Bragg settled his hat on his head as he moved toward the crime-scene tape billowing in a soft breeze. He was clean shaven, his hair still wet from the shower. “What do we have?”

Winchester tore his gaze from the empty car. “She somehow managed a call to paramedics an hour and a half ago. She wasn’t able to speak, but they traced the GPS on her phone.”

He pulled plastic gloves from his pocket and put them on. “Did she say anything else to the nine-one-one operator?”

“She didn’t say a word. The operator asked her a bunch of questions but she didn’t answer.”

He glanced past Winchester to the car. The door was open and the ground around it littered with the paramedic’s discarded wrappers. “Are we sure she placed the call?”

Winchester shrugged. “All I can say for sure is the call was placed from her phone in this location.”

Frustration snaked up his back and curled around his shoulders. His first thought was for Greer. He reached for his cell and dialed. The phone rang twice before she said, “Greer Templeton.”

“Greer. Tec Bragg.”

A heavy silence followed. “What can I do for you?”

He turned from Winchester and the other cops and stared off toward the wooded park. “Where are you now?”

“At Bonneville. I’m getting into my truck and headed into the fields with Mitch as soon as he waters the horses.”

Relief corralled his anxiety. She was on her property. Safe. And Mitch was with her. “Do you have time to meet later today?”

She dropped her voice. “What’s this about?”

Around him cop-car lights flashed. Media gathered. “Not over the phone.”

A heavy hesitation sizzled over the line. “Sure. I’ll be on the property until two.”

“Where are you going at two?”

“Austin. Is there a problem?”

He didn’t want to tell her about Jennifer like this. “Just need a few details clarified.”

“Sure.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Why are you coming into the city?”

She paused. “I’m going to Rory’s funeral. It’s today.”

He frowned, his mind targeting all that could go wrong at the funeral. “Is that such a good idea?”

“Doubtful. But I’m going.”

“Greer, think about this. David Edwards is only going to cause you trouble.”

“I’m just going to pay my respects. I’ll keep my distance.”

He considered all the logical reasons she shouldn’t go and sensed he could lay them all out and she’d still do as she pleased. He checked his watch. “The funeral is at three?”

“Yes. The Catholic church in West Lake Hills.”

He catalogued the information. “I’ll meet you there.”

“You don’t have to.”

“It’s as good a place as any. We need to talk.”

“Okay.”

“Stay close to Mitch. He can look out for you.”

“You’re making me nervous.”

“Don’t mean to.” It took effort to soften his voice.

“Okay. See you then.”

He closed the phone and stuck it back in his belt cradle.

Winchester studied him. “What was that about?”

“Checking in with Greer.”

A small smile tweaked the edge of Winchester’s lips. “You wanted to make sure she was okay?”

No sense denying it. “Yes.”

Winchester studied him closely. “That’s not like you. In fact, I don’t remember you ever taking such a personal interest in a person associated with a case.”

He shrugged. “I am now.”

“Why? And don’t give me a story about it being about the case. I sang that song enough when Jo was in danger last year.”

Bragg squared his shoulders. “It’s about the case.”

“It’s about her.” Winchester shook his head. “Don’t bullshit me or yourself.”

Bragg shifted his stance. “What is this, like our special girl-sharing time?”

Winchester laughed. “You care about the woman.”

Bragg considered a rebuttal and then squashed it. The truth wasn’t as hard to swallow as he’d thought. He cared about Greer. “I hardly know the woman.”

Winchester chuckled. “Doesn’t take a lot of facts or time to form an attraction. She’s a good-looking woman and looks like she could go up against you and not break a sweat.”

“She’s a tough gal.”

“Men like us need strong, independent women. Not easy being with a Ranger. Shit, danger aside, we work ungodly hours. Jo gets that. And Greer would, too.”

“Last I checked you had her figured for a suspect.”

Winchester shrugged. “I might be amending my opinion.”

“Why?”

“For one the analysis on the tire tracks at Rory’s crime scene came back. They don’t match any of Greer’s vehicles. And I got the analysis surveillance tapes from area hardware stores about an hour ago. We targeted stores selling generators. All were men.”

“Any positive ID?”

“No. But none were Greer.”

He didn’t need confirmation on Greer’s innocence, but having evidence would help her avoid any undue scrutiny from the law later.

Bragg rested his hands on his hips as he surveyed the crowd. His feelings for Greer ran deeper than attraction. But the last damn thing he was going to do was discuss this with Winchester or anyone other than Greer.

Being with a Ranger. Yeah, he liked the sound of that.

“Has Jennifer Bell’s next of kin been notified?” Bragg said.

Winchester wrestled a grin from his face. “Her boyfriend is calling her parents who are in Europe right now.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small notebook. He fished through several pages. “His name is Adam Owens. He’d been contacted and he’s on his way to the hospital.”

“Good. I want to talk to him.”

“I’ll pull Jennifer’s phone records. Maybe the killer called her before she died. And I’ll get the uniforms going from door to door. They can hunt down security cameras and possible witnesses. Maybe somebody or a camera caught something.”

“Any word on Michael Sycamore?”

“Not yet. His secretary in Houston says he’s on vacation and won’t return for another week.”

“Does she know where he went?”

“No, but she’s trying to track him.”

“We need to find that guy as soon as possible.”

“Think he’s behind this?”

“If he’s not, he’s in danger.”

“So is Greer.”

“I know.”

Bragg drove to the hospital emergency room. The hum of machines mingled with the chatter of doctors, nurses, patients, and family. He went straight to the information desk and after showing his badge was directed to the curtained cubicle where the doctors had worked on Jennifer.

“Her boyfriend is in with her now,” the nurse said. “He asked the doctor for a moment.”

“Thanks.”

Bragg found Jennifer’s cubicle, arriving as Adam Owens stepped out from behind curtain dividers. His dark hair was slicked back as if he’d just gotten out of a shower, and he wore madras shorts, a white shirt, and deck shoes. The faint scent of aftershave drifted around him.

Adam glanced up at Bragg, red-rimmed eyes taking in the Ranger star, white hat, and gun. “You’re here for Jennifer?”

Bragg nodded. “Mr. Owens, I’m very sorry for your loss.”

He pressed the heel of his hand to his temple as if it pounded. “We were talking on the phone last night after she closed the shop. She was supposed to come by the house, and we were going to have dinner. She sounded excited and happy. I was going to grill steaks for us. And then she texted me and told me she wasn’t feeling well. Said she’d call in the morning. I texted her back and told her I loved her. She sent back a heart.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe she’d overdose. That does not make sense.”

What made sense was that she’d been murdered. Three people now who’d lived together in the same pod at Shady Grove were dead. All that remained were Greer and Michael. “She gave you no indication there was a problem?”

“No. She was in a great mood.” He glanced back at the curtained walls that separated him from Jennifer’s body. “She was running late but it was because it had been a busy day at the store. Sales had been exceptional.”