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look at the maps so we can work out a search grid.” She paused.
“We’re going to need the best animals we can find.” Something dark crossed her
face, but it cleared too quickly for Jack to decipher the expression. “I’ll
call Sam.”
    Jack
watched as John put his hand on her shoulder. She reached up and touched him
briefly, then turned to the sheriff.
    “Can I
use your office?”
    He
nodded. “Of course. Take your time. We’ll just get the maps and things
organized.”
    He
headed for the door and pulled it open before nodding to Jack and Skip.
“Gentlemen.”
    It
wasn’t a request. Jack shot Casey a look, then left the office. The sheriff
closed the door behind them, leaving Casey and her boyfriend in the room alone.
Jack watched as she headed over to the phone and began to dial. He turned to
the sheriff.
    “Who’s
Sam?”
    The
sheriff led the way to the table where they’d laid out a number of maps of the
area before he answered. “Sam McAllister. He’s got some of the best horses in
the state. They’re as sure footed as mules.”
    Jack
glanced back at the office. Casey was speaking into the phone. Her face looked
strained and by the way she was moving, it looked like she was arguing with
someone. He turned back to the sheriff. “And what aren’t you telling us about
this guy?”
    The
sheriff met Jack’s gaze. “Nothing.”
    “Do you
think we’re blind? From the moment you first mentioned Casey Nolan’s name there
have been all sorts of heavy undercurrents flowing around this place. They just
got worse when she brought up Sam McAllister’s name. If there’s something going
on that we need to know about, you’d better just spit it out.”
    The
sheriff shook his head. “There’s nothing.”
    Jack
couldn’t help feeling that the man wasn’t being completely honest. He couldn’t
force him to admit it, though. Behind them, the office door opened and Casey
came out. She looked upset. Though the dog and her boyfriend were each close
enough to offer comfort, she didn’t lean on either of them. Instead, she
cleared her throat and spoke to the sheriff.
    “Sam’s
going to get his animals ready.” She moved to the sheriff’s side and glanced
down at the maps. “Let’s get this thing started.”
    Contents

CHAPTER
TWO
    She was
close enough to kiss. He itched to reach out and catch her to his chest, to
taste her mouth. He wanted to see what her magnificent eyes looked like when
they were full of passion. He smiled as she said his name, then frowned when he
realized she wasn’t calling him Jack.
    “Agent
Hall?”
    Jack
blinked his eyes open and for a moment was completely confused as to where he
was and what was going on. Then his gaze focused on the woman leaning over him
and everything came back to him.
    “What?”
    She
turned around and pulled up a chair so that she could sit and face him without
having to lean over. “How long has it been since you got any sleep?”
    Jack
shrugged. “A while, why?”
    She
nodded. “That’s what I thought. You need to get some rest.”
    He
shook his head and sat up straighter. “I’m fine.”
    “No,
you’re not. You’re exhausted.” She turned around to scan the room, then called
out. “Bob!”
    A man
in his late fifties looked up, then nodded when she motioned for him to come
over. She turned back to Jack.
    “You
and your partner are going to get some rest.”
    Jack
frowned. “There isn’t time to sleep. We’ve got to get going.”
    She
shook her head. “That’s not true. There’s plenty of time for the two of you to
get in a good couple of hours of sound sleep.” He opened his mouth to protest,
but she held up a hand to silence him. “Take a look at your partner.”
    Jack
turned around and spotted Skip a few feet away. He was slumped over a desk,
sound asleep. He turned back to Casey.
    “He’s
getting a nap. He’ll be fine when he wakes up.”
    She
reached out and caught his hand, shocking him with the unexpected touch.
“Listen to