extra cautious since you’re hard of hearing. Someone’s out in the woods with a rifle, and he’s a pretty good shot.”

“Well, if he was aiming for ya, then I’d decline to agree.” He spun on his heel and slammed his door shut.

“Well, he’s colorful,” Rhett Wallace responded as he unfolded from the driver’s seat. As big as Mr. Wilkerson and full of dry wit, Rhett was not only a skilled agent but a good friend. He’d be the clear choice in leading this team when Colt left the unit. Not because he was the only other man, but because he was a stickler for the rules, levelheaded and objective. Poppy was a hardnose and often tactless, and Mae tended to be stubbornly biased at times. “You two all right?” He held out his hand and introduced himself to Georgia.

“I think we’re okay.” Colt escorted a shaking Georgia to the SUV and opened the door for her and the pooches.

Inside, Mae Vogel met her with a friendly grin. Mae was often underestimated due to her girlish features and petite stature, but it worked to her advantage often, as she was fierce when necessary. “I’m Mae. Nice to meet you.”

Georgia climbed inside while Colt approached the passenger side. Poppy Holliday ambled out and tossed him a look of indifference. Muscular and tall for a woman, with chin-length black hair, she exuded the words back off, and she meant it. “Guess it wouldn’t matter if I’d have called shotgun, which I did,” she remarked and hopped in beside Mae.

Colt took the ribbing and Poppy’s former seat up front with Rhett.

“I contacted the district attorney after you gave us the information last night,” Mae said, “and she’s willing to prosecute the case if we find new evidence that leads to a viable suspect. And considering you’ve been the bull’s-eye for the last twenty minutes or so, I’ll venture to guess our suspect is alive and knows there’s evidence out there to convict.” She frowned and pulled a strand of blond hair that had been tucked into the seat belt strap. While her tone was sharp, her pitch sounded fairylike.

“Also,” Poppy added, “I talked with the sheriff, and the full case file, investigative reports, photographs, forensics, autopsy reports and video/audio recordings of those interviewed are available to us now. They’re at the station.”

“Good. The quicker we get to work, the quicker we can catch this idiot.” Georgia had experienced a pretty hefty panic attack back there. The faster he could help her stay safe, the better her situation. He glanced at her in the visor mirror. She stared out the window, absently rubbing her dog and lightly chewing on her bottom lip. He’d have to research anxiety and panic disorder. He’d had some brief training for the job. Victims, witnesses and even perpetrators needed to be talked down occasionally.

But he wanted to know more.

“For now, let’s get the files from the station and work at Georgia’s. It’s been a big day, and I think that’s the wisest decision.” Georgia had been attacked twice now on her own property, but she might, oddly enough, still feel safer in her own space, where she had some semblance of control.

“We’ll drop you guys and then go get the file boxes,” Rhett said.

Inside Georgia’s, she went straight to the kitchen and began making coffee. Yep. Doing what she could control. From the moment she stepped inside, she stopped the lip gnawing. But did she not realize that she had zero control? None of them did at the moment. The killer could strike at any second. He’d keep that to himself and let her continue doing what eased her anxiousness.

Colt sidled up next to her as she put a kettle on for tea, too. “I know this is a lot. You’re well within your rights to be afraid and nervous, and I want to help you. Could you tell me more about your condition? Help me understand. Find a way to work around it.”

“My condition. Right.” She pursed her lips.

He inwardly cringed at his terrible choice of words. But it was a condition, wasn’t it? “I don’t mean to sound insensitive.”

“I know.” She turned the burner to high for the tea as the coffeepot gurgled and the room began to smell like strong caffeine. “But there is no working around it, Colt. I can’t control it. I can only cope using the skills I’ve been given and heavy doses of prayer. It’s about working with it and through it, not around it.”

“How long have you suffered with this?”

She leaned on the counter. “Twelve is when I remember it beginning.”

Her parents had