Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

The next morning, Beau sat at his desk in the small-town police station, nursing a cup of coffee that was as bitter as his mood. The events of the previous day were still fresh in his mind—especially his fiery encounter with Abbie Carter. He couldn’t quite decide if the tension between them was maddening or addictive. Maybe a little bit of both.

Leaning back in his chair, he stared at the case files scattered across his desk. The ones he was reacquainting with the alphabet. And he couldn’t get the fire at the Carter ranch out of his mind either. He had no proof but his instincts were telling him that fire wasn’t just an accident.

The way the fire spread so fast in one area. He wasn’t an expert in fire investigations. His expertise was more about drug trafficking, assaults and murder, but there were too many coincidences piling up. And then there was Sheriff McMasters’s previous reports from the Carter ranch. The cut fences, the misplaced tools, the strange behavior of some of the ranch’s workers—it all pointed to something deliberate. But for him, the real distraction wasn’t the case.

It was Mr. Carter’s granddaughter.

Every time he thought about her—storming up to him, jabbing a finger in his chest, her eyes blazing with anger—he couldn’t stop the corner of his mouth from tugging upward in a smirk. She was a handful, that was for sure. But, damn, if he didn’t like a challenge. And she was a challenge wrapped in sharp words, a take-charge attitude, and curves that could bring a man to his knees.

Beau shook his head, trying to shove the thoughts aside. He had a job to do, and mooning over this woman shouldn’t be part of it. Still, the memory of her stood out against the monotonous backdrop of his work like a splash of red in a gray-scaled world.

The sound of the station door opening snapped him out of his thoughts. Sheriff McMasters was out for the morning, so it was just Beau in the office to handle any emergencies that came alone. He looked up, hopeful expectations of another encounter with Abigail Carter again. Instead, in walked a man Beau hadn’t seen before. It took Beau two seconds to decide he wasn’t gonna like him either. “Can I help you?”

The guy had an air of self-importance, dressed in a tailored suit that screamed money and polished shoes that didn’t belong anywhere near the dusty streets of this town. His smile was smug, his posture confident in a way that set off all of Beau’s internal alarms.

“Detective Elliott, I presume,” the man said, stepping forward and extending a hand. Beau hesitated for a few seconds before he extended his hand to shake it.

“Yep. How can I help you?” Beau repeated.

“Ted Van Meter,” the man replied, his smile widening as if the name should mean something to Beau. “I understand you’re looking into the fire at the Carter ranch.”

Beau raised an eyebrow. “I’m not at liberty to confirm or deny that fact. What’s your interest in it, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Well,” Teddy said, sitting down uninvited and leaning back in the chair across from Beau’s desk, “None really. I mean I’ve known Mr. Carter since I was a kid, and Abbie and I used to be close, if you know what I mean.”

Beau’s jaw tightened at the implication between him and Abbie. Unless Abbie had changed a great deal since back then, that statement did not compute, but he kept his expression neutral. “That so?”

“Yep,” Teddy said, leaning forward slightly. “She was a firecracker even then. Always so determined, so passionate about everything she did.” He chuckled as if sharing some inside joke. “She’s a lot to handle, if you know what I mean.”

Beau didn’t respond, his instincts as a detective kicking into high gear. Something about this Van Meter guy rubbed him the wrong way. He wasn’t just reminiscing about an old flame with a stranger which was highly inappropriate to start with, he was posturing, trying to establish some kind of status. And Beau wasn’t buying it one bit.

“What brings you to town, Mr. Van Meter?” Beau asked, his tone clipped.

“Oh, just checking in on things,” Teddy said, waving a hand dismissively. “I’ve been talking to Mr. Carter about the ranch, actually. Made him a very generous offer. Above market value. Figured he’d appreciate the chance to offload some of the burden. I mean, let’s be honest, that ranch is a money pit and Mr. Carter isn’t exactly in his prime anymore.”

Beau’s eyes narrowed. “Why would you make an offer like that on a failing ranch, Mr. Van Meter? You don’t look like the rancher type.”

“No, I’m not a rancher. I’m a real estate broker,” Teddy said, his smile never wavering. “And a damn good one, if I do say so myself. I have a client who is interested in buying land and then reselling it for a profit. Land is always a great investment, but I doubt someone like you would know anything about that sort of thing.”

Again with the smug posturing.

“And exactly who is ‘someone like me’?”

“Oh, don’t get your drawers in a bunch, detective. I just meant anyone who lives in the big city where you come from wouldn’t know the value of a tract of land like Mr. Carter’s. That’s all I meant.”

“Ah, I see.” Beau let the conversation lag for a few moments before he asked Van Meter another question. “And did Mr. Carter accept your offer?” Beau wanted as much information from this guy as he could get.

“No, not yet. He’s always been independent. And stubborn. He hasn’t given me an answer yet, but with all the bad luck that has been happening at the ranch, it’s just a matter of time. I’m sure of it.”

Something about the way Teddy spoke, the way he seemed so confident, set Beau’s teeth on edge. It wasn’t what he was saying. It was what he wasn’t saying. His whole conversation sounded rehearsed and calculated.

“What’s your angle?” Beau asked bluntly, leaning forward and resting his forearms on the desk. “Nobody makes an offer above market value out of the goodness of their heart.”

Teddy’s smile faltered for just a moment, but he recovered quickly. “No angle, Detective. Just a very successful businessman trying to do right by an old friend.”

“Right,” Beau said, he didn’t bother to hide his tone dripping with skepticism. “And you are doing this out of the goodness of your heart?”

Teddy chuckled, standing up and straightening his jacket. “Like I said. I have clients who know a good investment when they see one. Believe what you want, Detective. I just thought I’d stop by and introduce myself. Let you know I’m around if you need anything.”

He gave Beau a pointed look. “I heard Abbie is back in town. Now would be as good a time as any to have another talk with Mr. Carter. Get Abbie’s input on the offer. She’s a smart girl and she knows a good thing when she sees one.”

The innuendo was crystal clear, but Beau didn’t take the bait. And he didn’t bother standing when Teddy walked out of the station, his polished shoes clicking against the floor. As soon as the door closed behind him, Beau exhaled, his mind racing. That guy was trouble. He didn’t know how yet, but his gut told him Teddy Van Meter hadn’t paid him a visit today for the reasons he claimed.

Pushing back his chair, Beau stood and grabbed his jacket. He wasn’t going to get any answers organizing files. Maybe he should pay a follow-up visit to Mr. Carter—and his granddaughter.

Yesterday’s encounter with that crazy firebrand left him unsettled. She had gotten under his skin, challenged him in ways no one else had. And as much as he hated to admit it, he liked it. He liked her fire, her stubbornness, her refusal to back down.

He also liked the way she looked at him, even when she was mad enough to spit nails. There was heat in her gaze, something raw and unspoken that pulled him toward her despite his better judgment.

Shaking his head, Beau climbed into his truck and headed toward the Carter ranch. He told himself it was about the case, about following up on leads and protecting the people involved. But deep down, he knew there was more to it. He wanted to see her. He wanted to feel that spark again, even if it was just for a moment.

When he pulled up to the ranch, he saw Abbie outside, her arms crossed as she spoke with her grandfather. She looked different in the morning light, her hair pulled back in a simple ponytail, her face free of the frustration that had marked it the day before. She looked... natural. Comfortable. Beautiful.

Beau stepped out of the truck, his boots crunching against the gravel. Abbie turned at the sound, her expression shifting from surprise to something he couldn’t quite read.

“Well, if it isn’t the professional,” she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. “What brings you back, Detective? I hope you’re not expecting pies because we are fresh out.”

Beau couldn’t help but grin. “Nah, gotta watch my figure. I wanted to stop by and check on things. Make sure everything’s still standing.”

“Just barely,” she shot back, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Why are you really here, Detective?”

He stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers. “I had a visit from someone who says he’s an old friend of yours. More than a friend actually. When’s the last time you spoke with Teddy Van Meter?”

Her expression hardened instantly. “He and I were never romantically involved. We dated a couple of times in high school, but it was very casual and usually amid school activities. Why? What did he say?”

“He paid me a visit this morning,” Beau said, his tone serious now. “I got some weird vibes from him like he’s up to something despite his assurances he’s just trying to help a friend.”

Her grandfather, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. “Why don’t you two come inside? We can talk over coffee.”

Beau cast a questioning glance at Abbie.

“Sure. I think we could all use a sit-down.” She led them inside and Beau followed her grandfather to the scarred and worn table by the kitchen window. “Grandpa, you and the detective sit and I’ll get us some coffee. And maybe even some pie.”

Beau saw the gleam of amusement in Abbie’s backward glance. He couldn’t wait for round two.