Page 13 of Lawman’s Witness

She took the time to learn what she could about Christine Marshall online. From what she could gather, the woman had married beneath her. Jack didn’t have the pedigree that his wife did. Nor did he have old wealth. But he had the looks and the drive. He’d been a star quarterback in high school and had gotten a scholarship to Montana State University in Bozeman. He’d made a name for himself in the state and after working at a small car dealership in Wyoming, he’d come back and taken over a struggling dealership.

He started the television advertising, using his good looks and charm to become a name and face people recognized. About that time, he met Christine. It wasn’t clear if she put money into the dealership to build it up to what it was today. But the two of them became the most photographed couple in the city as they rose to the top of society.

From the outside, it was the American dream. Amy Sue could almost buy into this picture-perfect couple and probably would have if she hadn’t seen Jack Marshall kill a woman.

Pocketing her phone, she thought of that moment when Christine had looked up, their gazes locking. What she saw was curiosity, then concern, before Amy Sue looked away. Now both Marshalls could recognize her. She wasn’t sure she’d helped her cause today.

Not that it was going to stop her. She thought of Jack Marshall coming to her ranch, spying on her, threatening her. As she started her SUV and pulled away from the salon, she drove toward the car dealership.

It was time to take this to the lion’s den.

Jack had come to her ranch to scare her off. The least she could do was let him know she didn’t scare that easily. Even as she thought it, though, her heart began to pound.

Detective Russell Tate stepped out of the abnormally hot June day into the car showroom, removing his Stetson as he did. He was greeted by a much-appreciated air-conditioned blast of chilled air. He stopped for a moment to breathe it in. The showroom sparkled from the glare of new car chrome. Past a hulking new black SUV, he spotted Jack Marshall’s glass-enclosed office and headed for it.

Marshall looked up and frowned, not even bothering to hide how annoyed he was to see him.

Russ stuck his head in the open doorway. “Just need to ask you a couple of questions.”

The car dealer shook his head with a curse. “What now?” he demanded, sounding more than a little irritated.

Stepping into the office, Russ took a chair in front of the man’s desk even though he hadn’t been offered one. He balanced his Stetson on his knee for a moment before pulling out his phone. “This is on the record, so I’ll be recording it,” he said as he hit Record. Before Marshall could object, he said, “Have you ever been out to the Brand ranch?”

“Of course not.”

“Then you didn’t go out there yesterday?”

“Didn’t I just say that?” Marshall snapped.

“Amy Sue Brand not only saw you coming out of ranch property, but she followed your tracks and found a spot where you had gotten out of your vehicle to walk to where you had a view of her house and her through the windows.”

“You can’t be serious. What is it with this woman? Why would I do that?”

“That’s what I want to know, since when she passed you on the road as your vehicle came out of a ranch road, she said you made sure she saw you. She said you pointed your finger like it was a gun and pretended to shoot her.”

Marshall was on his feet. “I’ve had enough of this. You keep harassing me based on what this unhinged woman continues to make up about me and I will sue your department and see that you’re walking a beat—if you’re lucky.”

“You aren’t threatening an officer of the law, are you, Mr. Marshall?”

With a huge sigh, the man pointed at the door. “I won’t be talking to you again without my lawyer present.”

“If you feel it’s necessary, Mr. Marshall, that is your right.” Russ rose slowly but didn’t shut off his phone’s recorder. “Ms. Brand’s attorney is considering a restraining order against you, so I’d suggest you not return to her ranch.”

“I’m considering the same thing to stop you from harassing me, Detective. Don’t show your face around here again.”

Once in his patrol car, Russ called Josie. “Mr. Marshall denied all of it.”

“Tell me you aren’t surprised.”

“Are you still considering taking out a restraining order?” Russ asked.

“Would it do any good?”

“Probably not,” the detective had to admit. “He might see it as a dare.” The lawyer said something under her breath. “I mentioned a restraining order hoping to keep him away from your sister. I’m sorry he threatened her.”

“Not half as sorry as I am,” she said. “Amy Sue isn’t going to let this go. She’s talked about doing some investigating on her own.”

Russ rubbed the back of his neck. “That would be a mistake, but I’m sure you know that. If she’s right about what she saw, Jack Marshall is a very dangerous man.”