hospital and located her silver Lexus in the parking lot. As she slid behind the steering wheel, she scouted the area. She couldnât find anyone watching her, but she felt it deep in her bones. Sheâd felt that way ever since Axleâs body had been identified.
Who was watching her? Why were they watching? She wasnât going to talk. She didnât even have much she could tell the authorities. She didnât know the details of her husbandâs activities, and she planned to make that clear to the Texas Rangers.
Two years ago, the two men who had broken into her house had told her they were after a flash drive. They hadnât found it then and had thankfully left her unharmed but with a warning. Had the man broken into her house two days ago because of the policeâs renewed interest in Axle? Had theystopped looking for the flash drive because theyâd thought Axle had it on him? Then when his body was discovered, they realized the device wasnât with him?
Her head throbbed with all the unanswered questions. She pulled out of the parking lot and drove toward the meetingâs location.
She really didnât know whom to trust. Trust in the Lord. The thought popped into her head as she turned into the space at the side of the office building. Sheâd pleaded with the Lord to help her when everything had started falling apart three years ago. He obviously hadnât thought she was worth His trouble. So somehow she had to find a way out of this mess by herself.
On the elevator ride she composed herself. She couldnât let people know what was going on. She had to be in control, poisedâplay the role sheâd been cast in.
When she stepped into the hallway on the tenth floor, she came face-to-face with Rangers Daniel Boone Riley and Anderson Michaels. She tried to hide her surprise mixed with concern, but Danielâs assessing gaze honed in on her. She remembered at the funeral last week the kindness in his eyes when they had connected with hers.
âItâs nice to see you again.â Daniel shifted toward her. âI believe youâve met Anderson Michaels. He came with me in October to this meeting.â
âYes, I remember him.â At this moment, Danielâs look didnât convey the kindness sheâd glimpsed at the gravesite but something elseâdetermination. To dig into Axleâs past and put her and Kaitlyn in danger.
Anderson nodded toward her. âGood to see you again, Mrs. Hudson.â
Why are they here? Struggling to remain outwardly calm while she quietly panicked inside, she forced a smile.She clutched her purse straps tighter to still the trembling in her hand. âIs there a problem with the celebration?â
While Anderson went into the conference room at the end of the hallway, Daniel hung back with her. âPossibly. Iâll explain everything inside. I was going to call you, but then I had to come to this meeting. Afterward, Iâd like to talk with you. Let you know what Iâve come up with concerning your break-in.â
She glanced up and down the corridor. Another committee member stepped off the elevator. Rodney Tanner caught sight of them and headed toward them.
âI thought I was late. I guess the meeting hasnât started yet. Good to see you, Melora.â Rodney patted Daniel on the back. âAnd you, too, Daniel. Howâs your mother doing? I havenât seen her lately.â
âSheâs fine, sir. She went to the Caribbean a couple of weeks ago and just returned.â
âIâll have to call her and make sure she doesnât need anything. I told your father I would keep an eye on her.â
âWe need to start the meeting.â Hank Zarvy, the chairman of the committee, stuck his head out into the hallway.
Melora used that excuse to hurry ahead of Daniel and Rodney into the room. Taking the last vacant chair on the left, she was relieved when Daniel sat on the