Pursuit of Justice Read Online Free Page A

drawl. His success rate of running down criminals was impressive, and she could learn much from him.
    First thing on this morning’s agenda was a sixty-five-mile drive to the southern part of Runnels County and an interview with Carr Sullivan and his workers. Tomorrow morning, she’d talk to the manager of the Courtesy Inn and his staff about the murder victims who’d stayed on the property prior to their demise.
    As soon as they left the city limits, Bella punched in the number for the Runnels County Sheriff’s Department. A woman with the voice of one who’d smoked for thirty years answered the phone.
    “Sheriff Darren Adams, please.”
    “Who’s calling?”
    “Special Agent Bella Jordan from the FBI.”
    “Yes, ma’am. I’ll put you through.”
    While she waited for Sheriff Adams to answer, she pressed in the address for Carr Sullivan’s ranch on her BlackBerry’s GPS and proceeded south on Highway 83. Finally the sheriff answered the phone.
    “Special Agent Jordan, this is Sheriff Adams. I’ve been expecting your call.”
    “I’m driving to the High Butte Ranch with Special Agent Vic Anderson. What time will you be there?”
    “I’m here now with some of my deputies.”
    “Good. I have your findings with me, and I’m looking forward to working with you on this task force. From what I’ve seen, you’ve done a top-notch job with the investigation. You’ve already seen to dusting Professor Miller’s SUV and requesting phone records. The field offices in Houston and Dallas speak highly of you.”
    “Thanks. We believe in our job. I haven’t contacted the Texas Rangers since I knew you were on board. We haven’t found a single thing to link a shooter to the crime scene, but we’re scouring the area.”
    “Did you place a rush on the car sweep?”
    He chuckled. “Nothing out here is done fast, but I’m doing my best.”
    With the limited resources available to them, the sheriff’s department had done quite well. Perhaps she could speed along the car sweep.
    “Sounds like Sullivan is our prime suspect since it was his rifle that turned up missing.” She waited for the sheriff to fill in more of his thoughts.
    He cleared his throat. “I . . . I don’t think he’s our man. Carr Sullivan is a fine man. In church every Sunday. Volunteers there and in the community. Likable. I read his past record, and this is not the same man. He has too many good things on his side to pin three murders on him. I’d say there was more to these killings than a rancher gunning down three men for trespassing.”
    Bella inwardly moaned. With the sheriff on the side of one of the suspects, the FBI’s job would be harder. “I understand he has an alibi.”
    “His employees vouched for him.”
    That’s worthless. “What can you tell me about them?” Bella had read the background checks on the two people, but the findings hadn’t come from someone who knew them.
    “Jasper and Lydia Flores are over sixty years old and devout Christians. Jasper knows more about ranching than anyone I know, and Lydia is the best cook in the county. Both of them have been with Carr since he bought the High Butte.”
    “Let me guess. They’ve lived in this community all of their lives.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Oh, how she remembered the loyalty of these people. “How did they come to work for him?”
    “Carr indicated to the pastor of our church that he needed help, and our pastor knew Jasper and Lydia were in a bit of a bind financially. It worked out well for the three of them. They’re like family.”
    So Adams and Carr attended the same church. She filed that away for future reference. “Can you assist Special Agent Anderson and me with this case objectively, knowing your friends may be involved with three murders?” Bella wished she could see his face and better read how her question affected him.
    “Special Agent Jordan, those people may be my friends, but that doesn’t mean one of them isn’t capable of