Attracted to Fire (40 page)

Could Chip have any insight to what might have happened? Always questions. What did this new development mean for Lindsay and the president?

Ash powered off his computer. He needed to talk to Chip. On his way outside, he reached inside the fridge for a Diet Coke. Pepper was nowhere in sight. Normally, this time of day she was busy in the kitchen.

Chip had a horse on a lead rope, urging it around the corral. Lindsay watched from the fence, and Meghan stood beside her. Ash wasn't so sure Meghan should be in the heat with her recent concussion, but she was a stubborn woman. She'd have to faint before giving in to resting. Bob watched from the shade, a smart man.

Ash joined Meghan. “How's my girl?” he whispered.

“I'm fine.” Lindsay laughed. “Excuse me. You were referring to me, right? Is this a nomination for my Oscar performance last night?”

Ash tossed her a grin. “Was there any doubt?” The change in his protectee demonstrated the power of prayer and determination. He hadn't given up on her approaching the president with the truth about Burnette.

Ash also saw what was developing between Lindsay and Chip. Not sure if a relationship between the two would work. Chip had the strength, and Lindsay looked to him as a sort of father figure. Not exactly a textbook perfect match but not necessarily a bad one either. Then again, her maturity level had taken a big boost.

“I'm assuming you want to talk to me. Why else would you endure this heat?” Meghan still looked pale. She probably had a headache, to which she'd never admit. They were so much alike.

“Honestly, I need to talk to the main man in the center of the ring.”

“This must be important.” Meghan leaned against the fence. “Your eyebrows are giving you away.”

He wanted to kiss her. “This won't take long. Hey, Chip. Can I see you for a few minutes?” The man released the lead rope and walked with Ash beyond the stables.

“More questions?”

Trusting Chip with the truth reminded Ash of the need to bring the ranch's secrets to light. “You know me pretty well. This is about your dad.”

“The rest of the autopsy report?”

“Just got it. The findings aren't good, Chip. He was poisoned—oleander.”

Chip's face flushed red. “My dad was murdered. I can't believe it. Who would dislike him enough to kill him? Unless . . .”

“What are you thinking? Because I have my own idea of who might have wanted him dead.”

“I bet he learned more about who shot Wade, which means the person who killed him had to be an agent or a friend.” Chip paused. “Before I accuse anyone, I want to hear your thoughts.”

“Other than you, who did he trust on this ranch?”

“Pepper.” He spat the word. The suspicion that had kept Ash awake at night had surfaced as truth. “She often brought him a glass of iced sweet tea in the evenings. Dad claimed no one could make it like she did. She could have boiled a few flower petals and added it to his tea.” He punched his fist into his hand. “No one else could have done it. Dad ate our food, and one of us cooked it.” He studied Ash's face. “If you don't have her arrested, I'll have to question her myself.”

“I'm going to talk to her now. Get some answers. Get her off the ranch and into custody.”

“Fat chance of that. She left about eight thirty.”

Fury raced through him. Had Burnette tipped her off about the autopsy? “Any idea where she was going?”

“No. Only that she took Burnette's truck. Headed east.”

The cameras at the front gate would have captured the footage, but she still had over two hours on them. Ash whipped out his phone and pressed in the county sheriff's number. “We have a murder suspect who left the ranch at approximately 0830 this morning, driving east. She's driving a black 250 Ford truck. Name is Pepper Davis. I'll call back in a few minutes with the license plate number.” He snapped it shut and studied the anguish on Chip's face. “She won't get far.”

“I thought her husband was a Secret Service agent.”

“Yes; he retired and had a heart attack.”

“How convenient.”

Ash hadn't considered that aspect.

“Wait a minute.” The force of Chip's tone demanded Ash's attention. “Who is she taking orders from?”

“We don't know. Look, I need to make a call to DC.”

Chip waved a finger in front of Ash's face. “Not so fast. I've lost a friend and a father in this chaos. And I think I've put it together. The reason Wade's killer wasn't found and the reason my dad's dead is because the one calling the shots is a high-profile figure.”

“Chip.”

“Sorry, bud. I'm not a stupid redneck.”

“I can't give you classified information.” Ash needed to call Warrington and update him.

“Does Lindsay know? I bet she can make a few good guesses.”

“I would like for—”

“Forget it. I'm finding the answers.”

“You'll upset her.”

“She's stronger than you give her credit for.” He pressed his lips hard. “I bet it's Burnette. Lindsay hates him. Pepper and Dad swore by him.”

“And you?”

“I thought he was manipulative.”

“Chip, I'm asking you not to say anything to Lindsay about the autopsy report or anything we've just discussed. It could hinder her mental health.”

Chip hesitated. “For how long?”

“Until we're able to talk to Pepper and evaluate what she says. Even then, Dave may need to talk to Lindsay first. She's been my protectee for over four years. I've got a stake in this too.”

Chip drew in a deep breath, the range of anger and grief evident on his face. “All right. I need to wrap my brain around some of this and figure out why the VP of the United States—or anyone—would want Wade and Dad dead and what that has to do with Lindsay.”

Ash nodded and left the stables. As soon as he'd walked beyond earshot, he had Warrington on the line and explained Pepper's disappearance.

“I'll add more firepower to the search,” Warrington said. “If she's behind the crimes there, then we've got a start in drawing this to a close.”

“You and I know this isn't about drugs.” Ash realized he might be stepping off a cliff.

“But that's all we have been able to figure out so far.”

“I imagine the VP will be upset about his cook potentially poisoning his number one man.” A swirling hole of fury raced through him.

“Doesn't look good. Keep in touch. I want to know the moment she's found. I have a few questions of my own.”

If the media got hold of the autopsy report, they would splatter it from sea to shining sea. The repercussion against the president and the party could be devastating. Ash was certain the VP had no concerns about his own reputation. Even with Pepper a prime suspect in the ranch killings, Burnette still held the winning hand. For that matter, Pepper probably wouldn't live through the day. That meant Victor, Bob, or Dave could take her place and would continue with Burnette's plans.

“To think I liked the woman.” Meghan wanted to go after Pepper with her rifle and SIG.

Ash's jaw tensed. “Looks like she cooked more than three meals a day.”

Answers crept into her many questions. “Do you realize she could have cut Lindsay's girth that day? I remember seeing her in the garden earlier. Worse yet, she could have poisoned all of us.”

“Calm down. We're another step closer to bringing Burnette to justice.”

Meghan concentrated on those techniques that shoved away emotion and centered on logic and reasoning. “Do you still think Warrington might be involved?”

“No clue. I tried to bait him, but he didn't bite.”

“Is Dave telling Lindsay now?”

“He's waiting for you. She leans on you as much as she does Dave and Carla.”

Meghan moistened her lips. “I'm on my way. I'd like to think this might be the incident that pushes Lindsay into calling the president. Ash, let's be real. Pepper will be dead before lunch. Burnette won't risk her trying to cut a deal.”

Meghan wished she could see and hear the responses from the other agents when they learned about Pepper. More could be involved, and she was a fool if she chose to believe otherwise. She walked back to relieve Bob. The house was bugged but hopefully not the front porch. She prayed Lindsay would be able to keep her mind clear . . . and not fall apart. Or perhaps faking a breakdown might ease Burnette's mind that his plan was intact.

Dave, Carla, and Lindsay sat waiting for her. Dave's eyes revealed his concern and rightfully so. Lindsay's strength was about to be tested one more time.

Lindsay trembled. “Meghan, what's going on? It has to be serious for all of you to be here.”

“Just something you need to know.”

Lindsay's gaze darted from Meghan to Dave. “Is my dad okay?”

“Yes.” Meghan eased beside her on the porch swing.

Lindsay grasped her hands. “I'm ready. Dave, I don't mean any disrespect, but please let Meghan tell me what's going on.”

“No problem.” He touched her knee. “You can handle this.”

Meghan took her hand. “Ash received Ethan's autopsy report this morning. It shows our friend was poisoned by the plant he warned us all about.”

“Oleander,” Lindsay whispered.

“Yes.”

“Who did it?”

“We're not sure.”

Lindsay gripped Meghan's hand. “Ethan and Chip ate their own food.” She gasped. “Oh no. Pepper brought him iced tea every night.” She stood. “Where is she?”

“She left this morning. The authorities are looking for her.”

Chapter 71

Ash stared out into the dark night, watching, listening, and always wondering if tonight Burnette planned to eliminate Lindsay. The day had been worse than stressful. Adrenaline had poured into every breath the moment he received the autopsy report indicating Ethan's cause of death. Pepper. How had he not seen through her deceit? Ash Zinders, A2Z, accuracy of 85 percent in detecting lies. Pepper had played a good game. For that matter, she'd even threatened to poison him.

In two more hours, when his shift ended, he'd check his e-mail again to see if Pepper had been found. But his gut feeling said she was either out of the country or dead. At 2330, his phone rang. Warrington.

“Found Pepper Davis east of Austin.”

Ash's throat ran dry. “Did you get a confession?”

“She had a bullet in her head. Her car had been set on fire, but we got to it before it exploded.”

Execution style. “What happens now?”

“I'm scheduled to talk to the president in the morning.”

“Are we moving Lindsay?”

“That's up to the president. The VP still believes she's safest there. He claims his cook must have been working alone in some vendetta against Ethan Leonard, and that's why she left.”

Ash attempted to push aside his anger, but the stupidity ringing through his ears shoved aside respect for his boss. “Is all of DC deaf and blind to what's happening here? I have three murders, and you think Lindsay is safest here?”

“Ash, you aren't stating anything I haven't voiced to the president. I'll—”

“Don't give me the ‘I'll call you later' line. Lindsay may have had her moments that drove us all nuts, but someone is trying hard to kill her and those closest to her. You and I know it's someone connected to this ranch.”

“I can't give the order to move her.”

“I'm ready to move her on my own.”

“Then what happens when you're followed and she ends up dead?”

Warrington had hit him in the face with the truth. “What would you do?”

“Don't trust anyone but Agent Connors. I'll get back to you as quickly as I can. Hold on. This is the president now.”

Ash waited. However, patience had long since left his data bank. He prayed the president thought through what was happening at the Dancin' Dust and the futility of trusting Scottard Burnette.

“Ash, the president is talking to the First Lady and the vice president in the morning.”

Ash wanted to throw his cell phone. If he knew of a safe place to hide Lindsay until this was over, he'd already be there.

When Rick took over Ash's shift, he saw no other way than to enlist Chip's help. And he needed that help tonight. Ash knocked on his door. He heard the TV blaring.

“Chip, got a minute? I'd like to talk to you.”

Chip opened the door, and he motioned Ash inside. “How many times have we had these conversations?”

“Too many.” Ash stepped inside and seated himself in front of the TV. When Chip reached to turn it off, Ash stopped him. “I don't want anyone overhearing our conversation.”

“What do you need this time? I've opened a tack box, let you borrow my Mustang, answered vague questions in which you leave out pertinent information. And before that, I was accused of murder.” He lifted a brow, indicating a hint of anger. “What's left, my blood?”