Cowboy Behind the Badge by Delores Fossen Page B

belong.”
    â€œYeah, I tend to do that when I’m looking for the truth.” Tucker leaned in, violating the guy’s personal space and then some. “Like now. Maybe you’re as pure as a saint, but if you’re not, it wouldn’t be wise of me to hand over those newborns to you. You might just turn around and sell them on the black market.”
    â€œI wouldn’t do that!” Hague’s voice was so loud it caused the babies to jump. Even more reason for Tucker to get this guy off the porch.
    â€œThen explain your bank account,” Tucker countered.
    â€œI’ll explain nothing to you—” Hague was cut off when his phone rang. Tucker was still close enough to see Rita Longley’s name appear on the screen. He hoped Hague’s boss was reining him in and not giving him the green light to take the babies.
    Hague went to the other side of the porch to take the call. Tucker couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he used the time to regroup. “Go ahead and take the babies back into the house,” Tucker told Mary and Rosalie.
    Both women eagerly nodded, and even though Hague shot them a glare, he didn’t stop them. He just continued his whispered conversation with his boss. However, the DPS guy looked ready to intervene.
    â€œThere’s an escaped gunman on the loose,” Tucker reminded the lawman. “It’s not safe for the newborns to be out here. Not safe for you, either,” he added to Laine.
    She only shook her head, not budging, so Tucker moved between her and the road just in case the gunman was stupid enough to make a repeat appearance.
    â€œWhat do we do now?” Laine whispered.
    Only then did Tucker realize just how shaky she was. It’d been a bad morning, what with seeing Dawn’s body and then this. Sadly, Tucker couldn’t even assure her the worst was over.
    â€œWe wait and keep investigating,” he answered. “But I’d rather you do your waiting inside.”
    She followed his gaze to the road. No one was there other than some ranch hands milling around, but someone could easily come driving up.
    Someone like the killer.
    If that person wasn’t already on the porch with them. Either way, Tucker wanted her inside. She nodded, obviously ready to do that, but then she stopped when his phone rang. Colt again.
    â€œI’ll bet you’re ready for some good news,” Colt said, and the moment Tucker heard that, he put it on speaker so Laine could hear, too. Yeah, he was ready for something good. “Gene Buford, the gunman we have in custody at the jail, says he’s ready to make a plea deal.”
    â€œWhat kind of plea deal?” Tucker asked.
    â€œSays he’ll give us information about Dawn in exchange for immunity and placement in witness protection.”
    â€œAbout Dawn and not the person who set all of this up?”
    â€œJust Dawn,” Colt answered. “Anything you don’t know about her yet?”
    â€œProbably. But this guy tried to kill us,” Tucker mumbled. So, he wasn’t sure he wanted the guy to walk, no matter what kind of info he provided. Still, he wanted to hear what the idiot had to say.
    â€œHow soon can you have him brought over from the jail?” Tucker asked.
    â€œSoon. I can call there now.”
    Good. The jail was just up the block from the sheriff’s office, but it still would take some time to arrange for a guard to have Buford brought over for questioning. The sheriff’s office did have a holding cell in case the timing didn’t work out so that Tucker could speak to him right away. If necessary, Tucker could go to the jail, but he preferred to do this at the sheriff’s office so he could kill two birds with one stone.
    â€œI’ll talk to the gunman when I come in to interview Darren,” Tucker told Reed. “See you in about a half hour if I can get things settled here that fast.”
    Tucker ended the