“That’s insane,” Don whispered, but Shel knew his brother was starting to realize that what he was saying was true. “Daddy wouldn’t just run off in the middle of the night.”
“Yeah,” Shel said, “he would. He had all this worked out, Don. That’s why he didn’t hang around but decided to take his chances on riding that mare out of here.”
“Why?”
“Because Daddy’s got military murder charges hanging over him if Victor Gant tells anyone what happened in Qui Nhon. And the military executes soldiers who murder other soldiers. Even if it was forty years ago.”
Don was silent for a moment, and Shel dreaded the question he was certain his brother was going to ask next. It was inevitable, though. A similar question had come from the mouths of dozens of family members Shel had gotten to know during his service with NCIS.
“Do you really… do you… think Daddy murdered somebody?”
Shel blew his breath out and looked at Don. It hurt him to hurt Don by taking away his hope. But Shel believed that if people faced facts sooner, it got easier in the long run.
“Daddy ran, Don.”
“Maybe he just went for help.”
“It was safer to stay here than to try to get away on that horse. Daddy lit out because he didn’t want to be here when the police arrived. If he didn’t kill Victor Gant-and there was no way he could be sure of doing that with all those men hunting him-then he knew Gant could get taken into custody. Then the story about the murder would come out. Daddy couldn’t afford to stay.”
“I can’t believe he just ran like that,” Don whispered.
“Daddy’s been running for forty years. We just never knew it.”
46
›› Rafter M Ranch
›› Outside Fort Davis, Texas
›› 1038 Hours (Central Time Zone)
“Must be a slow news day,” Estrella commented from the passenger seat. Her displeasure showed in her frown as she regarded the sight.
Will looked at the road ahead and curbed the impatience and frustration that filled him. Ahead, the road was choked by news vehicles and local gawkers. And not everyone had gotten there by car or pickup; a few horses grazed while they were tied to the fence that ran around the Rafter M.
“It’s a small town,” Will said. “Everybody here knows everybody else.”
“Or thinks they do,” Nita said from the backseat. “Till something like this happens.”
Tall and red-haired, the team’s medical examiner peered forward between the two front seats. Normally she was lean, but she was five months pregnant these days. Her hand unconsciously glided across her stomach as Will checked on her in the rearview mirror. She was only just starting to show.
“Small towns are good to live in,” Nita went on. “Everybody knows you. Of course, small towns are also bad to live in. Because everyone knows you.”
Will silently agreed. “Are you doing all right?”
Nita met his gaze in the rearview mirror and smiled self-consciously. “I’m fine.”
“I wouldn’t have asked you to come out here if it hadn’t been Shel involved.”
“With Shel involved,” Nita told him, “I’d have been seriously irked if you hadn’t asked me.”
Will offered her a wan smile. Since she’d come to terms with the issues in her private life and rededicated herself to her husband and daughter, Nita carried a peace about her that Will couldn’t help noticing.
“What do you hope to find out here?” Nita asked.
“I don’t know,” Will answered honestly. “But with the lengths Victor Gant is going to, I want every edge I can get.”
A uniformed deputy waved him to a stop. Will rolled the window down.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you go any farther, sir,” the deputy said with polite efficiency.
“Who’s in charge of this investigation?” Will asked.
“That’d be Sheriff Conover, but he’s a mighty busy man right now.”
Will showed the deputy his NCIS ID. “Get him for me, would you?”
The deputy used the handi-talker on his shoulder and called for the sheriff.
Will got out of the rented car and stretched. He was dead tired. When Shel had called him last night and let him know everything that had transpired, Will had called the team in immediately and requisitioned a jet to get them to Fort Davis. Director Larkin had greased the wheels, and a jet had been standing by when Will arrived at the airport.
Maggie parked the second SUV they’d rented. With all the gear the team packed, they needed multiple vehicles. Remy parked a third SUV behind her, then got out and flashed his ID at the deputy who was trying to wave him off.
A couple minutes later, Sheriff Conover made his way through the crowd and reached Will. He was a tall, thick man with a fierce mustache, a big hat, and mirrored sunglasses.
“Commander Coburn?” the sheriff asked. His gruff voice matched his exterior.
Will nodded and offered his hand.
“Pleasure to meet you, sir,” Conover said. “Pity it couldn’t be under more pleasant circumstances.”
“Where’s my agent?” Will asked as he took his hand back.
“Up to the house. Since he’s a trained forensics person, I figured it wouldn’t hurt none to have him help out some.”
“Some lawyer could argue that Gunnery Sergeant McHenry’s presence here could compromise the evidence. He has a vested interest.”
Conover smiled. “I figure a dumb attorney could work up to that song and dance, see how it flew for a judge at an inquest, but a smart one would realize we got a mess of dead bikers here that ain’t local. And this trouble followed Shel’s family home from your neck of the woods. Wasn’t nothing started here.”
Will nodded.
“More’n that,” Conover said, “I ain’t got enough boys out here to lock Shel out of this.” He paused. “I assume you people are gonna take over this investigation?”
“With the family of one of my team in danger like this? You know it.”
“They killed one of my deputies last night,” Conover said. “He was a good man. A family man. Shel tells me you’re good at what you do, so I’m gonna back your play. Anything you need from me, you consider it yours.”
“I appreciate that,” Will said.
›› 1052 Hours (Central Time Zone)
Don was sitting on the front porch steps and talking on a cell phone when Will arrived. When he saw Will, Don folded the phone, put it away, and got up.
“How are you doing?” Will asked.
“It’s tough,” Don admitted. “The main thing is that no one knows where Daddy is. Or if he’s all right. I’ve been praying about it since we found him gone.”
“The sheriff said he’d put a BOLO out on your father,” Will said. A BOLO was a Be On the LookOut order. It was usually accompanied by a description. In this case, the sheriff had posted pictures of Tyrel McHenry. “They’ll find him.”
Don hesitated. “Shel doesn’t think they will.”
“He’ll probably show up on his own once all the confusion dies down,” Will said. “He may have just lain down and gone to sleep somewhere out there.” He nodded at the pasture. He knew from talking to Shel and the sheriff that Tyrel McHenry had taken a horse and left the scene. “And Shel didn’t indicate there was any reason to think your father was injured when he left.”
Don gave Will a curious glance. “Shel didn’t tell you, did he?” he asked.
“I don’t understand.”
Helplessness showed in Don’s eyes. Desperation was in there too.
“Victor Gant told Shel that Daddy was a murderer,” Don said in a low voice. “Back in Jacksonville. Gant said that Daddy killed a man back in Vietnam all those years ago, and Gant was going to make sure that knowledge became public.”
Will listened as Don talked in low tones.
“Personally,” Don said when he finished, “I don’t see how it could be true. Daddy won’t ever win Father of the Year, but he’s a good man. What Victor Gant has accused him of, I just don’t see that happening.”
“Does Shel believe it?” Will asked.