remain outside to watch the door. Cole and Daniel waited for her to
regain her breath.
Daniel offered her a chair, but she declined the invitation to sit and
began to pace around the office. It was very apparent that she was
highly agitated.
'Why have you assigned a guard to follow me? ' she asked.
'For protection, ' Cole answered.
'But why do you think I need to be protected? ' 'After the mob here
last night, we thought it was best to hire guards for all three of you
just to make sure no one tries to bother you.'
'Does the guard upset you? ' Cole asked.
'No, ' she answered. 'I am upset, but not because of Mr. Carver.
He's only doing his job.'
'Then what's bothering you? ' Cole asked.
'I've just heard the most startling news from that despicable reporter
this morning. He told me that one of the Blackwater gang has been
captured. Was the reporter lying or was he telling the truth? '
Because she was looking at Daniel, he stepped forward to answer. 'Yes,
it's true. One of them was caught.'
'Is he dead or alive? ' she cried out. 'Alive, ' Daniel answered.
'But just barely.'
'I hope he dies, ' she whispered, and then bowed her head. 'No, I
shouldn't say that. It's just that there's been so much killing, and
if he's responsible, he should pay for his crimes. Do they know the
man's name? ' 'I don't know if the authorities know his name or not, '
Daniel said. 'I didn't ask.'
'Are they bringing him back to Rockford Falls to stand trial? ' 'No,
they've taken him to Blackwater, Texas.
' 'Is that a long way from here? ' 'Yes, ' Cole answered.
She looked relieved.
'Good, ' she whispered. 'I won't have to worry about him getting loose
and coming after Jessica and Grace and me.' She collapsed into a chair
and began to fan herself with her handkerchief. 'The murderer has
confessed to his crimes, hasn't he? ' 'No, he hasn't.'
