Page 53 of One in a Million
“You can’t prove you found it here, Charlie,” he said. “The police might even think you stole it.”
“I don’t think so.” Charlie stuffed the bracelet back into his pocket. “It might not be final proof, but it’ll be enough to put the police on the right track. The scumbags she was with should be able to identify her. And once the cops put her in a lineup, it’ll be over.”
Cold dread congealed in Sam’s stomach. If this threat was real, Jasmine could be in serious trouble. “How can you do such a thing, Charlie?” he asked. “I thought you liked her.”
“I didn’t just like her. I loved her. But what she did last night opened my eyes to who she really is. She and her friends cost me thousands of dollars in repairs and lost business—and I’m betting she doesn’t even care. Now I just want the lying little bitch to get what she deserves.”
“I hope you’ll give this plan some thought before you act on it,” Sam said. “I can’t imagine that Jasmine meant to hurt you. But she couldn’t control the actions of her friends. Maybe you need to hear her side of the story.”
“I don’t give a damn about her side of the story. I only know what I see. This place is a mess. I’m already getting billed for the fence repairs. And now you show up expecting me to pay for a dead calf. Why don’t you tell Jasmine to pay for it? Hell, maybe she should pay for all the damage.”
“She can’t pay if she’s in jail.” Sam didn’t know if that was true, but at least it might be a bargaining chip. Jasmine had money, or at least her mother did. But this matter would have to be handled very carefully.
“Listen, Charlie,” he said. “If you’ll hold off on taking that bracelet to the police, I’ll talk to Jasmine and see if she’s willing to help you out with money. No promises, but can you wait a day or two for an answer?”
“What’s this? Are you working for the Culhanes now?” Charlie demanded. “I thought Darrin was the family lawyer.”
“I’m only trying to help. Would you rather deal with Darrin or with me?”
Charlie was silent, but watching him, Sam could imagine his mind working. The market price of the calf, at the going rate of $130 per hundredweight, would be about $650, not an exorbitant amount. And the salaries of the cowhands for rounding up Charlie’s loose animals and repairing the fences couldn’t total more than a couple thousand. To Jasmine, that would be pocket change. But how much would revenge on the woman who’d broken his heart be worth to Charlie?
Charlie wiped the hair back from his sweating forehead. “I’ll sleep on the idea. But if you want to change my mind, be back here by this time tomorrow with Jasmine’s offer. Then.”—his smile glinted with malice—“after I hear what she’s willing to pay for her bracelet, I’ll make my decision—and don’t try taking it away from me. I’ve taken plenty of photos for proof.”
“What about your animal? The one that killed the calf?”
“Whatever that beast is, it isn’t mine, and I won’t be responsible for any damage it does.”
“Then you shouldn’t care about the order to shoot it on sight.”
“Knock yourself out.” Charlie didn’t flinch, even though he had to be lying. “If I don’t hear from you by this time tomorrow, I’m going to the police. You can pass that on to Miss High and Mighty. Maybe she’d like to come and plead her case in person. I’d enjoy seeing her on her knees—especially with you watching.”
Reining back the urge to smash his fist into Charlie’s face, Sam forced himself to leave. None of this messy affair was his business, he reminded himself as he drove back to the ranch. But he was wrong. He’d made it his business by rescuing Jasmine, by making love to her, and by stepping in now to protect her. He was in this up to his neck.
* * *
He arrived at the ranch to see Darrin’s Mercedes parked in front of the house. Frank’s son had wasted no time getting here. It would be up to him to organize the cowboys for guard duty and decide what to do about killing the predatory creature before it struck again.
Would Darrin talk to Charlie? Would Charlie tell him about Jasmine’s part in the demonstration? Sam had no control over that possibility. All he could do was warn Jasmine and pass on Charlie’s ultimatum. The next step would be her decision.
Sam parked the Jeep in the employee lot and walked around the house to find Jasmine on the porch of his bungalow. She was sitting on the bench, her long, tanned legs stretched out in front of her.
She gave him a tentative smile. “We need to talk, Sam,” she said.
The words that every man dreaded hearing from a woman.
“I need to talk to you, too,” he said. “Why don’t you go first? All right?”
She sighed. “All right. I guess somebody has to.” She glanced around, as if to make sure no one was listening. When she spoke, her voice scarcely rose above a whisper.
“It’s my mother. I know she can be charming, but she can also be manipulative. She’s determined to prove that Lila killed my father.”
“No surprise there. That proof would get her everything she wants. Do you believe that’s true?”
“I don’t know. But here’s the thing. She knows that your relationship with a possible suspect would compromise your case, and your career. I’m under orders to get you in trouble, so she can threaten to expose you if you don’t find a way to arrest Lila.”
He gave her a bemused look. “After last night, I should already be in trouble. Does your mother know about that?”
“No. And I don’t plan to tell her. Last night was for you and me. I don’t want to share it with anybody, especially my mother. But we can’t give her reason to believe anything has happened between us, or she’ll use it as an excuse to threaten you. Does that make sense?”