Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

Unease sloshed inside Tex as he and Chelsea headed outside toward his truck.

All these events were connected. They had to be. Now there were innocent victims to think about. Whoever was behind this needed to be held accountable.

“He knows something,” Chelsea murmured.

“I know. Far too many people are trying to keep this quiet, if you ask me. This should already have been stopped.”

“I have to wonder if these guys are being pressured to take these drugs.” She frowned as she said the words.

“We’re never going to get any answers from Gilbert—or that guy back there,” Tex said. “Steve, right?”

“Right. He and Gilbert are tight. And you know Gilbert. He’s the type who can get anything he wants.”

As they reached his truck, he paused and let out something close to a low growl.

“What is it?” Chelsea murmured beside him.

He pointed to his tires. “They’ve been slashed.” He circled his truck, checking out all the tires. “All four of them. Someone definitely wants to send us a message.”

Chelsea stared at Tex’s flat tires, her heart pounding harder. Was she really seeing this? But she knew she was.

“Oh, Tex. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” He fisted his hands at his side as he stared at the vehicle.

“Someone is taking this to the extreme, wouldn’t you say?”

“I’d most definitely say so—but more because of Mikey than over this.”

Chelsea couldn’t deny that statement. But something else bothered her also, though she tried to pinpoint what.

Then it hit her.

Steve. He’d just come into the hospital.

He would have been in the parking lot recently. Could he have done this?

And his voice . . . she couldn’t be sure, but he almost sounded like the man she’d overheard Gilbert speaking with. She’d assumed it was a young person—maybe even a high schooler. But Steve’s voice had a higher pitch to it, making him sound younger.

How had she not realized that before?

“Chelsea?”

She pulled herself from her thoughts and turned to Tex, who stared at her.

“What are you thinking?”

She hesitated only a minute before sharing her theory.

“You might be onto something,” Tex said. “Having a winning football team would look good for his career.”

“But what about Gilbert?”

“Look, I’m not his biggest fan. But what if he’s a victim in all this also?”

“It’s a possibility . . .” She glanced around. “What are we going to do now?”

Tex stared into the distance, clearly thinking things through. Finally, he said, “We could call for a ride. But your car is probably only parked about a mile from here, and it’s not terribly cold outside. How do you feel about walking?”

“I’m okay with that.”

With one more glance at the truck, they headed from the parking lot to the sidewalk leading from the hospital.

Chelsea stuffed her hands deep into her pockets as they walked. “I know this isn’t the way you envisioned your visit going. I’m so sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. And I really had no expectations of what was going to happen when I got here. I was mainly curious. I hadn’t talked to Gilbert in years, and I was surprised that he’d contacted me.”

“I can imagine.”

They walked a few more minutes in silence before Tex asked, “Say, where are your parents? I’m kind of surprised they haven’t popped up since I’ve been here.”

“Ever since my dad retired from the railroad, they’ve decided to live life to the fullest. They’re actually vacationing in the Mediterranean right now.”

Tex’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Really.”

“I’m surprised they left you behind at Christmas.”

Chelsea sighed, a weight pressing on her at the thought. “They invited me to come with them, but I thought they should do this trip by themselves. They deserve to pamper themselves some.”

“So you’re going to spend Christmas alone?” Surprise laced his voice.

Chelsea shrugged. “I’ll be okay. I thought about volunteering at the homeless shelter. And I have friends who’ve invited me over, but that feels intrusive since they’ll all have family visiting—although I know they’d welcome me with open arms.” She shrugged again. “I guess I’m just still trying to figure everything out.”

“That makes sense. But I’m sorry. I know how much you enjoy Christmas. And even though you’re being very understanding, I know this has to be difficult for you.”

“If spending Christmas alone is the most difficult thing I experience this year, then I’ll be okay.”

A smile tugged at his lips. “I’ve always liked that about you, you know.”

She stole a glance at him. “What’s that?”

“You’re always so positive and optimistic. You want to believe the best in people. I admire that. I really do.”

“I try to look for the best in situations. Honestly, it makes life so much better.”

“I can see that.”

They reached Main Street, and Chelsea subconsciously slowed her steps.

There was something about this town that was meant to be enjoyed and not rushed through. Which seemed crazy considering everything that was happening. But maybe she needed a moment to catch her breath.

“Listen, Gilbert insisted I have dinner with him tonight,” Tex stated. “And I do feel bad because he invited me for Christmas, and I’ve hardly seen him.”

“It makes sense that you’d want to eat with him.”

“Have dinner with us.”

She inwardly cringed—both because she wasn’t sure she’d be welcome by Gilbert and because Gilbert wasn’t her favorite person. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“I’ll be there with you. Believe me, I wouldn’t want to put you in a situation where your safety is compromised. But we’ve got to find out some answers. Maybe if you’re there, the two of us can ask the right questions.”

She considered it a moment before nodding. “Okay then. As long as you stick close to me.”

A flash of something swept through his gaze. It almost looked like satisfaction.

Chelsea reached for her keys and unlocked her car. That was when she noticed her hands were still trembling.

Tex seemed to notice at the same time she did and reached for her. “I can drive. I really don’t mind. You look like you’re still shaken up by everything.”

She hesitated only a moment before placing her keys in his hands. “Okay then. If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.”

He opened the door for her and waited for her to sit inside. Then he climbed behind the steering wheel, his body folding into the small car.

Chelsea had never seen someone look so out of place in her vehicle. But there was nothing about Tex’s personality that fit with her Volkswagen Beetle’s vibe.

He offered a little laugh as he adjusted the seat back as far as it would go and started the ignition. “Can’t say I’ve ever driven one of these before.”

“Maybe you should consider getting one of these as your next car. I think it fits you.”

He threw her a look. Then he eased away from the curb and started back toward Chelsea’s house.

But just as they reached the outskirts of town, Chelsea noticed his muscles tense and how he kept glancing in the rearview mirror.

“Tex?” She almost didn’t want to know.

“I hate to tell you this, Chelsea.” His jaw tightened. “But I think we’re being followed.”