If you have so much confidence in her abilities, then why are you here?
Hud gritted his teeth. Jordan had always been difficult. At least that hadnt changed. Several reasons. None of which I have to explain to you. But He held up a hand before Jordan could speak. I will because I want us to have an understanding. He ticked them off on his fingers. One, Im still the marshal here. Two, Liza has her hands full up at the site. Three, I want to know what happened on that mountain. And four, your sister is my wife. I dont want her hurt.
With a smile and a nod, Jordan ambled over to a chair and sat. Dana doesnt have anything to worry about. Neither she nor the ranch
is why Im back in the canyon.
Why are you here? Hud asked, snapping on the recording machine.
It doesnt have anything to do with family.
But it does have something to do with Alex Winslow.
Alex was a good friend from high school. I didnt kill him. Jordan sighed and looked at the ceiling for a moment.
Hud noticed that he was no longer wearing a wedding ring. He vaguely remembered Dana mentioning that shed heard Jordan was divorced from his ex-model wife, Jill. The marriage had probably ended when Jordan didnt get the proceeds from the sale of the ranch.
If Alex was your friend, I would think youd be interested in helping us find his killer, Hud said. Not to mention youre neck deep in this. Right now, youre the number one suspect.
Jordan laughed. Does that work on most of your suspects? He shook his head. I came back because Alex called me. He hinted that he might know something about Tanners suicide but it was clear he didnt want to talk about it on the phone. He said hed share his theory with me if I came to our twenty-year high school reunion. The next time I talked to him, he sounded scared and wanted to meet at the falls. Thats it.
That was a lot. Hud wasnt sure how much of it he believed. But at least he had some idea of what might have brought Jordan back to townand it wasnt family.
Tanner Cole committed suicide when the two of you were seniors in high school. Why would that bring you back here after all these years?
When your best friend commits suicide, you never stop thinking you could have done something to stop him. You need to know why he did it.
Unless that person leaves a note, you never know. Tanner didnt leave a note, as I recall.
Jordan shook his head.
Did you talk to Alex before he was shot?
As I told your deputy, I heard the shot, he stumbled toward me, there was another shot and he went down. All he said was the word Shelby. At least thats what I thought he said. Jordan shrugged. That was it.
Hud studied him openly for a moment. Maybe the bullets were meant for you and the killer missed.
Jordan sighed. What are you insinuating?
That maybe Tanner didnt commit suicide. Werent you the one who found his body?
Anger fired Jordans gaze. He was my best friend. I would have taken a bullet for him.
Instead, another friend of yours took the bullet tonight, Hud said. Youre telling me you came all this way, hiked into the falls in the dark, just for answers?
Why is that so hard for you to understand?
What about Alex Winslow? Dont I remember some falling-out the two of you had before you graduated?
It was high school. Who remembers?
Hud nodded. Is Stacy in the canyon for the same reason? Stacy had been in the grade between the two of them.
Stacy? Jordan looked genuinely surprised. I havent seen or talked to her in years.
Then you didnt know that not only is she back in the canyon, she also has a baby.
Jordan laughed. Stacy has a baby? Thats got to be good. Look, if thats all, I need to get some sleep.
Once Liza allows you to, Im sure youll be leaving. Id appreciate it if you didnt upset Dana before then. Shes pregnant with twins and having a rough go of it.
Im sorry to hear that, Jordan said, sounding as if he meant it. Dont worry, I wont be bothering my sister. Either of my sisters, he added.
Then I guess were done here.
A WHILE LATER, DANA HEARD HUD come in. She heard him go upstairs to check on the kids, before coming back down to her room. He smiled when he saw her still awake and came over to her side of the bed to give her a kiss.
So everythings all right? he asked.
Im the one who should be asking you that. You said thered been a shooting?
He nodded. Lizas got everything under control. The crime techs are on their way from Missoula. He sounded tired.
Stacy kept a plate of dinner for you. She made chicken, baked potatoes and corn, Dana said. Then she and kids baked chocolate chip cookies. She motioned to the cookies on the tray next to the bed.
Hud gave her a who-knew-she-could-cook look and took one of the cookies.
Who knew indeed? Dana couldnt believe the change in her sister. She felt horribly guilty for not trusting it. But even Stacy was capable of changing, right? Having a baby did that to a person. But Stacy?
Unfortunately, the jury was still outgiven her sisters past.
Did she mention how long shes staying? Hud asked, not meeting her gaze.