The No. 1 Sheriff in Texas

“Well, hello, Brandon,” she greeted and looked at his uniform. “I guess I should call you Detective Randell now.”

“Just call me when you bake those delicious oatmeal cookies of yours, Bess.”

“You come out and see us more often and I’ll see what I can do.”

Brandon nodded. “Bess this is Nora Donnelly. She’s a nurse at West Hills.”

The two women exchanged greetings.

“Is it possible for us to see Karen Carlson?” he asked.

Bess nodded. “She’s in the rec hall, but I’ll have someone bring her to the garden room so you’ll have some privacy.”

“Thanks.” Brandon placed his hand under Nora’s elbow and directed her down the hall. Instead of intimidating her, this man’s touch stirred other feelings. Feelings she didn’t want to think about right now. If ever. When they came to a door, he opened it and moved aside for her to enter first.

The room was surprisingly large and beautiful. Light blue walls, antique white furniture and plush mushroom-colored carpeting. A floral sofa rested against one wall, on the opposite was a desk in front of a row of French doors. She walked across the room for a better view of a lattice-covered patio with large plants and flowers. Beyond, was a vast green lawn.

“It’s breathtaking,” she breathed against the glass pane.

There was a knock on the door and Brandon opened it to find Karen Carlson standing on the other side. The woman looked like a frightened deer. Her clothes hung on her thin body, with her bandaged arm in a sling. Her dark blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She was only thirty-five, but looked years older.

“I was told to come here,” she said nervously.

“Hello, Mrs. Carlson. I’m Detective Brandon Randell with the sheriff’s department.” He stepped aside. “Do you remember Nurse Donnelly?”

“Hi, Karen.” Nora smiled and went to her. “I’m glad you’re doing so well.”

“Nora.” Karen came into the room and gave a hesitant smile. “You came to see me?”

“That and to talk with you,” Brandon said as he directed the women to the sofa and they sat down. He swiveled a chair around and took his seat.

Brandon exchanged a glance with Nora. “We were wondering if you’ve had any contact with your husband.”

Karen looked panicked and shook her head vigorously. “Oh, no. He’s not supposed to know I’m here. That’s the rule. This place has to stay a secret.” Her eyes grew large. “They said if I contacted Pete I’d have to take my children and leave. I have nowhere else to go. And I can’t go back to him.”

Nora wrapped her arms around the woman and held her close. “It’s okay, Karen.”

“Please, don’t let him find me,” she cried.

Brandon knelt down in front of Karen. “Pete isn’t going to find you,” he promised. “You’re safe. Your kids are safe.” He glanced at Nora. “I just need to find Pete. We thought you might know where to look for him, some places he might go.”

Karen sniffed as she pulled back and Brandon handed her a folded white handkerchief from his back pocket.

She wiped her eyes. “When Pete drinks, he goes to a place called The Dark Room.”

“The strip club on the west side, off the county road?”

She nodded. “We didn’t live too far away. Just down the road at the Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park.”

Brandon took out his notepad. He couldn’t look at her as he recalled the shambles of the small trailer. He had no doubt Carlson had taken out more of his anger on the place. “We’ve checked out your home. There’s no sign of your husband. Does he have any other family around?”

“His brother lives in Dallas.” Karen gave him the name and address. “They don’t get along. He has a friend, Max. He lives at the trailer park also.” Karen’s gaze met Brandon’s. “The sheriff already asked me these questions.”

“Nora was attacked outside the hospital a few nights ago.”

Karen gasped, and glanced over at Nora’s face, her eyes widened as she spotted the faint bruises. “Who would do that to you?”

“We wondered if it could possibly be Pete,” Brandon said. “Maybe he knew she helped you when they brought you to the hospital.”

A tear rolled down Karen’s cheek. “This is my fault.” Her chin trembled. “If I’d just stayed…”

“No!” Nora interrupted her. “You can’t go back to a man who beat you. He could have killed you, Karen.”

“If I hadn’t made him so angry.”

Brandon touched her hand and felt her tense. He cursed to himself, but checked his own anger at the jerk who did this to her.

“You’re not to blame for this, Karen. There’s never a reason for a man to strike a woman. Ever,” he stressed. “So from this minute on you think about yourself and your kids. Haven House will help you start that new life—without a man like Pete. But first you have to believe in yourself.”

She blinked at her tears and gave him a nod. “Okay.”

He smiled. “Good. Now, we’re going to find Pete, but you have to press charges this time.” He stood, took out his wallet and pulled out two business cards. “Here’s a lawyer who’s a friend of mind, Brad Ashton. He does pro bono work for the center. He can help you. And here’s my card. If you need anything call me.”

Karen took the cards. “Thank you.” She stood. “If I remember anywhere else Pete could be, I’ll let you know.” Nora hugged her and they watched as Karen walked out.

The room grew silent as Brandon sat on the edge of the desk. So many emotions surfaced as memories of his own childhood flashed in his head. The years of fear, the fights and his mother’s muffled cries in the night. He’d been too young and couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

“Brandon?”

He jerked out of his reverie. “What?”

“Do you really think Pete was my attacker?”

“He seems to be the best lead we have. The most logical explanation.” His gaze met hers and his breath caught. “Unless you have another idea who it could have been?”

She glanced away. “No, I don’t.”

He’d bet his new promotion that she was keeping something from him. He checked his watch. “We should head back.”

Nora was more than ready to leave. She nodded and started across the room just as the door swung open and a mature woman walked in. Beautiful couldn’t describe her. Her auburn colored hair was styled in a blunt cut just below her ears. Her fair skin was as flawless as her trim figure.

Her rich green eyes softened as she looked at Brandon. “Well, I heard rumors that you were here.”

“More likely Bess tracked you down.” He embraced her and kissed the woman’s cheek. “Hello, Mom.”

“So you do remember who I am.” She stepped back from their embrace, then looked in Nora’s direction. “Hello, I’m Abby Randell.”

“Sorry, Mom. This is Nora Donnelly. She’s helping me with a case I’m working on.”