A Bride By Summer: The Texas Ranger's Bride / From Best Friend to Bride / Once Upon a Bride

“That’s all I need to know.”

Kellie sat back down again. The photos had caused the blood in her veins to chill.

“We can thank God you came into the police station yesterday before anything happened to you.”

Her hand went to her mouth. “It’s the same man, so why are there different sets of names for him?”

He pocketed the papers. “It turns out they are identical twins.”

She could hardly breathe. “Twin murderers?”

“I suspect they work together, but the FBI agents I spoke to didn’t realize it until the forensics lab discovered that their prints weren’t exactly the same. It would explain why you could receive a letter postmarked from Austin at the same time he approached you in Eagle Mountain.”

Kellie buried her face in her hands, trying to comprehend it. The next thing she knew, he’d put a cup of coffee in front of her. “Drink this. You need it.”

She took a deep breath and sat back in the chair. “Thank you.” For a few minutes she sipped the hot liquid while she tried to absorb what she’d just learned.

“Tomorrow morning I’d like you to fly to Colorado Springs with me. Your friends have sworn they’ve never given out your cell-phone number to a soul. But if your friend at the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association has put your number into the computer, that may explain where these men got it.”

“You mean they hacked their computer?”

“I don’t know. That’s what I want to find out. You’ve been with that association for several years. These men know your rodeo schedule. Your name is on file with them. I’m curious to know if your friend kept your cell phone number to herself or put it in the computer, never thinking about it. Maybe she even saw him.”

Kellie thought back. “When I gave it to her, she knew never to give it to anyone else.”

“That was before she moved. Chances are she didn’t put it in the system, but I need to find out.”

She marveled at the way his mind worked. “What are you thinking?”

He leaned back in the chair drinking his coffee. “These stalkers are cunning. In order to talk to you, the one who approached you had to have done his homework. What you put on your website about belonging to the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association might have given him an idea I want to explore.”

Kellie had a feeling he hadn’t told her everything. “What time do you want to leave?”

“At 5:30 a.m. We have a 7:00 a.m. flight. If we get our business done fast, you’ll be back here in time to put your horse through some maneuvers before evening. This will be our first venture in public as a married couple, so we’ll behave as man and wife when we reach Colorado.”

Man and wife. A tremor ran through her body. He’d anticipated every question and had answered them before she could even think.

“Then I’m going to get ready for bed now.”

“Before you go upstairs, I want you to walk out to the mailbox and bring in any mail you find. Don’t worry. One of the team will be watching you. I’ll be waiting by the front door.”

She got this sick feeling in her stomach over the idea that the stalker might have been near her condo today. Reaching in her purse for her keys, she left the town house and took the short walk to retrieve her smattering of mail from the box.

After she returned, she walked over to the table and put it down. There were three ads, a catalog of home decor furnishings and a five-by-seven white envelope with nothing written on the front. When she saw that it didn’t have a stamp, she froze.

“When does your mail normally come?”

“Between two and three.”

“The stalker may have come after to slip this into your box.”

“You think he had a key?”

“These criminals are professionals and have tools, but we’re going to find out.”

Cy put on gloves and picked it up. After opening the flap, he pulled out a black-and-white glossy photograph of Kellie taken in a beauty salon. She was sitting in a chair with a drape around her neck. Her head had been cut out and it fell on the table. The word liar had been printed on the back of it.

“I don’t believe it!”

He gave her a probing glance. “Where was this taken?”

“At a beauty salon here in Austin where I go to get my hair styled.”

“How long ago?”

“Right before I left for Montana, about five and a half weeks ago.”

“You’re sure about the timing?”

“Yes. Normally I wear cowboy boots all the time and I always get my hair done later in the day. But that particular morning I had an early appointment and I put on those sandals before I left for the salon because I was in a hurry.”

“What time was your appointment?”

“Eight thirty in the morning.”

“Do you remember the date?”

“It was a Wednesday. I had to leave right after to make it to Glasgow in time for the rodeo on Saturday, August 2.”

“That meant you were in the salon on July 30. How big is the place?”

“It does a lot of business. The Blue Gardenia is on Third Street downtown.”

“I’ve heard of it. Do men get their hair cut and styled there, too?”

“Yes.” She shuddered. “That means he was in there watching me. He probably has dozens of pictures of me. It’s sickening and depraved.”

“Stay strong, Kellie. We’re going to catch him.”

A moan escaped her. “What about his twin?”

When she looked at him, the dark blue of his eyes seemed to have turned black. “Him, too. Go on up to bed and set your alarm. We’ll leave for the airport at five thirty. Before we walk out the door, I’ll turn on the camera over the kitchen door on the garage side.”

“You think he’ll come while we’re gone?”

“I’m not sure.”

He obviously had more work to do she wasn’t privy to, so she got up from the table. “I don’t know how to thank you for what you’re doing. Your life is in danger, too.”

“But this is my job. One I like, though no one in my family does.”

“What did they want you to be?”

“An attorney like my father and his father and his father before him.”

So Cy was the lone wolf... His own person. She liked that about him very much.

“When this whole ghastly ordeal is over, I’ll tell your family personally that you have the undying gratitude from me and my family for coming to my rescue.”

His intense gaze continued to hold hers. “That’s nice to hear. Now try to get some sleep and leave the worrying to me.”

* * *

THE SECOND SHE disappeared upstairs, Cy phoned the crew in the surveillance van. “Lyle? The stalker put an envelope in Kellie’s mailbox today. There are eight tenants using that box. Did anyone approach it you can’t identify?”

“Yes. A woman with dark brown hair. I checked with the landlord of the property. He’s never seen her.”

A woman. “Strange. What time did the camera record it?”

“Four twenty.”

That was after the mail had been delivered. “Send me a picture.”

“There are three of them. Doing it right now.”

As they came through his phone, he studied them. The person was dressed in a woman’s business suit with low heels. She would be the same height Kellie had described for the stalker. Any view of the face gave only a partial glimpse. The lab could magnify the images for a better look.

“Lyle? Send these to forensics for enlargements.”

“Will do.”

“Tomorrow I’ll be in Colorado Springs part of the day with Ms. Parrish. That’ll give the stalker time to case the town house. He may try to get in to find out if a man lives here with her. Maybe the stalker’s twin will show up, too. It’s possible they dress in drag part of the time. Keep me posted.”

“Sure thing.”

Cy ended the call and phoned Vic. “It’s possible one of the twins has been dressing up as a woman. I’m sending you the photos taken by Ms. Parrish’s mailbox. Go over to the Blue Gardenia beauty salon on Third Street when it opens tomorrow. Show these pictures to everyone who works there. I’m curious if one of the employees can identify our stalker, who likely used his phone camera to take a picture of Kellie getting a haircut.” Cy gave him the time and date. “If you get any information from one of the workers at the salon, let me know.

“Then I want you to call around to the places where you can buy a wig. Take those mug shots with you. The photograph taken of Kellie was snapped almost six weeks ago. See if our stalker purchased one or two wigs in different colors during the month of July and get a copy of the receipt. It’s a long shot, but do what you can.”

“I’ll try everything including places that sell theatrical makeup. He could have posed as an actor needing makeup and a wig.”

“Exactly. Thanks, Vic.”

“When will you get back from Colorado Springs tomorrow?”

“I’m not sure. Kellie needs to exercise her horses, so I’ll drive her to her parents’ after we get off the plane. But I’ll phone you.”

* * *

ON WEDNESDAY MORNING Kellie got out of the rental car and walked alongside Cy as they entered the building that housed the WPRA in Colorado Springs. She welcomed the warm seventy-nine-degree temperature. Conscious she was playing a part as Cy’s new wife, she’d worn a flirty skirt and dressy blouse with high heels to play up her feminine side. It felt good to put on something besides jeans and cowboy boots.

“May I help you?”

“I’m here to see a friend who works here,” Kellie told the attractive, twentyish-looking receptionist who hadn’t taken her eyes off Cy from the moment they’d walked in the foyer. In a business suit and tie, he’d drawn the attention from a lot of women during their flight.

“Her name is Olivia Brown.” Kellie prodded the younger woman in case she hadn’t heard her the first time.

“Oh, sure. She’s the one who moved here from Texas and works in the membership auditor’s office. I’ll ring her. You know? You kind of sound like her.”

Kellie happened to glance at Cy, who was smiling at her rather than the receptionist. Even his eyes smiled, sending a charge of electricity through her body.

“Olivia wants to know your name.”

Gathering her wits, she said, “Tell her it’s a friend from the Blue Bonnet Posse.”

The receptionist passed it on and suddenly red-haired Olivia came running down the east hallway. “Kellie!” she called out and ran up to give her a hug. “I can’t believe it!” She turned to the girl at the desk. “Janie? This is the very famous Kellie Parrish! She’s going to win the barrel-racing championship at Finals in Las Vegas this December.”

“Wow.” Janie’s eyes had rounded in surprise.

“One could hope,” Kellie murmured in an aside.

“Who’s the stud?” Olivia whispered.

Kellie’s heart was palpitating out of her chest. “I’d like you to meet my new husband, Cyril Vance.”

“You got married?” Her voice came out more like a squeak.

“We did,” Cy said and shook her hand.

“I announced it on my blog.”

“Let me see.” Olivia grabbed Kellie’s left hand, then whistled. “Gorgeous.” She looked up. “I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. Oh, how wonderful. Congratulations!” She hugged her again. “Come on down to my office. I’m dying to know what brings you two here. If you’re on your honeymoon, I can’t figure out how come I’m lucky enough to deserve a visit.”

Cy cupped Kellie’s elbow and squeezed it as they followed Olivia down the hall.

“Come on in and sit down. Do you two want coffee or soda?”

“Nothing, Olivia. We ate before coming here, but thank you. There’s a specific reason why we’re here. I’ll let Cy explain. My husband is a Texas Ranger working on a case that involves me.”

After a five-minute explanation, there were no more smiles coming from Olivia. He showed her a paper that included both mug shots. “These men are identical twins. Do you recognize either of them?”

“No. I’ve never seen them.”

“Do me a favor and show this to everyone who works here. If they’ve seen them, phone me immediately.” He wrote his work number on the paper. “If one of these men had come around here, it could have been as far back as a year ago.”

“I’ll do it today.” She looked at Kellie. “You poor thing. I’m ill over what you’ve just told me. Let me get into the records on the computer. I always update the information on a file when rodeo results come in. I’ve been here eighteen months. If I added your cell phone, I don’t remember doing it.”

“Does everyone on the staff have equal access to the files?”

“No. Only certain of us have the password to get into them.” She opened the file.

Kellie wasn’t aware she’d been holding her breath until Olivia looked at them with a pained expression on her face. “Oh no—I did put your number in next to your parents’ number. I remember now. I put it there for me, never dreaming anyone would ever see this file but me.”

“Please don’t worry about it, Olivia.”

“It could be a blessing in disguise.” A somber look had stolen over Cy’s features. “Do you know the company that cleans this building?”

“Yes. It’s called Grayson Janitorial Services.”

“When do they clean?”

“At night after nine.”

Kellie turned to him. “You think the stalker pretended to be a janitorial worker and got into the computer?”

“Maybe. If he’s cyber savvy, it’s a distinct possibility he broke in.” His gaze swerved to Olivia. “We’re going to go there now and talk to the owner.”

“Let me give you the address.” Olivia looked it up on the computer and wrote it down on some scratch paper to give to him.

“Thank you. Before we leave, I need one more piece of information. What company services your computers?”

“It’s Standard Computer Services.”

“We’ll find it. Thank you, Olivia. Your help has been invaluable.”

“I wish I could have helped you more. I pray you catch that stalker. It’s too horrible.”

“Cy is keeping me sane,” Kellie confessed. “Give my best to your husband. We’ll talk soon.” They hugged once more before Cy escorted her out of the room and down the hall to the entrance.

“Good luck!” Janie called out. “I hope you win.”

“Thank you.”

They walked outside and Cy helped her into their rented Buick sedan. Using the Google mapping system, they drove across town to Grayson Janitorial.

Kellie glanced at Cy. “I know Olivia was upset that she’d put my cell number in the database.”

“As I said, if this helps me trace the stalker’s steps, it could uncover valuable information. It’s like putting a puzzle together. Every piece I find forms the picture. If I’m on the wrong trail, we’ll head over to Standard Computer Services. Maybe they sent out a technician to the WPRA who resembles our stalker.”

Once Cy had parked the car, he took her arm and they entered the business. The store was filled with janitorial supplies. He flashed his credentials in front of the man at the counter.

“I need to speak to the owner.”

“Just a minute.” The man made a phone call. “A Texas Ranger is out here needing to talk to you.”

When he hung up, he told them to walk around the counter and through the closed door to the back office. The middle-aged owner got up from his seat behind the desk and shook their hands. Cy wasted no time pulling out another paper and showing it to the owner.

“Have you ever hired either of these men to work for you? It could have been as far back as six months to a year ago. I’m following up a lead on a case. I understand your company cleans the offices of the WPR Association.”

“That’s right.” The other man studied the mug shots before shaking his head. “I’m the only person who hires and assigns the work for my employees. I’ve never seen these men.”

“What if one of your employees took a friend along while he or she worked?”

“That’s against the rules, but I’ll talk to my crews. Can I keep this paper?”

“I want you to. I’ll write my work number on it in case you have information for me. Thank you.”

Cy put an arm around Kellie’s back as they left the office. It felt so natural, she didn’t think about it until they’d reached the car. While he looked up the address for the computer company on his phone, she glanced at the striking man behind the wheel. She wondered if he could be aware of her in the same way she was of him. When she’d introduced him as her husband to Olivia, she’d felt a sense of pride. Because you’re attracted to him, Kellie, and you’re getting too comfortable around him.

He started the car and drove to another part of the city, where he parked in the lot next to the building reserved for Standard Computer Services.

“Cy? If you want, I’ll wait here while you go inside.”

His head turned to her, impaling her with those dark blue eyes. “Until I arrest the stalker, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

The way he said it caused a shiver to run through her body. “I just thought—”

“It’s my job to keep you safe,” he broke in. “I brought you to Colorado to introduce me to Olivia. There’s no way I’d leave you sitting alone in this car.”

Of course he wouldn’t! A killer was after her.

She undid the seat belt and got out of the car before he could come around to help her. For a minute she’d been so concentrated on him and so worried he sensed her attraction to him, she’d said something that had probably made him question her mental capacities. Get a grip, Kellie.

He accompanied her inside the building. When he made inquiries, one of the guys working the counter showed them to the manager’s office. It was like déjà vu. After introductions, Cy asked the manager to search through their work orders for the WPR Association going back a year.

“This will take me a minute.”

“That’s all right. I want you to be thorough.” While they waited, Cy pulled another paper out of his pocket.

“It looks like we’ve sent our technicians out there four different times.”

“Tell me the dates.”

Kellie heard him mention January, April, June and July.

“Do you send one technician at a time?”

“Almost always.”

Cy handed him the paper. “Have either of these men worked for your company within the last year? Take your time.”

The manager took it from him. Within seconds he looked up at Cy. “This one with the longer hair. His name was Denny Denham.” Kellie let out a soft gasp. “He applied for work in April, but only stayed until the end of June.”

“Denny Denham has many aliases. He’s on the FBI’s most wanted list and killed a woman.” The manager dropped his jaw in shock.

Kellie’s heart thudded painfully. Cy’s hunch had paid off. At this point she was in awe of his genius.

“Why did he quit?”

“He said his mother was in a hospital in Michigan and needed him.”

“Was he a good tech?”

“Very good. I didn’t like losing him.”

“Was he the tech sent to the WPRA offices on any of the dates you gave me while he was still working for you?”

“I’ll have to go through the signed receipts. It’ll take me a few minutes.”

“Go ahead.”

Cy flashed Kellie a smile meant to encourage her that they were on the right track. He could have no idea of the emotions that smile stirred up inside her.

The manager looked at Cy. “Denny signed the work order for June 20. It was right after that he had to quit work.”

The set of Cy’s hard jaw spoke volumes. “I want to see his application.”

“I’ll print it out.”

Cy took the paper and stood to shake the manager’s hand. “You’ve been very helpful on this case. Thank you.”

The manager still looked dazed as they left the office. Once in the car, Cy started the engine. “I’ve got everything I came for. We’ll head back to Austin in time for you to get in some training with your horses. En route to the airport would you like to stop for a hamburger at a drive-through?”

“That sounds good.”

“I got lucky today. That always gives me an appetite.”

“It’s not luck, Cy. You’re brilliant. Didn’t you want to study his work application before we left?”

“I’ll pore over it with Vic after we get back. It’ll be filled with lies, but maybe there’ll be something in it that will be valuable to the agents working on the other murder cases.”

She stared out the window. “That poor manager looked shattered. Surely he did a background check.”

“I have no doubt of it. The trouble with criminals is that they’re human beings just like everyone, and for most of the time they drift in and out of the shadows without anyone realizing it until it’s too late.”

Kellie’s gratitude for Cy and all he was doing caused her throat to swell. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough, and don’t tell me it’s nothing.”

A low chuckle came out of him. “I wasn’t going to. Since taking your case, I’ve become a husband. I never dreamed it was such a responsibility.”

“You’re probably sorry you got involved to this extent.”

“I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t exactly what I felt needed to be done.”

“But I feel guilty because it makes it difficult for you to have a personal life.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve had a personal life and barely escaped getting married.”

Her head swung toward him. “Seriously?”

He nodded. “Her name was Eileen Richards. We were engaged, but it didn’t feel right to me and I broke it off.”

“How long ago?”

“I was twenty-one and halfway through undergraduate school.”

Kellie imagined he was in his early thirties now. “That’s young.”

“Yup. But my parents and her parents were all for it. As I told you before, they had my life planned out to be an attorney. To everyone’s displeasure, once I’d said goodbye to her, I left school and signed up with the Austin police department. I discovered I didn’t want to defend criminals, I wanted to catch them.”

“Thank heaven,” she whispered. “How long have you been a Ranger?”

“Almost three years and I’ve never regretted my decision. To answer your next question, Eileen is married to a successful businessman. According to my mother, she’s expecting her second child, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

Neither could Kellie.

Once they’d eaten a quick lunch, they dropped off the rental car and caught their flight back to Austin. They walked to the short-term parking for Cy’s car and headed for her parents’ ranch.

“We made good time, Cy. It’s only four o’clock.”

“That’s why I wanted to get away early this morning.”

She gave him directions and soon he’d pulled up in front of their ranch house. “Would you like to come in? I know my parents would like to talk to you.”

“Another time and I will, but I’ve still got a lot of business to do. Don’t forget that one of the crew always keeps you in his sights.”

“I know. I’ll ask my parents to drive me to the town house tonight.”

“Give me a call. I’ll be waiting for you.”

He had no idea what that meant to her, but he was probably tired of hearing it and she could tell he was anxious to leave. She climbed out of the car and hurried to the front door. Opening it, she called out, “Mom?”

“In the kitchen, darling.”

Kellie wheeled around and waved to Cy. He waved back and drove off. She stared after him, wishing she didn’t feel strange when his car disappeared. As if she’d lost something.

Her mom gave her a hug. “You’re back earlier than I would have expected.”

She took a deep breath. “Cy accomplished what he needed. Where’s dad?”

“He’s out in the pasture, but he’ll be back by six.”

“Then I’ll have enough time to do some training drills with Trixie before dinner.”

Her mother followed her up the stairs to her old bedroom. “What happened today?”

Kellie walked over to the dresser where she kept her older clothes and pulled out a top and some jeans. “He found out how the stalker got my cell-phone number.” While she changed outfits, she told her mom everything. “He’s so amazing, I couldn’t believe it. Talk about methodical. His mind works differently than the average person’s.