A Lawman's Justice (Sweetwater Ranch Book 8) by Delores Fossen Page B

between them, he didn’t disappoint with the intimate contact. Nor did he stop the wildfire kisses on her neck and mouth.
    Shelby was certain that she was ready to lose it and drag him off to bed when Seth suddenly stopped. In the blink of an eye, he moved away from her, switching from hot cowboy to Mr. FBI. Because she was so rattled, it took her a moment to realize what had caused the transformation.
    His phone was ringing.
    Everything came back to her when he pulled his phone from his pocket. Not just the fierce attraction but the really important stuff. Such as the fact they were in the middle of a multiple murder investigation, and the call—
any
call—could be critical.
    “It’s Annette,” Seth said, glancing at the screen. He hit the speaker button on his phone.
    “Seth, you have to help me,” Annette insisted. Her words rushed together and were filled with a heavy breath. It sounded as if the woman was running.
    “What’s wrong?” Seth immediately asked.
    “Help me,” Annette repeated. “I’m near Whitt’s cabin, and someone’s trying to kill me. I’ll meet you at the sheriff’s office.”
    That was all Annette said before Shelby heard two other things that she didn’t want to hear.
    A gunshot followed by Annette’s blood-chilling scream.

Chapter Nine
    Seth cursed when he finished the call with Colt. Most of the sheriff’s deputies were out at the cabin looking for Annette, but no one had seen her—including Colt and the CSIs who were still processing the crime scene for Marcel’s murder.
    “No sign of Annette yet,” Seth relayed to Shelby.
    At least this time the bad news didn’t cause her to go pale. Probably because Annette wasn’t exactly a friend. Still, that didn’t mean Shelby was pleased that the woman possibly had become another victim of this “mask” killer.
    Or maybe Annette had just faked being in danger to draw Shelby and him out into the open for yet another attack.
    That was the reason Seth had asked two of the ranch hands to follow them into town. Just in case Annette had been telling the truth and had actually made it to the sheriff’s office, Seth wanted to question her, but he didn’t want to do that at the expense of risking Shelby’s life again.
    Seth heard a sound. One of the hall doors opening at the sheriff’s office. He was still so punchy that he nearly drew his gun before he realized it was Cooper. Unlike the deputies, Cooper was finishing up his interview with Hance, and, judging from the sheriff’s sour expression, it hadn’t gone well.
    “I have to release Hance,” Cooper volunteered.
    Even though that was exactly what Seth had expected, he still wished there was some kind of evidence to hold the man.
Real
evidence. And not just the word of the sleazebag who’d tried to kill Shelby and him in the truck explosion. Hance might not even be responsible for these attacks, but he was still a threat when it came to Shelby.
    Hance didn’t waste any time coming out of the interview room, and like before he was sporting that smirk that Seth wished he could punch off the guy’s face.
    “Careful,” Hance said, his attention going straight to Shelby. “There’s a fine line between harassment and bringing me in for questioning on the basis of what some piece of slime said. I’m thinking a judge will agree, as well. Either back off or I’ll go through with that harassment complaint.”
    “Go through with it,” Shelby said, her voice surprisingly level and calm. “I’m tired of your threats. Tired of you. So let’s finish this in court.”
    At least that caused Hance’s smirk to fade.
    Since the guy was essentially a murdering bully, he probably got off seeing Shelby afraid. But Seth was betting Shelby was too numb to deal with anything Hance was trying to dish out.
    Hance motioned for his attorneys to follow him, and he headed for the front door. However, he stopped when he reached the window. And Seth soon saw why.
    Annette was running straight for