Read Online Safe In His Arms (Manhunt) by Rita Herron - Free Book Online
Authors: Rita Herron
Ads: Link
stood back while Alex slowly entered the room. Joleen was sprawled on the wood floor, her eyes wide in death, her jaw slack.
Blood coated the front of her blouse, soaking her shirt and lap. She must have tried to stop the bleeding with her hands, because they were covered in blood, and more blood streaked the wall where it appeared she’d tried to drag herself up from the floor to call for help. The phone lay off the cradle, a busy signal echoing in the silence.
He inched closer, knelt and felt her arm. Cold. Stiff. Rigor was setting in.
But her murder didn’t make sense.
If Geoff had killed her, what was his motive? Joleen had posed no threat to him.
Had he held her hostage long enough to force her to tell him where Mia’s cabin was then shot her to keep her from warning Mia he was coming?
“I know Geoff is dangerous,” Mia said to Joy. “But I don’t understand why he’d shoot Joleen.”
Joy yanked more tissue from the box and wiped her eyes. “He must be a desperate man.”
Mia nodded. She’d seen the news, knew some guards had been murdered, but for some reason, had assumed the other men committed the murders.
When they’d been together, Geoff had only vented his rage against her.
Prison had obviously changed him.
Mia paced the living room. “When Alex returns, I’ll leave the Crossties.”
“No, you won’t. Besides, we don’t know for certain your ex did this,” Joy said, although her voice warbled.
“He was at my cabin,” Mia said. “He left me flowers and a note.” She refused to tell Joy about the underwear. It was too humiliating.
“I’ve heard about men stalking women,” Joy said. “I suppose I was lucky all those years ago to find Henry.”
“You were lucky and smar t,” Mia said, emphasizing the last word. “Geoff was my mistake. No one else should have to suffer for it.” Maybe she should go on TV, make a plea for Geoff to meet her. Trade her life so he wouldn’t hurt anyone else.
A siren wailed, and she looked out the window and saw the sheriff’s car and a crime van pulling up.
Joy pushed to her feet. “I’ll point them in the direction of the dining hall.”
“No.” Mia squeezed her shoulder. “Stay here and drink your tea. I’ll tell them where to go.”
Mia didn’t wait for an argument. She stepped onto the front porch and waited until the men approached.
“Sheriff Leonard, Ma’am.” He tipped his hat. ”Mr. McCauley called about a murder.”
“Yes,” Mia said. “He and Sgt. Townsend are at the dining hall.” She gestured toward the turn a few feet away. “The cook Joleen Perry was shot.” She inhaled a deep breath. “I think I know who did it.”
The sheriff squinted through the fading sun. “Who would that be, Ma’am?”
“My ex-husband Geoff Jones. He’s one of the escaped prisoners. He came here looking for me.”
Alex snapped photos of the crime scene with his cell phone. The gunshot wound, the way Joleen’s body was lying on the floor, her hand reaching out for help…
Help that hadn’t come in time.
There were no signs of a struggle though. Everything seemed neat and tidy as if the shooter had surprised her. The small suite was filled with kitty cat knick-knacks and Afghans she’d probably knitted herself. Pictures of three children along with a woman and man in their thirties sat on the kitchen counter.
A pang hit him. Her family would have to be called.
He walked around the body, then noticed a bullet casing beneath the table and snapped a photo of it. It looked like a slug from a .38.
The sound of an engine puttering echoed from outside, and he walked to the front to see the sheriff’s car and crime unit roll up. Some of Henry’s ranch hands had already arrived for dinner and their meeting, and Alex had asked Henry to keep the men outside and not to let anyone leave. He didn’t want the crime scene contaminated, and all the men on the ranch had to be questioned.
Alex needed
Blood coated the front of her blouse, soaking her shirt and lap. She must have tried to stop the bleeding with her hands, because they were covered in blood, and more blood streaked the wall where it appeared she’d tried to drag herself up from the floor to call for help. The phone lay off the cradle, a busy signal echoing in the silence.
He inched closer, knelt and felt her arm. Cold. Stiff. Rigor was setting in.
But her murder didn’t make sense.
If Geoff had killed her, what was his motive? Joleen had posed no threat to him.
Had he held her hostage long enough to force her to tell him where Mia’s cabin was then shot her to keep her from warning Mia he was coming?
“I know Geoff is dangerous,” Mia said to Joy. “But I don’t understand why he’d shoot Joleen.”
Joy yanked more tissue from the box and wiped her eyes. “He must be a desperate man.”
Mia nodded. She’d seen the news, knew some guards had been murdered, but for some reason, had assumed the other men committed the murders.
When they’d been together, Geoff had only vented his rage against her.
Prison had obviously changed him.
Mia paced the living room. “When Alex returns, I’ll leave the Crossties.”
“No, you won’t. Besides, we don’t know for certain your ex did this,” Joy said, although her voice warbled.
“He was at my cabin,” Mia said. “He left me flowers and a note.” She refused to tell Joy about the underwear. It was too humiliating.
“I’ve heard about men stalking women,” Joy said. “I suppose I was lucky all those years ago to find Henry.”
“You were lucky and smar t,” Mia said, emphasizing the last word. “Geoff was my mistake. No one else should have to suffer for it.” Maybe she should go on TV, make a plea for Geoff to meet her. Trade her life so he wouldn’t hurt anyone else.
A siren wailed, and she looked out the window and saw the sheriff’s car and a crime van pulling up.
Joy pushed to her feet. “I’ll point them in the direction of the dining hall.”
“No.” Mia squeezed her shoulder. “Stay here and drink your tea. I’ll tell them where to go.”
Mia didn’t wait for an argument. She stepped onto the front porch and waited until the men approached.
“Sheriff Leonard, Ma’am.” He tipped his hat. ”Mr. McCauley called about a murder.”
“Yes,” Mia said. “He and Sgt. Townsend are at the dining hall.” She gestured toward the turn a few feet away. “The cook Joleen Perry was shot.” She inhaled a deep breath. “I think I know who did it.”
The sheriff squinted through the fading sun. “Who would that be, Ma’am?”
“My ex-husband Geoff Jones. He’s one of the escaped prisoners. He came here looking for me.”
Alex snapped photos of the crime scene with his cell phone. The gunshot wound, the way Joleen’s body was lying on the floor, her hand reaching out for help…
Help that hadn’t come in time.
There were no signs of a struggle though. Everything seemed neat and tidy as if the shooter had surprised her. The small suite was filled with kitty cat knick-knacks and Afghans she’d probably knitted herself. Pictures of three children along with a woman and man in their thirties sat on the kitchen counter.
A pang hit him. Her family would have to be called.
He walked around the body, then noticed a bullet casing beneath the table and snapped a photo of it. It looked like a slug from a .38.
The sound of an engine puttering echoed from outside, and he walked to the front to see the sheriff’s car and crime unit roll up. Some of Henry’s ranch hands had already arrived for dinner and their meeting, and Alex had asked Henry to keep the men outside and not to let anyone leave. He didn’t want the crime scene contaminated, and all the men on the ranch had to be questioned.
Alex needed
Similar Books
