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gripped his hat in his sweaty hands.
    “Good to see you again, Tessa.”
    “How unfortunate it’s not under better circumstances.” Her semblance of a smile was on the surface, for show only.
    Rex shut the door behind Tito. “Come in.”
    Tito swiped his sweaty palm on his tan trousers, leaving a damp smear behind.
    “Have a seat.” Rex tried to steer Tito toward the living room seats.
    Tito remained rooted in place. “I’m good.” Both hands secure on the brim of his hat, Tito turned the hat around and around, his gaze flitting among the objects in the room, not the individuals. He cleared his throat as a red flush darkened his too-pale features that boasted more of his Germanic roots than his Mexican ones.
    “Medical examiner did a preliminary look today at Derek. He found a hole in Derek’s head. Since there was only one bullet missing from Derek’s gun, I’m thinking that the shot that took out the horse went through Derek’s head first.”
    “That would have to be one hell of a bullet to go through a man’s head and then take out his horse as well.” Tyler forced the words out with a calm he didn’t feel. “Maybe you better think again.”
    “Well, there’s…” Tito’s flush deepened. “Like I said, there’s only one bullet missing from his Colt, Tyler. What else am I supposed to think?”
    “That someone else shot him,” Tessa said. “And your number one suspects just passed you on the road.”
    The look on Tessa’s face suggested she wasn’t averse to hunting them down and bringing them to justice.
    And Tyler was ready to do whatever she commanded. Enough was enough.

Chapter Four
    Rage shook Tessa from head to toe. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to lock her emotions inside, hide her anger, and quash her tears.
    Tito Llano had the nerve to look surprised over her revelation. Alarm replaced his expression, and he squeaked instructions into the radio attached to his shoulder for a deputy to waylay “persons of interest.” Then he leveled his bloodhound eyes back at them.
    “There’s a little more.” He gripped the rim of his hat again, his fingertips white.
    Tessa touched his biceps and gently— firmly —pushed him toward the living room. “Come sit.”
    An order, not a request. He followed without pause. So did Rex and Tyler. Nate stepped to one side as they passed. Kevin appraised the sheriff from the sofa where he sat. She was beginning to wonder if the stick up his ass nailed him in place. Until yesterday, she’d never heard of him and couldn’t help wonder why Derek hadn’t used his father’s attorney.
    “Would you like something to drink, Tito?” She asserted her role as hostess, doing her best to ignore Rex’s glower. She could almost read his mind— This isn’t a fucking social call . No, but it put Tito off guard. Tessa didn’t trust the man. She never had. He said one thing, yet his body language said another. “No, ma’am. ’Preciate it, though.” The dining room chair groaned with his weight. Tito was a big man, six-four at tops with a growing paunch and silver-shot black hair shiny with whatever product he used to slick it down. Unfortunately, his demeanor suggested he lacked the balls to back up his size or his position as sheriff. How he got elected was one of those great unsolved mysteries, but she was certain deep pockets were somehow involved. Tessa just never knew whose. He’d always been so anxious to prove his worth that he repeatedly jumped the gun rather than waited for solid facts. Why would Derek’s death be any different?
    “Very well.” She sat down and leaned back into the recliner, steepled her fingers, and crossed her legs. It helped tether her roiling emotions. “Continue.”
    Tito’s gaze drifted over her shoulder to Nate, then flicked away. They’d all spread out, consciously or subconsciously, making it difficult for Tito to focus on one person. She’d like to think it was consciously. That would make them all