Will took one look at Carlo and nodded toward Granger as if silently saying he would take over now.
'Where is Anna?' Granger tried to get Carlo to look u him. After seeing her brother, Granger did not want to think about what shape she might be in.
Carlo did not answer. He swatted at Will and his assistants as though they were flies bothering him.
'We need to find her and get her to the hospital.'Granger tried to get past Carlo. 'I'll worry about Larson later.'
Carlo grabbed Farrington's shirt with bloody hands.
'She is fine! Wants to be left alone. Do not touch her, or I swear I will…'
'Now settle down, Carlo. No one else is going to hurt your sister. I just need to have her checked out for injuries and get her statement.' Granger pulled out of Carlo's grip.
'I will give you her statement.' Carlo shouted as Will and the two volunteers moved in on him.
Granger ignored him. While the medic examined Carlo cuts and wound, the sheriff stepped into the great room.,he had been here before, after Davis Montano's funeral. The place reminded him more of a hotel lobby than a home.
Now, it was a wreck. He had seen bar fights that left a room in more order. Sunlight knifed its way through the east windows, slicing the room in sections. A quilt lay crumpled on the couch, clothes were scattered across the floor, Travis Tritt's voice echoed through the rubble from speakers, mounted high on every wall.
The smell of blood blended with the scent of a puion fire burned low.
Granger almost tripped over a body in the shadows.!`Guys, we got another man hurt in here,' he shouted toward will.
'Let him bleed to death!' Carlo yelled. 'He raped my sister!'
Granger knelt and touched Zack's throat. He was still alive, though judging from the wounds he wouldn't be for long if he didn't get attention.
Carlo struggled with the two young men trying to get him on a gurney. 'If you put that man in the ambulance with me, I will finish killing him before I get to the hospital. I swear.'
Granger saw Will jab a shot into Carlo's arm. 'Just relax, friend. We're going to take care of you.' Will motioned, instructing his two assistants.
Carlo jerked away with the last of his strength. 'I do not want you to take care of me. I want you to hang Zack Larlon. He tried to kill me. He hurt my sister.'
Will and his helpers were used to handling drunks and cowboys at the rodeo. Before Carlo could react, they rolled him onto the gurney and strapped him in.
The medic signaled for the assistants to get the patient to the ambulance while he hurried to Granger's side. 'Is Larson alive?'
'For now.'
While he shouted orders to the young men now outside, Will cracked open his tool box of medical supplies. He worked like a pro. 'I'll get him stable and to the hospital. He's had a bad blow or two to the head. Which puts him in a great deal more danger than that Italian with a nickel's worth of lead in his leg.'
'What about Carlo's threat? Can you transport them both?'
'The shot I gave Vangetti will keep him sleeping like a baby for a while.' Will grinned. 'We'll give him a local and take care of that leg. The only danger he's in is dying of a heart attack if he doesn't calm down.'
As one assistant returned, Granger stood and looked around the room.
'Anna!' he called. 'Anna!' He walked carefully, afraid he might stumble over her also. If Carlo was telling the truth she could be hurt or even dead.
He noticed the gun on the hearth and let out a long breath. If she'd been assaulted and was armed, it could be dangrous. Most of these ranches had several guns around the place.
'Anna.' Granger moved through the house. 'Mrs. Montaro, it's all over. You can come out now. You're safe.'
He'd worked enough rapes in years past to know that the last person a victim wanted to see was a man. Anna might know him, but Granger doubted she would trust him. Maybe the uniform would help her know she was no longer in danger. The lady didn't like talking before, and after what might have happened to her, he held little hope she would give him a statement.
'Anna?'
The master bedroom was locked, but he heard her whimpering. 'Anna. Are you all right?'
'G-go a-away.' Her voice was so low he barely heard it.
'I'm here to help you, Anna. You don't have to be afraid anymore. Open the door.' In a big city he might have been more insistent, telling her she was a witness and if she didn't cooperate she could be held in contempt of court. But in Clifton Creek that kind of thing wouldn't fly. He had to be careful.
'I-I'm all right. Go away.'
'I just need to ask you a few questions.'
A silence followed. He could hear her moving toward the door.
'Open the door,' he said, leaning against the wood.
'N-no,' she whispered from the other side.
'I can help you.'
There was a long pause before the door opened a few inches. 'I-is Zack still alive?'
'Yes. We're taking him and your brother to the hospital. You want to ride along with me?' Granger wanted to push the door open, but he couldn't frighten her more.
She raised her head slightly and he saw the bruises. It lurked like Zack Larson had done a thorough job of beating her. 'G-go away. I-I will be fine.'
Granger couldn't force Anna to cooperate. She was like a frightened animal who'd been wounded.
'If we're going to file charges on the man who did this to you, we're going to need your help.'
'G-go away.' She closed the door. A moment later the lock snapped in place.
Granger heard Adam's voice coming from the living room. The deputy had made good time.
He hated leaving Anna, but he wasn't sure he was doing any good.
They were rolling Zack out when Granger stepped back Into the main room. 'You want me to wait for the woman?' Will asked. 'We've got a nurse over in the next county that can do a rape exam.'
'I'll bring her,' Granger said. 'Adam, see if you can get Helena Whitworth on the phone. Maybe Anna will go in with a friend by her side.'
Adam stumbled over a lamp. He had been a deputy long enough to wear out several uniforms and outgrow a few.
'And be careful,' Granger snapped. 'We got a crime scene here, and I'm not at all sure what happened.' Something bothered him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Carlo's account didn't fit the facts.
'Breaking and entering. Rape. Attempted murder. Zack Larson won't be seeing freedom any time soon,' Adam mumbled as he headed for the phone on the kitchen wall. He carried an attitude that said he had seen it all during his years as deputy and already knew who was guilty.
'Thanks.' Granger frowned. 'Saved us a lot of time sifting through this mess. How about we just go hang him like Carlo suggested?'
'That would be too good for him, hurting a fine lady like Mrs. Montano.' Adam shook his head. 'I remember back several years ago when Larson wasn't even out of high school. Caused all kinds of trouble. Appears he hasn't changed his stripes.'
Granger memorized the room as Adam tried several numbers to find Helena Whitworth. The gun was too far to have fallen from Zack's hand and Zack didn't look like he could have been in any condition to circle the room after he'd shot Carlo.
Will stepped back inside to grab his box of supplies.
Granger followed a hunch. 'Bag his hands for me, Will.'
'Which one, Carlo or Zack?'
'Both. I'll be in as soon as I can to run a powder test.'
Will waved and disappeared out the door.
'No luck,' Adam yelled from the kitchen. 'I talked with Mrs. Whitworth's daughter at the store. She said her mommi might have taken the phone off the hook to sleep in.'
