The Texan's Return by Karen Whiddon

Author:Karen Whiddon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

After Detective Logan left, Gus’s exuberance quickly turned to exhaustion. “He’s a good guy, Mac,” Gus said. “I really think he might be the one to figure out who the real killer is. Especially since the FBI is going to be helping.”

His father’s eyes were already drifting closed. Mack fluffed his pillow and helped him lie back down. “I hope so, Dad. Get some rest.”

Wandering outside, Mac considered calling Hailey. Though Detective Logan had said the media hadn’t yet been informed, Mac knew how this small town worked. Once the parents had been notified, the news would spread like wildfire. With two of her siblings attending the same school, Hailey might have heard already, and, even more important, she or the twins could have known the murdered girl. Right now, the idea of taking her on a date seemed ludicrous.

He took a deep breath and called her. After a couple of rings, her voice mail picked up. He left a message asking her to return his call, before wandering back into the house.

Gus had turned on the evening news. “Looks like Logan wasn’t able to keep a lid on the story,” he said, pointing toward the TV. “Of course, that’s an FBI spokesman who made the statement. The reporter is wrapping it up now. Listen.”

“Police—in conjunction with the FBI—are investigating every possible lead. But people in the town want to know why Gus Morrison, convicted of killing Brenda Green ten years ago, was released from prison. His return to town coincided with another murder, ten years ago to the day. And now another young life has been snuffed out.”

Feeling sick, Mac glanced at his father. Silent tears streamed down the older man’s cheeks. “Dad,” Mac began.

But there was more, and Gus shushed him with a gesture.

“Police have stated that Gus Morrison is terminally ill and too weak to have killed the second victim. They’ve turned their attention to his son, Mac Morrison, who returned to the tiny east Texas town of Legacy with his father.”

Mac couldn’t help it—he gasped out loud. Holy hell.

“There you have it,” Gus said, his voice defeated. He swiped at his face with the back of his hand. “It wasn’t enough to convict one innocent man. Now they’re after you.”

“Don’t worry.” Reaching out, Mac squeezed his dad’s too-thin shoulder. “I didn’t do it. They won’t have anything to say otherwise.”

“Really?” His dad coughed, trying to clear his throat. This took him several attempts, during which Mac waited, his chest aching for his father.

Finally, Gus took a swallow of water and continued. “One reporter already used the phrase, ‘like father, like son.’ That’d be my worst nightmare,” he whispered.

“Mine, too.”

Gus’s eyed widened. “There’s no way they could do to you what they did to me. No way. Our family doesn’t have that much bad luck.”

“Luck doesn’t have anything to do with it, I’m afraid. There’s a serial killer out there. I don’t know why he started killing again as soon as we came back to town, but I’m sure the police are working on it.

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