Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch - B.J. Daniels [33]
"Anyone who ever visited when we were kids knew about the playroom," she said.
"Or anyone in the family," he said, not liking what he was thinking.
"No one in my family would do this." Her face fell the instant the denial was out. It was a blood instinct to take up for your brothers and sister. But clearly, Dana wasn't entirely convinced her siblings were innocent of this.
She reached out for the doll he hadn't even realized he'd carried up the stairs.
He held it back. "Sorry, it's evidence. But I'll make sure you get it back. I want to take the chocolates you received, too."
She nodded, then turned and headed for the playroom doorway, moving like a sleepwalker. The day had obviously taken its toll on her. He looked around the room, then down at the doll in his gloved hand, thinking about Dana's siblings before following her to the kitchen.
She opened the cabinet doors under the sink and pulled out the trash can. Their gazes met. She'd thrown the candy away believing it had come from him. He never thought he'd be thankful for that.
"Mind if I take the plastic bag and all?" he asked.
"Be my guest."
"I could use another bag for the doll."
She got him one. He lowered the doll inside and tightened the drawstring, then pulled the other trash bag with the present in it from the container.
"I'll have the gift box dusted for prints and the candy tested," he said.
Her eyes widened. "You think the chocolates might have been…poisoned?"
He shrugged, the gesture hurting his arm.
The phone rang. She picked it up. He watched her face pale, her gaze darting to him, eyes suddenly huge.
He reached for the phone and she let him take it. But when he put the receiver to his ear, he heard only the dial tone. "Who was it?"
She shook her head. "Just a voice. A hoarse whisper. I didn't recognize it." She grabbed the back of the chair, her knuckles white.
"What did the caller say to you?" he asked, his stomach a hard knot.
"'It should have been you in the bottom of that well.'"
Hud checked Caller ID and jotted down the number. He hit Star 69. The phone rang and rang and finally was answered.
"Yeah?" said a young male voice.
"What number have I reached?" Hud asked.
What sounded like a kid read the number on the phone back to him. Hud could hear traffic on the street and what sounded like skateboarders nearby. A pay phone near the covered skate park in Bozeman?
"Did you see someone just make a call from that phone?" he asked the boy.
"Nope. No one was around when I heard it ringing. Gotta go." He hung up.
"I'm not leaving you alone in this house tonight," Hud said to Dana as he replaced the receiver. "Either you're coming with me or I'm staying here. What's it going to be?"
Chapter Seven
"You look like you've seen better days," Hilde said the next morning when Dana walked into the shop. "I heard you were at the Corral. So you decided to celebrate your birthday after all."
"Who told you I was at the Corral?" Dana hadn't meant her tone to sound so accusing.
Hilde lifted a brow. "Lanny. I ran into him this morning at the convenience store." She tilted her head toward the two coffee cups on the counter. "I brought you a latte. I thought you might need it."
How had Lanny known that she was at the Corral last night? she wondered as she placed her purse behind the counter. "Thanks for the coffee. I really could use it."
Hilde handed her one of the lattes. She held it in both hands, trying to soak up some of the heat. Lanny had also known that Hud was working late. With a shiver, she realized he'd been checking up on her. And Hud.
"Are you all right?" Hilde asked, looking concerned.
Dana shook her head. "I went by the Corral last night to talk to Dad, then Lanny took me to dinner for my birthday."
"Oh, you didn't mention you were going out with Lanny."
"I'd forgotten we had a date."
Hilde gave her a look she recognized only too well.
"It was our last date. I'd hoped we could be friends…."
"I hate to say this, but it's just as well," Hilde said.
Dana couldn't