“Wait. Are you talking about Shauna Tipton, the cheerleader a couple of years older than us? Didn’t she date Dwayne? This sounds like a damn soap opera.”
“Tell me about it. I’ve been living this nightmare for years. Brian’s a good man. Shauna will use anything that can be taken out of context.”
“Right. I still don’t see why the police would arrest my brother. If there’s nothing between you guys, how did they connect Brian to the kidnapping?”
“I’ve always been his friend and I stayed here with J.W. while Brian worked his four-day shift in Fort Worth last week.”
“Shift?”
“He’s a paramedic. Wasn’t that where he was headed this morning when they arrested him?”
“He didn’t mention where he was headed. Just that he’d be gone four days.”
Spoken just like his brother. Same attitude, tone, inflection. If they tried to fool people, not many would be able to tell them apart. But she could. She also recognized the stubbornness that kept them from speaking to each other after Johnny left for the navy.
“I’m not reprising the role of mediator between you two. You can talk to him at the police station.”
He nodded once. Curt, not rude. Just like he accepted her words and there was no need for any more. “That still doesn’t explain why they’d think Brian kidnapped your daughter.”
“Lauren. Her name is Lauren, and I want her home. She needs to be home with me.” Fear blocked the last words, cutting them short.
“Do you know why they’re assuming he took Lauren, tried to kill you and then just hung around the ranch until he was arrested?” He’d raised his voice just a tad and looked toward J.W., who still appeared to be sleeping far enough away not to hear the conversation. “It isn’t a logical plan of attack and would mean that you involved a third person to hide Lauren somewhere. It doesn’t make sense.”
“They don’t need a reason. There are townspeople who have been trying to send him to jail for twelve years.”
John’s brows drew together. He shook his head, compressed his lips and appeared genuinely confused.
“You don’t know? You’re Brian’s twin and you’re telling me you don’t know what happened after you left?”
“Would I be asking if I did?” He sounded very annoyed.
Technically, he hadn’t asked, but she saw the visible tick in his jaw muscle. He was obviously upset. She could barely believe her two best friends had grown so far apart. Identical twins who had shared secrets and pranks all through school.
“Brian admitted to starting the fire that killed Mrs. Cook.”
“I know. He thought I caused the accident and took the blame.”
There was some emotion Johnny couldn’t hide. He stiffened and blinked his eyes a smidgen too long. They’d both changed over twelve years, but some things never would. The man sitting with her was just as hurt as the eighteen-year-old boy had been when his brother had believed the lies spread about the fire.
“They’ve never forgiven him.”
“Who?” He looked genuine asking his question, like he really didn’t have a clue.
“Everybody. Other than the sheriff, Mabel and me, no one talks to him. Ever. No one ever told you why he didn’t go to A&M?”
“I assumed he changed his mind. Neither of us were good in school.”
“But you knew he lost his scholarship, right?”
John’s poker face melted.
“Your dad never said anything?”
“He didn’t talk too much about Brian.” John dropped his gaze to the tabletop.
“In other words, you didn’t ask because you didn’t want to hear.”
“I’m listening now.”
“The town was upset about Mrs. Cook’s death. It didn’t matter that it was an accident. They wanted Brian punished. So there were outcries and editorials demanding consequences. Teachers withdrew their letters of recommendations.”
“They could do that?” he asked in a hurt whisper.
“The university suddenly didn’t have a full scholarship. They reduced it to about a thousand dollars. He couldn’t finance the rest.”
Disbelief, astonishment, anger—a ton of emotion took charge and marched across his face. “You can count on my help. Whatever it takes. We’ll find your daughter and clear Brian.”
“I don’t know what you can do, John. The police and rangers have an Amber Alert. No one saw anything, no clues, no prints, no way to find her. It’s like she just disappeared.”
Alicia saw his fists tighten, ready to do battle to defend his family. It had been a while since she’d felt someone was completely on her side.
“I can help. Trust me.”
The harsh tightness across his face softened. His hand took hers and she saw a glimpse of a friend. It had been a while since she’d depended on anyone. She nodded, realizing that trusting him was second nature. She’d run to the Double Bar because he was home.
Chapter Five
“Tell me what happened after I left and what we’re up against.” John paced the kitchen, keeping his dad’s napping form in his peripheral vision. He didn’t want him upset.
After the first couple of stories, John barely listened to Alicia’s recounting of how the town had treated Brian. He was still stuck on his brother’s arrest. Instead of calling a lawyer, Brian had phoned Alicia.
What was up with that? Was it his way of keeping his family informed without talking to John? Warning Alicia? She thought they were being framed. “Do the police know who Brian called?”
“I’m not sure.” She looked as confused as he felt.
Cute and confused, with that worry line emphasized between her brows. Now wasn’t the time for an attraction, and neither was the future. Alicia claimed there was nothing between her and Brian, and she thought they were only friends. They were clearly closer than either wanted to admit. They always had been.
“What did Brian say, exactly?”
She put her fingertips to her temples, concentrating. “They pulled him over, found Lauren’s bear and crown behind his seat—the one I said she had with her when they...when they took her. The Aubrey police would be coming to the house to talk to me.”
“You sort of buried the lead, Alicia. I think Brian called to warn you not to go home.”
“Do you think they left something at my house?” She shook her head and her long hair fell forward, covering her face. “The media has already taken Shauna’s side and is insinuating that I arranged for Lauren’s kidnapping to get the ransom money. Do you believe they’re going to arrest me? I haven’t done anything.”
He didn’t have time to be sensitive, so blunt would have to work. “If Shauna’s gone to the trouble to frame you for faking a kidnapping, don’t you think they’d plant evidence to implicate you?” He let that info take root. “You’ve got two choices. Turn yourself in and hope it can all be sorted out legally.”
She looked up, eyes wide with fright. “If I’m in jail, no one will be looking for Lauren.”
John didn’t correct her. Everyone had looked for her daughter. To clear Brian, he would do more than just look. He’d find her. “Then hide.”
“How can I hide? I don’t have any money and I can’t go anywhere. Dad’s