Chapter 6

Tyler

Liam is gone on the morning trek with the guests when I arrive to see Zoe is gone too.

To occupy my mind, I untack Gypsy, brush her down and leave her to graze in the paddock with Star.

Gary meets me as I’m closing the gate, a deep frown on his face. “Liam’s on the warpath. He wants to talk to you when he gets back.”

He walks with me, filling me in on the work he’s done while I try not to think too hard on why Liam wants to see me.

At the top of the stairs to the office, I move to open the door, but am greeted by a new padlock. “What the hell? You have a key to this?” Gary asks.

I jiggle the lock and shake my head. “He didn’t mention he was going to lock the door?”

Gary looks as baffled as I feel. “Not a word.”

I try for a smile, but this goes beyond being inconvenient. It’s dangerous.

“This is shit. What if I need to call my wife?” Gary whinges.

I shrug. “You’ll have to drive up the mountain.”

Since I have no access to the UTV, my only transport is now also locked away. “Could I borrow your truck? I need to phone Burt’s sister.”

Gary nods wearily but he hands over his keys. “Don’t know why you put up with this.”

I can’t say anything to that because I’m beginning to wonder about it myself. “I’ll have it back in an hour. But if Ethel says it’s okay, I’d like to go to the hospital.”

He nods, and without a word, walks away muttering and cussing Liam out under his breath.

I stare at the lock, wondering what game Liam is playing now. It’s not just the phone, it’s the CB radio, and the computer, not to mention the first aid kit, keys. Everything is inside the office.

I can’t even begin to imagine what motivated him to do this. With each sunrise, he makes it harder and harder to work for him.

I lean my palms on the deck railing and stare out at the ranch I’ve barely spent a day away from since I was born.

Liam doesn’t have that connection. He’ll never understand how the land can own you and stake a claim on your soul.

He hasn’t worked till his hands are bleeding. He hasn’t poured his heart and soul into creating something that will last. Something that can be passed on for generations of ranchers.

Liam Cooper isn’t a rancher. He’s a joke, and his business is making a joke out of me too.

Since he’s locked the keys for the UTV away, I go back to my cabin, change my clothes, grab my beat-up old cell phone, and leave the mess to go check on Burt.

My thoughts are scrambled as I hop in Gary’s truck. Any anger I had at Liam, at Zoe’s willingness to listen to him, merges into worry for Burt.

Instead of driving up the mountain, I keep going until I’m close enough to Silver Falls to get cell coverage.

I pull over and leave the engine running as I dial Ethel. When she picks up, I clear my throat. “It’s Tyler Carlson.”

Her smokers' rasp comes down the line. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. Burt’s awake and he won’t stop banging on about a horse.”

She must be in the hospital with Burt because I hear him growling in the background.

I chuckle. “Good to hear it. Is he up to visitors?”

“No. But the doctor said you may as well put his mind at ease.”

I take his room number and promise her I’ll keep my visit quick. I end the call and notice my hands are shaking.

I hate hospitals. Hate the smell. The noise. The memories of dad hanging on for life, Liam’s presence when I was at my lowest.

I clench my jaw and check the road is clear before I head to the hospital. At least coming here chases away the regret at leaving Zoe the way I did.

But when I park the truck and walk through the glass doors, I’d take regret over the flood of memories washing over me.

I squash them down by thinking about Zoe in her dress, the fabric clinging to her, how wet she got, how her mouth felt around my cock, how she arched her back when she came.

By the time I reach the elevator, I’m not thinking about anything but finding her and apologizing just so I can get her naked again.

I’ve been in lust with a woman before. But this is bat shit crazy lust reaching epidemic levels.

Maybe it’s better she left? She’s doing my head in to the point where I don’t know if having her in my life would be worse than not having her.

I take a few minutes to compose myself and to focus before I approach the nurse’s station.

But when I recognize the nurse as a friend of Meg’s, Leah, and the uniform she’s wearing conjures up mental images of Meg looking after dad, I wish I hadn’t stopped thinking about Zoe.

Her smile is a little forced as she sees me. “I thought I might see you sooner or later. How are you?”

I answer with my stock-standard response. “I’m fine. Okay to go in?”

She nods, but there’s something on her face, uncertainty, I’m not sure I want to acknowledge.

But when she steps away from the desk and asks the other nurse to cover for her, I know she’s got something to say I may not want to hear.

“I’ll take you to his room,” she says.

I don’t want her company, but I have no choice when she starts walking and lowers her voice. “Um, I know this isn’t the best time, but I wanted to tell you something.”

She looks around her and gestures to a room. “Can we talk in private?”

I don’t see I have any choice when she grabs my arm and pulls me into an empty office.

I shake her off and she releases a breath. “I tried to talk to you after your father died, but I didn’t want to add to your burden.”

I shift my weight and stare at her, hoping this isn’t a waste of time. I haven’t seen her in over a year and I hardly know her. “What’s going on?”

She swallows and stares at her sneakers. “There was an investigation into your father’s death.”

My heart starts to thump against my ribs. “Why didn’t I hear about this?”

She winces. “It was an internal investigation. And they didn’t find anything.”

I’m so floored I slump against the wall. “But why did they investigate?

Leah can’t meet my eye for a minute. My eyes pop as I realize what she’s trying to tell me. “Meg?”

She flinches and takes a step back. “Meg wasn’t focused. She was forgetting things, making excuses for taking long breaks, forgetting to write up notes. I tried to talk to her and tell her she was putting patients in danger, but she got angry and told me to mind my own business. Then Liam, well, he convinced me I shouldn’t tell you.”

I nearly growl at her. “Why were you talking to Liam?”

Guilt flickers across her face then something else I’m half sure I’m misinterpreting. Her eyes shift to the floor. “He overheard Meg and I arguing. He said she was just so upset about everything because she cared so much. He thought it would just upset you even more if I pursued it.”

Fire builds, growing hotter as I piece everything together. “Why are you telling me all this now?”

She swallows. “When I heard the ambulance was bringing in someone from Laughing Cat, I decided that if you came, I had to tell you. I’m so sorry. I’ve been holding on to this, wondering if that’s why she left. If it was my fault.”

I nod, even though I’m barely listening. “I don’t know why she left. I just know you should tell the police this.”

Her bottom lip starts to wobble, and she’s close to crying. “I’m so sorry. Liam was so understanding, and he seemed so genuine. Then Meg was gone, and he was um, well, so charming.”

I work my jaw as I try to bring my breathing until control. Charming. Liam has left a wake of women who think he’s charming.

“I need to see Burt,” I mumble.

She sniffs. “I am sorry Tyler. I really am. You’ve been through enough. I just thought you should know.”

I don’t see what purpose this can serve. It’s just more circumstantial evidence of the carnage Liam’s wrecked since he got here.

It does explain why Meg left, and why she’s probably not coming back any time soon.

All the questions the cops asked, the way they thought I was involved, it all makes sense now.

When Leah keeps apologizing, saying she wished she’d done things differently, I just nod vaguely, trying to process everything.

Just when I think I’ve dealt with dad’s death, it all comes back again to remind me; there are and always will be unanswered questions.

And if Liam continues the way he is, destroying everyone and everything in his path, it won’t be over until everyone and everything I love is gone.

I shake my head at her. “Forget it. It’s not your fault. Liam’s a gold medal charmer, no one is immune to him.”

Not even a knockout Forensic Accountant apparently.

I leave a teary Leah and go in search of Burt, head in a muddle and feeling even more furious than I thought possible.

If there was an investigation into dad’s death, why the fuck didn’t I know about it?

***

Sunday 2.12pm.

Zoe

The cab pulls up at my front door, and with a sigh, I hand over the fare and grab my bag.

Even though I slept on the plane, evidence of an insanely active weekend with Tyler has left my body aching as though I really did ride a horse.

A smile twitches at my lips despite my tangled thoughts. I twist my key in the lock and dump my overnight bag on the floor.

Out of habit, I check my messages, feeling little enthusiasm for the problems waiting for me.

It’s still technically my vacation time, but I’ve been given permission to look into the occurrences at Laughing Cat Ranch, so I open a bottle of wine and pour a glass while I try not to think about Tyler.

I head to my office and take a seat at my messy desk. As my PC fires up, I sip my wine and push away every last lustful thought trying to steal control.

I enter the Laughing Cat website address and am pleased to see Liam has hastily added a note about weight restrictions.

I drink my wine and access the Sentinel system to check on Liam’s authenticity.

I can find his Social Security number, financial account numbers, medical, educational and if he has any, military records.

Everything seems perfectly legit. There’s nothing to say Liam Cooper isn’t who he says he is. He was born in Montana; he’s three years older than Tyler, has never married, has no outstanding warrants, not so much as a parking ticket.

It’s so clean. So neat and tidy, it doesn’t make sense. According to his records, he’s never put a foot wrong, never even had a brush with the law.

I scan back and find his high school report card. I pull a face as teacher after teacher paints a picture of a straight A student, star athlete, and find he’s even worked as a volunteer at an animal shelter.

I frown at that little nugget of information. He showed zero concern about Star, and from the conversation I overheard between Burt and Tyler, he disregarded a very basic requirement that ensures the horses' welfare.

This is not adding up to the Liam Cooper I met.

I drink the rest of my wine and on a whim look for Tyler’s records.

It takes me three seconds to find out Tyler isn’t as squeaky clean as his brother seems to be.

He’s never been arrested, but he has been involved in several bar brawls in Silver Falls, he’s in a small amount of debt, mostly credit card, and his driver’s license has expired.

Unlike Liam, he owns no land, doesn’t have much in his savings account, and is by the looks of it living paycheck to paycheck. If Liam is the one who pays him, it’s no wonder he was so worried about Liam finding out.

I’m almost about to admit defeat when I decide to check on Meg.

Since I don’t have a last name and I don’t really want to call the ranch to ask Liam or Tyler, I find the missing person report filed by Meg’s mother at the Sheriff’s department.

I squint at the report and rub my temple to ward off a headache as I read the account. According to her mother Meg had gone to work just like she did every night.

Tyler’s statement is attached to the file, and I scan it, growing more confused as I read.

Still scanning the text, I pick up the phone and ask the operator to connect me to The Silver Falls Sheriff’s department.

I’m reading through the report growing more baffled when the phone is answered.

I switch gears immediately. “This is Agent Foster with the FBI. I need to confirm a statement given to you. I can give you my badge number if you need to verify?”

After a pause, and confirmation I am who I say I am, the deputy seems to recognize I do have the authority to request information.

“I’m looking at a statement regarding a missing person Meg Adler and I was hoping you could clear something up for me.”

“Let me pull up the file. I remember that case. Small town, everyone knows everyone. A nurse going missing. And the will. Not going to forget that in a hurry.”

I hear him tapping on the keys. “Got it. What do you need to know?”

“Meg was employed at Silver Falls Hospital as an ICU nurse but according to her bank records she stopped receiving payments from them three months before she went missing.”

“Clerical error?” he asks.

I shake my head. “That’s unlikely. Her mother said she saw her go to work on the evening she went missing, but why would she be going to work if she wasn’t being paid?”

“Hmm. Not sure I know the answer.”

I didn’t expect him to. “Deputy, did you interview anyone from the hospital as to her employment status at the time of her disappearance?”

I can almost hear his contempt. “Are you saying someone on my staff didn’t do their job?”

It’s not the first time I’ve stepped on toes, but this is something significant, so I keep my tone as polite as I can. “I’m not suggesting that. I’m pointing out that Meg Adler was supposedly working at a hospital for three months without pay. I’m trying to find out why she did that. Is it possible she’d been fired and was just pretending to go to work to avoid telling her mother, her boyfriend?”

He’s silent, which makes my interest spike even higher. “Deputy, I’d rather not have to come to Silver Falls with a warrant.”

He blows out a cross between a sigh and a curse. “Why is the FBI interested in a missing person way down here?”

Irritation makes my voice get cooler. “I’ve phoned you first as a professional courtesy. I need to know if it was an oversight one of your officers missed when taking statements or if it was intentional misreporting.”

I tap my fingernails on my desk as I let that sink in. Finally, when I think I’ll have to call my boss, he releases a long sigh. “There was talk she’d been fired. But the hospital wouldn’t talk without lawyers present.”

I know this is significant, so I hold my breath and let him keep talking. “It never smelled right, but that boy’s so smooth his shit don’t stick.”

I frown at the screen. “What boy? Tyler?”

He grunts. “Liam.”

Nice to know Liam isn’t fooling everyone. More concerning is why the hospital wasn’t forthcoming with information. “And the ranch, Tyler Carlson never contested the will?”

“Not that I’m aware of. Looks like he was too busy holding everything together. A lot of men relied on the income that ranch gave them. Most legged it when Liam took over. It’s a wonder Tyler’s still working there. Most men would have beat the shit out of him.”

I squint at my wine glass. “Because he lost the ranch?”

The deputy near growls down the line. “That and rumors about Liam messing around with Meg.”

My stomach drops to my toes. “There’s no mention of that in the report.”

He exhales. “That’s because it’s circumstantial. I asked Liam when she disappeared, but he flat out denied they were more than friends.”

I sit back in my chair, thoughts spinning almost unbearably. “No, I don’t suppose Liam would have admitted it.”

I hear the radio crackle in the background. “Anything else? I’m on my own here.”

I scramble to think before he has to go. “Was Liam’s identity ever questioned?”

“I checked his registration and license out when he arrived. Nothing beyond that.”

I chew my lip. “Has there been any other trouble at Laughing Cat since Liam took over?”

He’s silent for too long for there not to have been. “Nothing record worthy. Like I said, Liam’s smooth as silk. Nothing sticks.”

I scan Liam’s information one more time. “Do you know what the proof was confirming Liam as Jack Carlson’s son?”

“I didn’t speak to Carlson about it. Jack was already in hospital when Liam showed up claiming to be his long-lost son.”

I tap my pen against my teeth. “I don’t understand why the will was never contested. If Jack Carlson was already sick, there’s a case for undue influence or incompetence.”

The silence only grows, making my heart pick up even more. “Deputy? Are you still there?”

His voice comes out harsh. “The will was witnessed and signed. I checked myself when Meg went missing.”

My eyebrows rise. “Then you were suspicious of Liam?”

He chokes out a laugh. “I’m always suspicious. But as much as I wish he wasn’t, Jack Carlson was fully convinced Liam was his son when he signed. Whatever Liam said or did to convince him of that, the will is solid.”

I’m so disappointed; the deputy seems to notice. “You thought you had something on him?”

I swallow. “I can’t discuss that.”

“Well, I hope you do find something. Off the record, my gut tells me Liam is bad news.”

My dislike for Liam only grows. But even if my gut agrees with the deputy’s that’s not enough. “Well, thank you for your time. I appreciate it.”

“No problem. And if you find anything on Liam Cooper, let me know. I’ve got a couple guys out this way with impressionable daughters who’d be happy to see him leave.”

I don’t hide my laugh. “I’ll bet. And it’ll be my pleasure to involve you if I do find something.”

I end the call feeling even more frustrated at my lack of progress. Instead of giving up, I scroll down to look at Liam’s photo.

I check the contents of my depleted wine glass and frown as I see I placed it on the brochure of the ranch.

The stem is right on Liam’s face, magnifying the photo. I pull a face at him, then when something catches my eye, I shift the stem to look at him closer.

I squint, heart beating a little faster as I stare at the hand he had a scar on.

Pulse increasing, I rummage in my top drawer until I find my magnifying lens.

I grab my wine glass and nearly spill the remainder in my haste to examine his knuckles.

I squint so long, sure I’m seeing things, when I finally sit back, totally satisfied I just found something significant.

I scan the brochure, then check the website and when I find a print date and a slightly different photo, I know Liam is concealing something.

I check again and take a screenshot, then scan the brochure, so I can see them side by side.

I take another screenshot, circle the differences and zoom on them so I can save them.

The pose, the background, the smirk, are all identical. No one would notice the tiny differences unless they were looking.

Unluckily for Liam Cooper, details, even insignificant ones, are what I’m trained to find.

I scan the brochure for a photographer but don’t find one until I find a credit on the website.

I almost fall off my seat when I see who’s credited with the photograph.

Meg took the photos of Liam.

My stomach backflips as I pick up my phone and dial my assistant.

She answers with a groan. “I thought you were in Montana till Tuesday?”

I flinch. “I’m sorry, this will just take a minute. I need a warrant.”

Christine sighs. “You have probable cause? Reasonable grounds?”

I snort into her ear. “Do you really need to ask me that?”

“Fine. Email me everything and I’ll call to see which judge is on duty.”

I thank her and know I shouldn’t have too much trouble getting one. I don’t ask to access records without a lot of cause.

And now I have more than hearsay.

I have enough to go on to suspect Meg of conspiring with Liam to commit a crime.

The only problem is until I access the hospital records, the cell and internet provider, I’m not entirely sure what that crime is.