Twice A Target (Task Force Eagle) by Susan Vaughan Read Free Book Online

temporary measures.
Maddy would leave. Then what the hell would he do?
    “I’m right behind you.” Chris Hawke closed the door
behind him and jogged to join him. A head shorter and of stockier build, he
stepped out to match Holt’s long stride. “I’ll go with you to the sheriff’s.
They should have more on Rob’s accident by now.”
    “Thanks.” Checking in with the sheriff was his other
errand, tying up the loose ends of his brother’s death. He’d told Chris last
night about his doubts on what exactly caused the crash. He appreciated his
friend’s company and support. He backed the Silverado out and headed south to
the county seat of Fort Adams.
    When they arrived at the building housing the sheriff’s
department, the dispatcher was talking on the telephone at the reception desk,
a rectangular enclosure containing the radio equipment and filing cabinets. She
waved them toward the offices. “Sheriff ain’t busy. You boys can go on back.”

 
     
    Chapter 5
     
     
    They followed the rumble of male voices past a
departing deputy and two secretaries to Sheriff Jarvis Foley’s office.
    “Hey, Donovan. Come on in and pull up a chair.” A
jovial, barrel-chested man with a gray-streaked handlebar mustache, Foley
reclined in his executive swivel chair with his booted feet crossed on the
desktop.
    His chief deputy, Luke Rafferty, sat in a wooden
chair. Odors of musty files and stale coffee permeated the office.
    “Thanks, Sheriff.” After shaking the older man’s gnarled
hand, Holt took an empty chair.
    Behind him, Chris slid inside quietly. He stood to
Holt’s left, one elbow propped on a bookcase.
    “I see you brought your Legal Eagle.” Scowling,
Rafferty turned his chair to face Chris. His tawny hair and cool green eyes
gave the impression of a cougar about to pounce.
    “Never hurts to have counsel.” Chris’s level, dark
stare matched the other man’s. “You of all people should know that.”
    Holt blinked at the palpable animosity arcing between
the men. Rafferty had left the Denver police force under hazy circumstances,
but most folks in Rock County knew better than to mention it to him. Apparently
Holt had missed bad blood between Chris and Luke.
    “How’s it goin’ out there at the Valley-D? You
managing all right with just you and Bronc?” the sheriff asked.
    “We’re getting by.” Holt was here to get to Rob’s
case, but he forced himself to endure the courtesies.
    “And Rob’s kid? Bobby, is it? How are you taking care
of a baby and birthing calves too?” Rafferty put in.
    “Maddy’s staying awhile.”
    The deputy barked a cynical laugh. “I thought you’d
boot Maddy McCoy up the road after she paid her respects. When I dropped her
off, it felt like putting a fox in a wolf den.”
    “Who?” The sheriff wound a finger around one end of
his mustache.
    Before Holt could explain, Rafferty plowed in. “Eight
years ago, Madelyn McCoy was engaged to Holt’s brother. When she left poor Rob
stepping on his tongue at the altar—and I mean that literally—Holt just about
swore a vendetta on the female.”
    “Ironic,” Chris said, “to have her return to care for
Rob’s child.”
    “Maybe, but we’ve all grown up some since then. I’m
grateful to have her.” Holt winced inwardly. Having her was out of the
question.
    He returned his attention to Foley, who raised one
frosted eyebrow, mild interest in the live soap opera. “You got any news for
me, Sheriff?”
    “Ballistics report came in yesterday. I was going to
give you a call.” Foley pushed a folder across the desk.
    “What took so long?” Holt opened the folder.
    “They’re real backed up in Colorado Springs. A request
from a spit-sized county like Rock don’t get priority.”
    After a moment’s perusal, Holt clenched his jaw. He
recognized the .50 caliber. “Only a high-powered sniper rifle would use an
exploding bullet. We can’t call the crash an accident any longer.” He passed
the folder to