Native Cowboy Read Online Free Page B

was that bitch Winchester’s face. It was her fault he had to do what he did.
    Her fault that Nellie had to die.
    That the others would die just like her.
    And then it would be Dr. Winchester’s turn.
    Yes, he would save her for last.
    And he’d make her suffer.

Chapter Three
    “I need the boyfriend’s name, and the name of the adoptive parents,” Mason said. “If Nellie’s boyfriend killed her, he may have gone after the baby.”
    Panic flared inside Cara. She hated to violate any patient’s privacy, but he was right. She couldn’t allow a vicious killer to touch that innocent child. “I don’t know his name, but it’s in my files at the clinic.”
    Mason made a low sound in his throat. “All right, let’s go.”
    Cara stood, fumbling with her bag, doubts needling her. “The timing seems off. It looks like Nellie has been dead for at least a day or two. Maybe longer. If someone had tried to kidnap the baby, the parents would have reported it.”
    “Maybe, maybe not,” Mason said. “The killer may have needed time to find out the adoptive parents’ names and address. Besides, we have to check it out. It’s our only lead right now.”
    Cara blinked as more headlights appeared. The ambulance had arrived to transport the body to the morgue. “Let me talk to the medics for a minute, then I’ll go.”
    Mason followed her to meet the paramedics. “Wait until the crime unit is finished processing the body before you move her to the morgue,” Cara said. “I took some samples as well to send to the lab.”
    The medics nodded in understanding, then followed her to the burial spot to confer with the crime unit.
    Cara handed off the evidence she’d collected, and they signed the necessary forms for chain of custody. “Both the sheriff and I need to be notified of the autopsy results.”
    A female investigator named Erin made a note of it.
    Mason took a few moments to detail specifics for the team to analyze, handed off a fabric sample he’d collected in the woods, and reminded them to process the victim’s car and the stones.
    “Maybe we’ll get lucky and the guy left some DNA.”
    “I doubt it,” a tall lanky CSI tech said. “Guy probably wore gloves...”
    Mason frowned. “A loose hair, fiber from his clothing, even a partial print could be helpful. Hell, maybe the guy sneezed on the car or on her, or maybe she scratched him and we can lift DNA from her fingernails.” He paused and handed the tech Nellie’s phone. “Search her phone log and send me the names and numbers of her most recent calls.”
    The tech assured him they would be thorough, and Mason followed her up the hill to her car. Cara’s back was hurting again, but she refused to draw attention to her condition so she refrained from rubbing it.
    Still, when they reached her vehicle, she had to draw a deep breath before unlocking the door.
    Mason gripped her arm. “Are you all right?”
    “Yes,” she said. “It’s just Nellie...poor Nellie. And her baby...I’m worried about her.” Nellie had loved her child and thought she’d done the right thing by giving her to a nice couple, a family. Was her little girl safe?
    “I’ll follow you to the clinic,” Mason said. “Maybe you’re right and this murder had nothing to do with the adoption or the child. But we have to explore every angle.”
    Cara shut out images of the brutal way Nellie had been left as she slid into the driver’s seat. Knowing Mason was behind her gave her a small sense of relief. Although it also rattled her nerves in a different way and triggered memories she didn’t want to dwell on.
    Memories of the two of them dancing together in the dark. Of hot, loving nights and sweet mornings where they drank coffee and read the paper together.
    Of the long lonely months since he’d left and the baby kicking inside her.
    God.
    They still had to talk about her pregnancy.
    But first she had to find out if Nellie’s child was in trouble.
    * * *
    S HE DEFINITELY