Daughter of Texas by Terri Reed Page A

edged past him and walked away with Captain Parker.
    Ben reentered the conference room and accepted his comrades’ well wishes with bittersweet emotion. He held up a hand and waited until they quieted down. “Whereare we in the investigation? I want this guy caught before he comes after Corinna since she can ID him.”
    â€œStill waiting on forensics to identify more trace elements found at the scene after the break-in,” Oliver said.
    â€œWe should have the ME’s report by noon,” Gisella said.
    â€œThe neighbors didn’t see or hear a thing,” Levi said.
    â€œWe found several sets of tire tracks at the back gate. Hard to say if they were fresh or not. Took impressions and gave them to forensics. Still waiting.”
    â€œHurry them along.” Ben turned his gaze to Daniel and Marvel. “And the man found shot with Greg?”
    â€œComa guy? No change,” Marvel replied. “SAPD sent over two officers. They’ll report in if there’s any development.”
    Disappointment lodged a boulder in his chest. “So basically, we have squat.”
    An uncomfortable silence fell across the room.
    â€œCome on, people. No one can be that good. Our killer had to mess up somehow. We just have to find his mistake.” Ben prayed his words were true. Turning to Anderson, he asked, “What does the SAPD officer from last night have to say?”
    â€œNot much. Guy came up from behind him and hit him over the head with a rock from the garden,” Anderson replied.
    â€œPrints?”
    Anderson shook his head. “Guy wore gloves.”
    â€œFigures,” Ben said. He shifted his gaze to another Ranger seated at the table. “Oliver, when Paige arrives,see if the facial recognition software has come up with an ID for coma guy.”
    â€œWill do, Captain.” Oliver grinned. “I sure like the sound of that.”
    Ben wished he could fully embrace his new title, but his grief was too fresh. He’d give anything to have Greg back. “Thanks.”
    His gaze swept over the remaining Rangers. “Beat the bushes. Find something useful. Cade, check with the DA. See if any of Greg’s old cases send up any red flags. We have to work this from every angle. The guy’s still out there and Corinna could be his next target.”
    â€œOn it, boss,” Cade said as he slipped his cell phone out of his sport-coat pocket. He rose and left the conference room.
    Ben headed for Greg’s office. He unlocked the door and flipped on the overhead light. A long filing cabinet ran the length of the room beneath the large rectangular window overlooking the back parking lot. The mahogany desk facing the door was neat, just the way Greg liked it, with files piled on the corner edge, pens in their holder and a computer waiting to be booted up.
    Behind the desk, the rust-colored, high-back leather chair beckoned for its owner to sit. Ben wasn’t that man.
    How could he ever measure up to his mentor and friend’s legacy? Greg had been a fierce leader, determined to right wrongs and bring order out of chaos. He’d taught Ben how to exert power without aggression, how to remain calm in the face of deadly situations and how to uphold the law while upholding justice because the two didn’t always coincide.
    Greg’s certificates covered the wall facing Ben. College diplomas, academy documents, Ranger credentials. Pieces of a man’s life.
    Shaking off the melancholy threatening to cut off his breath, Ben moved behind the desk. With a slight hesitation, he sat in the leather chair. As difficult as this situation was, he had an investigation to conduct. He was Captain now.
    Get on with it, he admonished himself.
    With determination, he booted up the computer. It didn’t take long to figure out the password—Corinna. Ben opened the top drawer and examined the contents—pens, paperclips, stacks of sticky notepads, official