Page 22 of Rangers Last Promise

Wolf comes closer. “Let me see that.”

I hold it away from him.

“You don’t get to ask me for anything yet.”

“Mara, if Grant wrote down a name⁠—”

“The bottom of the page is missing.”

Trigger moves to Wolf’s side. “Was it torn out?”

“Cut. Several earlier pages were torn out, but this one was cut with something sharp.”

Doc’s attention shifts to the journal.

“Where did you find it?”

“In Grant’s Army bag inside my mother’s cedar chest.”

“Who knew you were cleaning out the house?”

“Half the town.”

“Who knew about the chest?”

“My mother. Me.” I hesitate. “Sheriff Tate helped move it into her bedroom after Dad died.”

Tate nods. “That was nine years ago. It was already locked.”

Doc removes his wet jacket and places it over the back of a chair. I glimpse the weapon holstered beneath his left arm.

“What?” I ask.

“Someone entered the house before the shot was fired.”

My skin prickles.

“I heard a floorboard creak downstairs.”

His entire body changes.

One moment he’s standing several feet away.

The next, he’s directly in front of me.

“You didn’t mention that.”

“I didn’t realize I was required to report to you.”

His jaw tightens. “Did you see anyone?”

“No.”

“Was the front door locked?”

“Yes.”

“Back door?”