Safe In His Arms (Manhunt) Read Online Free PDF Page A

them, but he had to cover all the bases. “It’s routine. Geoff was a wealthy and powerful man. He might have hired someone to find Mia. He could have someone working here as a ranch hand. Or one of your workers might have seen someone suspicious.  Did you run background checks on all your men?”
    The couple exchanged a concerned look.  “Not exactly,” Henry said. “We fell on hard times the last few years. My funds have been low, and I had to cut the budget. I just hired men who needed work and didn’t mind doing it cheap.”
    So the McCauleys had experienced money problems. That would have made them vulnerable to Geoff if he’d offered them a deal.
    But Alex couldn’t picture the caring couple turning on Mia. Not even for financial security.
    Henry stood. “I’ll get that list from my office.”
    “Thanks.” Alex followed him to the door and lowered his voice. “I’d also like your permission to question them.”
    Henry looked him square in the eye. “You have my permission to do whatever you need to keep that little girl safe. Joy and I never could have kids, but when Mia came along, it was like God sent her. We knew something was wrong. She looked fragile, like this little dog we once had that had been mistreated. Now we understand the reason.”
    Alex nodded, agreeing with the image.  “She certainly looks happy here, Henry. I want to see her stay that way.”
    They shared an understanding look, then Alex trailed Henry to his office and watched as the man sat down at his ancient computer, accessed the file and hit print .
    Alex skimmed the names as he took the list, zeroing in on the most recent hires.
    Truitt Wilson and Emmett Royce.
    He’d run an extensive background check on each of them as soon as he got back to his computer.
    But at first glance, his suspicions rose. Truitt Wilson was from Austin, Geoff Jones’s hometown.
    They could have some connection, and Geoff could have sent Wilson after Mia.
     

     
    Mia’s nerves were on edge as Sgt. Townsend returned from Henry’s office.  Joy’s kindness had made her feel even more guilty for not going to a safe house.
    If anything happened to her or Henry, she’d never forgive herself.
    “Henry,” Joy said as her husband walked in. “Maybe we should call a meeting of all the hands and tell them to be on the alert for strangers on the ranch.”
    “Good idea,” Henry said. “Sgt. Townsend, do you have a picture of this man Jones so we can show it around?”
    “Sure, I’ll bring it to the meeting,” the Ranger said.  “I want to watch the men’s reactions when you tell them what’s going on.”
    “Fair enough. Give me a second and I’ll call the foreman and set it up. Most of the men are out working now. We’re moving the cattle from the north pasture to the east, so it’ll be hard to reach them at the moment. How about around dinner time?”
    “That’s fine,” Alex said. “Thank you for your cooperation.”
    Mia hugged them both. “I’m sorry to put you in this situation.”
    Joy patted Mia’s back. “We love you, Mia. We just want to make sure you’re safe.”
    Mia’s heart tugged painfully. The McCauleys might not have much money, but they were wealthy with love. They were good people and had been kinder to her than anyone she’d ever known.
    “If I find out he’s here, I’ll leave,” Mia said. “I won’t let him hurt you or Henry.”
    Joy patted her hands.  “We are family, Mia. If he hurts you, he hurts us.”
    Mia’s throat closed. She hugged Joy, then she and Alex walked out together.  “I’m going to investigate the men on this list before we talk to them,” he said. “But first I want to have a chat with the Joneses. Then we’ll come back and ride the property and meet with the ranch hands.”
    Mia bit her lip. Maureen and Ross Jones hated her.
    She was surprised they hadn’t actually hired someone to kill her themselves.
     

     
    Geoff gripped the prepaid cell phone in his hand as he huddled