Pursuit of Justice Read Online Free PDF Page B

the sheriff. The man who emerged from the driver’s side was anything but the stereotypical country law enforcer. Sheriff Darren Adams stood nearly six feet three, was tanned, and was definitely in shape. No spare tire there. Definitely the daredevil type.
    She stuck out her hand. “Sheriff Adams, good to meet you. Special Agent Bella Jordan. This is Special Agent Vic Anderson.”
    She reached for her creds from the back of her waist, and Vic pulled his from his jeans pocket.
    The sheriff gripped her hand lightly and made good eye contact. He gave a cursory glance at their creds. “Looks like the FBI needs to do a little field training in West Texas.”
    Ouch. That hurt. “You’re probably right. Thanks for coming when you did.”
    The sheriff scanned the area around them. “Any more activity?”
    “No.”
    “And you are okay?” He peered at one, then the other.
    “Oh yes.” Bella turned to view her FBI-issued car. It looked sad, reminding her of one of the vehicles in the animated Cars movie. “I could have flipped it.”
    “Could be the shooter wanted you to lose control.”
    “Then he lost round one.” But she figured the shooter wanted them to understand they were being watched, and he probably got a good chuckle out of the episode.
    The sheriff motioned to two officers beside him and pointed in the direction where the shots had been fired. “Take a look behind those trees in the pasture.” He shook his head at the crippled condition of her car. Deflated had taken on a whole new meaning. The driver from the pickup strode toward them.
    “The bullet should be embedded in the front tire,” she said. “I’m anxious to trace the rifle to see if it’s the same as the murder weapon.”
    “Let’s hope not,” the jean-clad man said. He held out his hand, and she got a glimpse of his face under a cowboy hat: clear blue eyes, lashes too long for a man, thick blond hair. Shock rode on the wind as recognition swept over her.
    “You’re Carr Sullivan.”
    “That’s right.” He smiled and shook her hand. He wore a pale yellow shirt with silver snaps, faded jeans, and dusty boots. A portable radio and a cell phone were clipped on his belt. In the five years he’d lived here, he’d definitely learned to fit in. He stuck out his hand to Vic and introduced himself. “In better circumstances, I’d have welcomed you to Runnels County with a barbecue.”
    Some things never changed. He still liked to party. “In better circumstances, I’d not be here.”
    He nodded at Bella. “That’s a good one.”
    She didn’t particularly care for his confidence, more akin to cockiness. “You have a pretty good attitude for a man suspected of murder.”
    “I’m innocent, and I’m out to prove it.”
    She caught Sheriff Adams’s attention. “I assume Mr. Sullivan has been with you the whole time?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” The sheriff turned to Sullivan. “Special Agent Jordan is the lead on this investigation.”
    Sullivan looked none too happy. So he had a problem with women too. They were going to get along just fine.
    “What can you tell us about what happened?” Sheriff Adams stuck his thumbs inside his belt. Now he looked like a cowboy law enforcer.
    “Nothing to tell. We left Ballinger and drove back toward the gate. Didn’t see a single vehicle.”
    “But someone saw you.”
    “Someone had to have an idea about what we were doing.” Could the sheriff be behind this? After all, he was the only one who knew when she and Vic would be on the road toward the High Butte.
    “Possibly having someone watch your hotel and phone ahead when you left,” the sheriff said.
    She and Vic were supposed to conduct surveillance work, not the shooter. “I hadn’t noted anyone following us, so your explanation is probably right. What do you suggest about my car?”
    “I can tow it to the county sheriff’s department in Ballinger. We need that bullet.”
    “Sounds like a plan.”
    The lack of wheels and being at the