Go, his wife ordered, giving him a warning look. We can manage without you for a while.
Are you sure? He took her hand and squeezed it. You promise to stay right where you are?
Promise.
Still, he hesitated. Hed been shocked to walk into the house and see Dana holding a baby. For a few moments, hed been confused as to where shed gotten it.
Has Stacy said anything about where shes been? he asked, glancing toward the kitchen. He could hear the voices of his children and sister-in-law. They all sounded excited about whatever they were making for dinner.
Southern California. Shes headed for Great Falls. Theres a military base located there so that makes sense since she says the babys father is in the military.
If Stacy can be believed, he said quietly.
Dana mugged a face at him. But telling the truth wasnt one of her sisters strong suits. It bothered him that Dana was defending her sister. He figured the baby had something to do with it. Dana was a sucker for kids.
Stacy seems different now, she said. I think its the baby. It seems to have grounded her some, maybe.
Maybe, he said doubtfully.
Go on, you have a murder investigation to worry about instead of me.
You sound way too happy about that.
LIZA ALREADY HAD THE CRIME scene cordoned off when Hud arrived. He waved to the deputy on guard at the falls parking lot as he got out of his patrol SUV. The coroners van was parked next to the two police vehicles.
The coroner just went in, the deputy told him.
He turned on his flashlight and started down the trail. Hud couldnt help thinking about his wifes siblings trying to force her to sell the family ranch. Theyd been like vultures, none of them having any interest in Cardwell Ranch. All theyd wanted was the money.
Jordan had been the worst because of his New York lifestyleand his out-of-work model wife. But Stacy and Clay had had their hands out, as well. Hud hated to think what would have happened if Dana hadnt found the new will her mother had made leaving her the ranch.
He smiled at the memory of where shed found it. Mary Justice Cardwell had put it in her favorite old recipe book next to Double Chocolate Brownies. The brownies had been Huds favorite. Dana hadnt made them
in all the time the two of them had been apart. When theyd gotten back together six years ago, Dana had opened the cookbook planning to surprise him with the brownies, only to be surprised herself.
Two of her siblings were back in the canyon? That had him worried even before the call from his deputy marshal that thered been a murder. And oh, yeah, Liza had told him, Jordan Cardwell was somehow involved.
Now as he hiked into the falls, he tried to keep his temper in check. If Danas family thought they were going to come back here and upset her
Ahead he saw the crowd gathered at the top of the falls. He headed for the coroner.
Coroner Rupert Milligan was hugging seventy, but youd never know it the way he acted. Six years ago, Hud had thought the man older than God and more powerful in this county. Tall, white-haired, with a head like a buffalo, he had a gruff voice and little patience for stupidity. Hed retired as a country doctor to work as a coroner.
None of that had changed in the past six years. Just as Ruperts love for murder mysteries and forensics hadnt.
So what do we have? Hud asked over the roar of the falls as he joined him.
Rupert answered without even bothering to look up. Single gunshot through the heart. Another through the lungs. High-powered rifle.
Distance?
Id say fifty yards.
That far, he said, surprised. The killer would have needed the victim to be out in the open with no trees in the way to make such a shot. Like at the top of a waterfall. Any idea where the shot came from?
Rupert had been crouched beside the body. Now he finally looked up. In case you havent noticed, its dark out. Once it gets daylight you can look for tracks and possibly a shell casing. And once I get the body to Bozeman for an autopsy I might be able to tell you more about the trajectory of the bullet. Offhand, Id say the shot came from the other side of the creek, probably on the side of the mountain.
So either it was a lucky shot or the killer had been set up and waiting, Liza said, joining them. The killer either picked the meeting spot or was told where the victim would be.
Rupert shifted his gaze to her and frowned. Being from the old school, the coroner made no secret of the fact that he didnt hold much appreciation for women law enforcement. If hed had his way, he would have put them all behind a desk.
Hud liked that Liza didnt seem to let him bother her. His deputy marshals good looks could be deceiving. Small in stature, too cute for her own good and easygoing, Liza often gave criminals the idea that she was a pushover. They, however, quickly learned differently. He wondered if Jordan Cardwell thought the same thing about the deputy marshal. If so, he was in for a surprise.
Which could mean either that the victim was expecting to meet not only Jordan Cardwell up here, but also someone he trusted, she continued. Or