Chapter Eight

Mick entered his office just as his cellphone buzzed. He removed it from his lab coat pocket to see Craig's number. Mick sighed. What now, he wondered as he strode around his desk, took a seat, and answered.

"Could you for once, have good news?" he growled.

"I found her."

Mick sat up. "Where?"

"She's living in Clifton, Montana. She has an apartment and… a man."

Mick grit his teeth. "A man? Who is he?"

"I don't know yet, but I will. I just saw him come out of some rinky dink diner and I'm following him."

"Shit. Just someone else to have to contend with. Where is Bryce now?"

"She lives in the apartment above the diner. She's there now."

"Don't go there yet. Find out who the man is. Call me back."

"Alright."

Mick hung up and tossed the phone onto his desk. "Doesn't matter if you have a man or not, Bryce. He can't protect you."

As he sat at the desk, his phone buzzed again, and he saw Craig's number again.

"What?"

"He just went into an office building. He took the elevator and stopped on the third floor."

"Find out what's up there."

"Alright. I wanted to make sure first."

"You find out all you can about him first."

"Yes, sir." Craig hung up.

****

Luke strode into his office and took a seat at his desk. He turned on his computer and began searching for information on the trailer tracks. Unexpectedly, Creed plopped down in the chair across from him and handed over a folder.

"What's this?" Luke asked as he flipped through the documents.

"It's info on Frederick Hancock, Jr. He's in too deep to get out."

"In too deep with what?"

"Gambling debts. He's buried in them."

"I see." Luke skimmed through the papers and let out a low whistle. "Damn. Looks like he owes a lot of money."

"Yep. I think he might have something to do with the missing Shires. Figure if he had them stolen, he could sell them off to pay his debts. Horses like those can fetch a pretty penny. You know as well as I do, that one can be worth up to twenty thousand dollars, and there were fifteen taken." Creed shook his head.

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Hancock also has cancer. I don't know how severe it is, but if his son knows about it..."

Creed straightened up in his chair. "You'd think his son would know, but with all that debt, he couldn't wait for an inheritance." He shrugged. "My guess is that he had the horses stolen so he could sell them."

"I agree." Luke examined one of the papers again. "I think I'll take a trip to Whitefish and have a chat with Frederick Hancock, Jr."

Creed stood up. "He also has an ex-wife, who might have something to say about the man. Her number is in the file, but you better touch base with Dave first though. We're not expecting any snow, but you know how quickly things can change."

"I'll do that now." Luke headed toward Dave's office and knocked on the door. Dave motioned for him to come in, and Luke explained the situation regarding the Hancock case. A few minutes later, Luke returned to his desk and arranged for a trip to Whitefish. He knew he'd have to inform Bryce later, but for now, he wanted to speak with Mr. Hancock.

As he left his office and walked toward the elevator, he entered Maggie Hancock's number into his phone. He wanted to speak to her as soon as he could. He pushed the button for the elevator, and waited for it to arrive. Once the doors opened, he stepped inside and nodded at the man already in there before leaning against the wall folding his arms.

"Is this where the police station is?" the man asked him as he nodded at Luke's holstered gun.

"No, sir. This is the livestock agency. The police department is a few blocks down Main Street, out the front doors, to the left, and the sheriff's office is in the courthouse on the square. You can easily walk to either."

"Oh, thanks. I'll do that. It's a nice day other than being cold. I got turned around somewhere."

Luke nodded. "No problem."

When the doors opened, the man stepped at, and Luke followed behind him. Once outside, the man headed in the opposite direction of what Luke had told him. He frowned as he watched him. Something didn't sit right with him and when the man looked back over his shoulder, Luke was sure his gut was right, but he also knew the man could have changed his mind about walking and was heading for his car. Luke shrugged. Right now, it wasn't a priority. Mr. Hancock was. Luke tried calling Maggie Hancock but had to leave a message, and he hoped she'd return his call.

He pulled his car up next to the porch and got out. Crossing the porch, he knocked on the door. Mr. Hancock greeted him with a warm smile, prompting Luke to remove his hat.

"Hello, Agent McCallister," he said. "Come in, son."

"Thank you, sir." Luke wiped his feet on the welcome mat before entering the warm house.

"Would you like some coffee?"

"If it's not too much trouble."

"Not at all." Mr. Hancock moved around the kitchen, filling a mug with hot coffee and setting it down on the table. "Have a seat."

Luke pulled out a chair from the table and sat down, keeping an eye on Mr. Hancock as he moved about. Once they were both seated, Luke spoke up again.

"I don't have any updates on the missing horses yet, but Mr. Hancock—"

"Please, call me Fred."

"Alright, Fred. You mentioned your son before. Where is he now?" Though Luke already knew the answer, he didn't want to reveal that he had been checking up on Mr. Hancock's family.

"He's in Whitefish, last I heard. Why do you ask?"

"Well..." Luke hesitated before continuing. "I have reason to believe that he may have been involved in the theft of your horses."

"No." Mr. Hancock shook his head in disbelief.

"I understand you don't want to believe it, sir," Luke said sympathetically, "but your son has accumulated a lot of debt."

"What kind of debt?"

"Gambling." Luke saw the older man's expression shift from disbelief to disappointment.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "I knew he hadn't quit like he claimed. Last time I gave him money..."

"You gave him money?"

"Yes," Mr. Hancock admitted with a sigh. "Not just once either. But that last time, he borrowed thirty thousand dollars from me. I knew I'd never see it again, but he's my son and I wanted to help him."

"I understand," Luke said with a nod. "Does your son know about your cancer?"

"How did you...?" Mr. Hancock trailed off, then said, "Rafe."

"Yes, he mentioned it when I spoke to him about your son."

The elderly man chuckled. "My son and Rafe don't get along at all. They've always butted heads."

"Rafe seems like a good man."

"He's one of the finest men I know. I took him in when he was seventeen. His father was a real son of a bitch. Rafe is like a son to me, more than my own flesh and blood."

"It's clear that he cares about you," Luke remarked.

"I know. And I'll make sure to do right by him."

"Do you mind if I ask what type of cancer you have?"

"Testicular. I haven't told Rafe yet but I'm going to have surgery. Once they remove one testicle, I'll have a five-year survival rate." The older man chuckled. "Hell, at my age, I'll take it. And to answer your question, no, my son doesn't know about it."

"Why is that?"

"Because he'd be hovering around, waiting for me to die so he can sell this place. So, he thinks." Mr. Hancock winked.

Luke chuckled. "When is the surgery?"

"In two weeks. I will have to tell Rafe because he'll have to take me to the hospital."

"I'm sure he won't mind."

"Hell, no he won't. That boy does whatever I ask of him."

"It's good you have him then."

"I agree. I have five ranch hands, and I trust all of them. When I leave this world, they'll be taken care of."

"Maybe you should leave your ranch to Rafe." Luke grinned.

"He told me he didn't want it."

"That was his emotions talking."

Mr. Hancock leaned closer and spoke conspiratorially. "I know and between you and me, I am leaving the ranch to him. He can be pissed all he wants after I'm gone."

Luke couldn't help but laugh as he stood up from his chair. "I think that's a great idea. The reason for my visit today is to let you know that I'm heading to Whitefish to speak with your son. And if it turns out that he had anything to do with the horses' disappearance, I will arrest him."

"Son, you do what you have to. It will be a huge disappointment to me, but you do the crime, you do the time. Good luck." He put his hand out and Luke shook it.

"Thank you. I'll be in touch."

Luke walked out the door, closing it behind him. He made himself a promise. Once this case was solved, he was going to keep in touch with Fred Hancock.

****

Bryce stood at the window, a content smile on her face as she observed the hustle and bustle of people outside. Despite the cold weather, the sun shone brightly, providing some warmth. She nervously nibbled on her thumbnail, wondering when she would hear back from the hospital about her job interview. Although she was confident it had gone well, there was always a bit of uncertainty.

A noise interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to see Leah in her bouncy seat on the floor. "You can't possibly be hungry already, little one. Did you make a mess?" Bryce made her way over to Leah and wrinkled her nose at the smell. "Oh boy, that's quite a mess you made." She chuckled when Leah smiled up at her.

"One of these days I'll make Luke change you when you're this messy." Bryce knew it was wishful thinking though; Luke would never be able to handle changing a really dirty diaper. "Big, strong man until it comes to diapers," she joked.

She picked up Leah and carried her to the bedroom to change her and put on clean pajamas. As she settled Leah back into the bouncy seat, she realized that in two weeks, Leah would already be three months old. "I can't believe how fast you're growing," Bryce exclaimed with a grin as Leah smiled back at her. She placed her back in the seat, and Leah reached for the little stuffed teddy bears on the mobile hanging above it.

Just as she was about to sit down on the sofa, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from the hospital. Her heart raced as she answered, hoping it was good news.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Spencer? This is Rita Cage calling. We would like to offer you the job at Clifton Memorial."

Bryce widened her eyes in delight. "Thank you so much! I was worried I didn't do well in the interview."

Mrs. Cage let out a laugh. "On the contrary, you were wonderful. I apologize for not calling sooner, but we are also hiring three nurses, so I had some other calls to make. Can you start next Monday?"

"Yes, absolutely, Mrs. Cage. I would love to."

"Great! Call me Rita by the way. I believe I told you during the interview, but your shift will be from seven in the morning to three-thirty in the afternoon with a half hour lunch break."

"Yes, you did mention it. I'll be there."

"I thought so, but things have been hectic here. Just arrive at my office at six thirty on Monday and we'll get you started. Also, our daycare is open twenty-four seven, and I've already informed them that your daughter will be attending. You'll need to bring a copy of her immunizations. Do you have any questions?"

"Not at the moment, but I'm sure I'll think of some after we hang up." Bryce couldn't contain her excitement as she spoke.

Rita chuckled. "I look forward to having you join our team. Welcome to Clifton Memorial."

Bryce hung up and let out a yell of joy, startling Leah who looked up at her with curiosity but then smiled when she saw her mama's happy face. "Mama got the job, baby! I'm so happy!" Bryce picked up her phone again to call Luke.

"Hey sweetheart," he answered.

"I got the job, Luke!" Bryce exclaimed excitedly.

"Oh baby, that's fantastic news. I'm happy for you. We should celebrate."

"I agree," Bryce replied with a grin.

"How about we go out to the Hartland on Saturday night?" Luke suggested.

"Connie mentioned that place to me before. I'd love to go. Now all I need is a babysitter."

"Call my mom," Luke said without hesitation.

Bryce hesitated though; she didn't want to keep relying on Luke's mom for babysitting. "I can't keep asking her all the time."

"Okay, I'll ask this time. I was actually going to call you about something else too. I'm leaving for Whitefish in the morning to check on someone."

"Where's Whitefish?"

"Close to Kalispell. I should be back Thursday."

"Okay, I'll miss you."

"Not as much as I'll miss you."

"Don't argue with me, you'll lose." She smiled.

Luke chuckled. "I don't doubt that for a second. I'll call you tonight."

"Can't wait. I love you."

"I love you back, darlin'. Tell Leah I love her too." He hung up.

Bryce moved to the floor and sat in front of Leah. "I love Luke as much as you do."

She carefully lifted her out of the seat and placed her on her belly and grinned when Leah raised her head and kicked her legs out behind her. Leah could also raise up on her arms.

"Mama's so proud of you." Leah turned her head to look at her. "You're such a precious little girl. Luke loves you too. I bet you miss hearing him, don't you? It's been three days since we've seen him, and I know I miss him."

Bryce smiled. She was so happy that she went into labor in Clifton.

****

Mick's phone rang, jolting him from his thoughts. He answered with a tense breath, knowing it could be bad news.

"Well?" he barked into the receiver.

"I ran into him," Craig's voice came through the line. "He's a livestock agent."

"Shit," Mick muttered, running a hand through his hair. This was not good.

"He can't do anything to us," Craig reassured him.

"He's still law enforcement and probably carries a gun," Mick pointed out, his mind racing with potential consequences.

"Yeah, he does. I saw it. And he's a big dude. Over six feet," Craig reported.

Mick cursed under his breath. They were going to have to deal with this guy first before they could even think about getting to Bryce.

"Good job, Craig. Call or text me if you find out anything else," Mick instructed before hanging up. With a heavy sigh, he picked up his phone again and dialed his wife's number.

"We know where she is," he informed Sally when she answered.

"Go get her," Sally demanded, her impatience seeping through the phone.

"We will," Mick promised, but then hesitated before adding, "There's just one small issue... she's involved with a man."

Sally's response was immediate and harsh. "So? Does that make you jealous?"

Mick gripped his phone tightly, fighting back anger at her accusation. "No," he growled through gritted teeth. "I just meant it will be more difficult to get to her now."

"You'd better figure it out, Mick. You know what will happen if you don't," Sally warned before abruptly ending the call.

Mick let out a frustrated sigh and set down his phone only to pick it back up and fling it across the room in a fit of anger. This whole situation was becoming more complicated and dangerous by the minute. One thing he knew for sure'; Bryce and the kid were within his reach.

****

The following morning, Luke made the three-hour drive to Whitefish. He planned to arrive before noon. Upon researching, he found that Frederick Hancock owned a car dealership, but he had a habit of squandering his fortune on gambling.

Around eleven, he pulled into a fast-food joint and headed inside. Since he had skipped breakfast to get on the road early, he was now famished. After placing his order, he made a quick stop at the restroom before picking up his food.

Once he collected his order, he returned to his truck and ate his meal while keeping an eye on the dealership across the road. Luke couldn't wait to have a chat with this man whom he didn't even know but already disliked due to how he had treated his father, who was a damn good man in Luke's eyes.

When he finished eating, Luke disposed of his trash in the bag it came in and drove across the road toward the dealership. Parking near the building, he smirked as a young man approached him.

"Hello there. Are you in need of a new vehicle?"

"Nope. I'm here for Frederick Hancock."

"Oh, he's in his office to the right of the service desk. Just check in with his receptionist first."

"Thanks." Luke opened one of the glass doors.

"Are you sure you don't want to take a look at our vehicles?"

"I'm positive, but thanks for asking." Luke nodded and headed toward the door to Hancock's office located next to the service counter. A woman sat behind a desk next to a door with a nameplate reading "Frederick Hancock."

"Can I help you?" She smiled at him with more than just friendly vibes.

"I'm Agent Luke McCallister from the Montana Department of Livestock in Clifton. I need to speak with Mr. Hancock." He placed his hand on his hip, next to his holstered weapon. Her eyes widened.

"Um, I'll have to check if he's available."

"Go ahead, but just know that I'm going in either way."

"Just give me a minute."

"Sure thing, ma'am." Luke leaned against the wall as she went inside. She returned in less than a minute.

"I apologize, but he is currently on an important call, and it could take a while."

"I'll wait in his office." Luke pushed off from the wall and walked past her, opening the door and entering the office. As the receptionist had mentioned, Hancock was indeed on the phone, but it wouldn't be for much longer.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hancock. He barged in before I could stop him."

"I'll deal with him once this call is finished," Hancock snapped dismissively, waving the receptionist out of the room.

Luke's voice was firm and commanding as he spoke. "You're done now. Hang it up or I will," he said to Hancock, who let out a resigned sigh.

With a heavy hand, Hancock set the receiver down in the cradle, giving Luke a scowl that only made him bite back a grin.

Hancock muttered under his breath before turning his attention fully toward Luke. "What can I do for you?" His tone was curt and guarded.

Luke introduced himself and took a seat, studying Hancock with an intense gaze. "You can tell me where the horses are."

Hancock reclined in his chair, crossing his arms over his round belly. "What horses would that be?"

"Your father's fifteen Shires that you stole to pay off your gambling debts," Luke replied, confident in his accusation. He could see the guilt flash across Hancock's face, but it was quickly replaced by a poker-faced expression.

"Bullshit," Hancock spat. "I don't know anything about it."

Luke stood abruptly, walking toward the window to stare out at the view. "I don't believe you," he said calmly, turning around to face Hancock once again. "You're so far in debt due to gambling that you'll never get out."

Hancock scoffed and waved a dismissive hand. "Once I inherit the ranch, I'm going to sell that place."

Luke couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of that statement. "You keep telling yourself that."

"What the hell does that even mean?" Hancock demanded.

Shaking his head, Luke resumed his seat and leaned forward. "It will go easier for you if you cooperate with me."

"I told you; I don't know anything. Now get the hell out of my office!" Hancock shouted, his face turning a deep shade of red.

"Your face gets really red when you're angry. Anyone ever tell you that?" Luke taunted.

"Fuck you," Hancock snapped back.

Luke straightened up and met Hancock's gaze head-on. "You'd better hope those horses are still in good health. I will take you down for this."

"You have nothing on me." Hancock sneered.

"I wouldn't say that if I were you," Luke replied, his tone serious. "I've been an agent for twenty years. I know when someone's lying." With that, Luke turned and walked out of the office, giving a subtle nod to the receptionist as he passed by and made his way to his truck.

As he drove away, Luke knew without a doubt that Frederick Hancock, Jr. was involved with the stolen horses. Now he just had to gather enough evidence to prove it.

Luke drove back to Clifton the following day. He needed to investigate Hancock's friends, ex-wife, and associates. Luke's gut rarely steered him wrong.

"What kind of son does that to his father?" Luke muttered.

He realized he hadn't made a reservation for Saturday. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he called the restaurant, but couldn't get them in until six-thirty, then he called Bryce to her know.

"Is that alright?" he asked her.

"It's fine. I'm glad we were able to get in at all. I'm excited to go."

"Me too. Okay, sweetheart, I'll pick you up around six. Dress sexy," he said, grinning.

"Oh, I will. Don't you worry about that, cowboy. See you then."

Luke grinned as placed his phone inside the cup holder on the console, and drove home.