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Hud picked up the Judge Randolph case file from the kitchen table. He'd thought coming up here to see his father would be an end to all his questions. Now he had even more questions. "I'm going to solve these murders."

"I don't doubt you will," Brick said. "You were always a damned good deputy. I thought after what happened five years ago, you'd be soured on the profession. You know I had to suspend you the night the judge was killed just like I would have had to any deputy who blew his shift. I couldn't protect you because you were my son."

He studied his father. "It must have been a shock to you then to hear that I'm the temporary marshal until they can advertise the job."

Brick smiled but said nothing.

Hud started toward the door, stopped and turned. "You didn't seem surprised."

"About what?"

"About the ring that was found in the well with Ginger's remains." He studied his father. "Because you already knew, didn't you?"

"Good luck with your investigation, son."

* * *

DANA RETURNED to the shop to find it packed with customers. She met Hilde's eye as she came in the door and saw her friend wink mischievously. They hadn't even had this much business during the rush before Christmas—and January was when most businesses felt a slump.

But here it was January and the shop was full of women. It didn't take a genius to figure out what was up.

Hilde cut fabric while Dana rang up purchases and answered questions relating to the bones found in the ranch well and a rumor that was circulating that the bones belonged to Ginger Adams.

Dana fudged a little. "Ginger Adams? Really?"

The afternoon whizzed by. Dana tried not to watch the door, afraid Hud would pay her another visit. But by closing, he hadn't shown and she breathed a sigh of relief when Hilde offered to take the deposit to the bank and let Dana finish closing up.

"Can you believe this?" Hilde said, hefting the deposit bag. She grimaced. "Sorry. I do feel bad making money at your expense. And Ginger's."

"S'all right," Dana said, laughing. "It's a windfall for the store. At least something good is coming out of it."

Hilde left and Dana straightened the counter before going to lock up. As she put the Closed sign up on the front door, she was surprised how dark it was outside. It got dark early this time of year. Plus it had snowed off and on most of the day, the clouds low, the day gloomy. There was no traffic on the street and only a few lights glowed at some of the businesses still open this time of the afternoon.

As she looked out, a movement caught her eye. She stared across the street into the shadowy darkness at the edge of the building. Had she only imagined it or was someone standing there looking in her direction?

She stepped to the side to make sure the light in the back wasn't silhouetting her and waited, unable to shake the feeling that someone had been watching her as intently as she had been staring across the street at them.

Lanny? He'd spied on her last night and on Hud, as well. But surely he wasn't still doing it.

Or Hud? That would be just like him to keep an eye on her.

Another thought struck her. Could it be the person who had left the chocolates for her? The same person who'd taken her doll and put it in the well last night? She shivered, remembering the voice on the phone. Just a prank call, she kept telling herself.

A sick, morbid cruel prank. Was it possible that's all the chocolates and the doll in the well were meant to be? The prankster had just been having fun at Dana's expense but then she'd had to go and call the marshal and things got out of hand?

That's what she wanted to believe as she stepped to the window again and looked out. Nothing moved. The lights of a car came down the winding street, blinding her for a moment as it swept past.

In that instant as the car passed, the headlights illuminated the building across the street.

No one was there.

She'd been so sure she'd seen a person watching her.

On impulse, she reopened the front door and ran across