Chapter Five

      Chaz hesitated before driving away from White Forks, but he couldn’t stay with Tawny-Lynn around the clock.

      Could he?

      If the threats continued, he’d have to.

      He carried the blood samples and prints he’d collected to the sheriff’s office. His deputy was on the phone when he walked in.

      Judging from the goofy grin on his face, he was talking to his girlfriend, Sheila.

      He looked up at Chaz and dropped his feet from the desk. “Listen, honey, I’ve gotta go. Call you later.”

      He hung up, then quirked his brows at Chaz. “I didn’t expect you back tonight.”

      “There was some trouble out at White Forks.”

      “You mean that place where the Boulder broad lives?”

      “She hasn’t lived there in years, but yes, that’s the one. She came back to town to get her old man’s ranch ready to sell.”

      “I heard folks around here don’t much like her.”

      Chaz scowled at his deputy. “Who’ve you been listening to, Ned?”

      “No one in particular. Some old women were gossiping about her in the diner. Said if she’d spoken up about what happened that day, they might have tracked down your sister and Peyton Boulder.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Hell, someone even said that she helped them run off.”

      Chaz silently cursed. Ned had come from a neighboring town and had formed his opinions based on rumors. “First of all, I don’t think my sister just ran off. She wouldn’t have done that. Second, Tawny-Lynn almost died in that crash herself. She was unconscious when the paramedics found her, had a broken leg and a concussion.”

      Ned made a clicking sound with his teeth. “The concussion caused her amnesia?”

      “Yes, according to the doctor,” Chaz said.

      “But the accident— Didn’t the sheriff think that was suspicious?”

      Chaz nodded. “There were skid marks from another vehicle on the pavement, but it started raining and they couldn’t get a good print.”

      “Why would someone run the bus off the road?”

      “Good question. The bus was carrying the softball team. Could have been some teen following too close or—”

      “Competitors from another team?”

      “I don’t think so. The sheriff looked into each of the girl’s lives, but none of them had any serious enemies.”

      “So what’s your theory?” Ned asked.

      Chaz contemplated the file he had at home. How many times had he studied the damn thing for answers?

      “I don’t know. Two girls went missing from Sunset Mesa before the Camden incident and were never found. A lot of people think that a serial kidnapper took them. It’s possible he was stalking one of the girls on the team and caused the accident, then kidnapped Ruth and Peyton.”

      “He’d have to be strong to wrestle both girls.”

      “Not if he had a gun, or if they were hurt in the crash.”

      His deputy studied his fingernails. “Do you have any idea who this guy is?”

      Chaz shook his head. “No, and that’s just a theory. No proof.”

      “But you all think that Tawny-Lynn Boulder saw this guy that day?”

      “Some people think that. Like I said, she was unconscious when the medics arrived. But somehow she got out of the bus before it caught fire. Considering the fact that she had a broken leg and head injury, it’s not likely she walked.”

      “Meaning someone dragged her to safety. But if it was the kidnapper, why not take her, too?”

      “Maybe he was fixated on Ruth or Peyton. And like I said, Tawny-Lynn had a broken leg.” He gritted his teeth. Depending on what the sick bastard’s plans were, he probably hadn’t wanted her with the injury.

      “Anyway,” Chaz continued. “Tonight someone left a bloody threat for Tawny-Lynn at White Forks. I took samples and managed to lift a few prints. Call the courier to pick it up, take it back to the lab and analyze it.”

      “Sure.”

      Chaz took a form from the desk and filled out the paperwork for chain of custody. “Tell the lab to call me as soon as they get the results.”

      The deputy narrowed his eyes as he examined the photograph of the bloody message. “Someone really wants her gone.”

      “It looks that way.” Chaz headed back to the door. “But it’s our job to protect her, Deputy. And to find out who made that threat.”

      * * *

      TAWNY-LYNN GRIPPED the bat with sweaty palms. It was the bottom of the ninth and the Camden Cats were one run behind. The team was depending on her.

      The pitcher threw a curve ball that came in low, and she barely managed to check her swing in time before the umpire called ball one.

      Two more pitches and she’d tipped the ball twice. Her stomach felt jittery. Her chest hurt. She couldn’t strike out now.

      Another ball and it nearly hit her shoulder. She jumped back, the ball whizzing by her head. She stepped aside to steady herself, then ground the bat at the base and raised it, ready.

      The pitcher wound up as the crowd and her teammates chanted her name. A second later, she swung at the ball. Metal connected with it, sending the ball flying, and she took off running as the ball soared over the fence. Her teammates screamed in excitement, the crowd roared and Peyton, who was on second base, sailed around the bases. Tawny-Lynn was faster than her sister and nearly caught her as they raced into home plate.

      Her homerun sent the team one point ahead.

      Roars and cheers from the crowd echoed in her ears as Ruth stepped up to bat. Three straight swings though and she struck out.

      Still, the Cats had won. The girls rushed her, clapping and shouting and hugging. The coach pounded her on the back. “You’re our hero today, T!”

      She beamed a smile as they grabbed their gym bags and jogged toward the bus. More congratulations and pats as the girls clamored into their seats.

      “I have to stop by the bank. Let’s meet up at the pizza parlor to celebrate,” Coach Wake announced. He made his way back to his car while the bus driver fired up the bus.

      Tawny-Lynn settled into a seat by herself while Peyton jumped in beside Ruth, and they started whispering and giggling.

      Peyton was boy crazy, and Ruth