Chapter 34

34

Wayne knew the Talley girl had seen him. He bit back a curse. She was a quiet girl, but she didn't miss much. She was always watching. Watching everyone. He'd seen that for himself at the inn. He'd tried to keep himself as hidden as possible on the plane, but he hadn't wanted to look too reclusive. He'd already gotten a few suspicious looks from the stewards on the plane, as it was.

He probably shouldn't have followed the two girls to the hospital. But he had been insanely curious about why the two had been buying tickets for such an early morning flight. One of them, the shorter girl, had looked practically sick with worry.

She was the one who was going to be a problem, he suspected. She was too well-connected to what was going on in both Wyoming and Texas. He had heard she worked for the Texas State Police, as well. She might have information at her fingertips that certain people—the ones signing his paycheck, so to speak—would most likely not want getting out.

He knew her, of course. She had grown up with his girls, just like her little cousin had.

He stepped back, out of the girl's line of sight, as her boyfriend—that big sonofabitch Barratt—wrapped her up close. They looked pretty together. Young.

They just looked so damned young.

They'd probably marry soon, have a few kids. Build a life up there in Masterson. Boy had enough money that his girl wouldn't want for anything. She'd be taken care of. No doubt about that.

Wayne could imagine the romance of it for a few moments.

If the boy lived long enough, that was. Wayne wasn't stupid. Dale Fisher was up to something. And this boy had a prime target on his back.

He took a left, heading toward the cafeteria. He needed to put some space between him and the girl that could identify him.

He didn't think she would. She tended to stay out of people's business, he'd noticed. Just polite courtesy to the inn's variety of guests. Then she'd retreat back to her kitchen or her room. He wasn't anticipating her being much of a problem.

Wayne slipped down to the hospital cafeteria. He had one goal in Finley Creek—located a man by the name of Timothy Grundenman. Just locate him.

And go from there.

Do whatever it took.