The Missing Mccullen

“That’s ridiculous. Besides, I didn’t have to kill anyone to execute that plan, if that was really my intent.”

“You must have hated him for firing you and blackballing you. You could use the money to buy your own place.”

“I did want my own spread, I’ll admit that.” Anger sizzled in his eyes. “But not bad enough to hurt Sondra. I know what it’s like to grow up without a family. I loved Tyler and would never have taken his mama away.”

The pain in his voice was too raw to not be real.

“Tell me what happened then,” BJ said. “How did you wind up in that motel room with Sondra’s blood all over you?”

He released a frustrated sigh. “Like I told you, she called me, upset, and I met her at the tavern.” He rubbed his chin. “I got there and ordered a drink. She came and...we walked outside for a minute. Then everything goes blank.”

“Someone knocked you out?”

“I don’t know.” Confusion clouded his eyes. “Either that or I was drugged.”

An excuse or the truth? “Unfortunately, it’s too late to test your blood for drugs.”

“I realize that, but it’s the only explanation I can think of.” His expression turned grim. “Seriously, one minute I was talking to her, the next I woke up in the room with Sondra, and she was dead.”

BJ studied him. Shock and sorrow radiated from his eyes. If he was a liar, he was a damn good one.

But the security camera had captured his face outside that motel room. “You woke up and found her, then what?”

He lifted his shoulders in a defeated shrug. “I called 911, and then I phoned Sondra’s father. I...thought I was doing the right thing.”

He had done the right thing. That is, if he hadn’t sliced Sondra’s throat.

But BJ couldn’t imagine him killing a woman in cold blood.

Maybe a crime of passion?

She needed to question the ranch hands and find out if Cash was violent. If they thought he’d had an affair with Sondra.

If he wanted to get back at Elmore.

Another possibility hit her, one she didn’t want to consider. But one the DA definitely would.

What if Cash was in love with Sondra, and wanted to marry her and adopt Tyler? She could have met with him to tell him to leave her alone. Maybe she’d even fallen for another man and planned to cut Cash out of the boy’s life. He could have flown into a jealous rage.

Indecision warred with the instinct that Cash was telling the truth and needed help. That either Cash or Elmore had enemies.

That one of those enemies had killed Sondra and kidnapped Tyler to get revenge.

But what had they done with Tyler?

* * *

CASH COULD SEE the wheels turning in the lawyer’s head. She was trying to decide whether he was innocent or guilty.

He wasn’t sure which way she was leaning.

“Miss Alexander, even if you decide not to represent me, please make sure the police search for Tyler. If Jasper thinks I did something with him, he may be dragging his feet, thinking I’ll confess. Tyler could be in danger.”

“I’m sure he’s doing everything he can to find him,” she said. “An Amber Alert has been issued and NCMEC, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, has been notified.”

Cash still didn’t trust Jasper.

An image of the precocious three-year-old teased his mind. Tyler liked to trail ride with him. He could feel the little boy’s arms locked around his waist, hear him giggling when the horse broke into a canter.

He even had a Western shirt like one of Cash’s and wore it when they were together.

Miss Alexander gathered the photos of Sondra and stuffed them in her briefcase. She stood, her posture rigid, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Don’t take Jasper’s word for it.” Cash touched her arm.

She went stone still and stared at his fingers as if he’d burned her. He released her abruptly.

Just like Elmore, she’d put him in his place with a condescending look.

Hell, he’d never be good enough for a man like Elmore or a woman like her.

It didn’t matter, though. All that mattered was making sure little Tyler was safe.

“Please,” he said in a gruff voice. “Find Tyler. He needs your help more than I do.”

Her gaze locked with his, and he swallowed hard. He could lose himself in those damn beautiful eyes.

But those eyes were cold and serious, assessing.

“Don’t worry. I’ll alert authorities to look for Tyler,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “We’re meeting with the judge in an hour for a bail hearing.”

Hope and despair crawled through Cash. He badly wanted out of this jail. But he was broke. All he had was a little bit of savings for the ranch he’d been dreaming about.

He was determined to have his own spread someday. Then he’d never have to bow down to bigwig ranchers like Elmore again.

“I appreciate you coming,” he said, biting back his pride. “But I can’t make bail.”

She angled her head to look at him, her mouth forming a thin line. “Your bail money and my fee have been taken care of.”

Without another word, she left, and closed the door behind her.

Cash’s heart hammered as the lock clicked into place. Who the hell had paid her? And who was posting his bail?

His ranch hand buddies didn’t have money. And he didn’t have family to turn to.

He refused to take charity, too.

But what choice did he have? He needed to find out who’d set him up. He sure as hell couldn’t do that from the inside of a cell.