Free The Sheriff by Angi Morgan

gone, she’d kept them in her hand. She placed the key in the ignition and started the car. Pete looked at her strangely and agreed with whomever he was talking to. Cell still to his ear, he put the car in gear and took off quickly, a cloud of dust billowing behind them.
    “Two males. About a hundred yards from the vehicle. No, that’s not in question.” He paused, listening. “No, she’s not staying. I agree, not over the phone. I assume someone’s listening and I won’t risk it.”
    “What’s not a problem?” she asked, but he hadn’t hung up and just waved her question aside.
    “Yes, sir. I understand, sir.” Pete stuck the phone in his shirt pocket.
    “I can tell that was my father. What are our orders now?”
    “Your transport is meeting us at the observatory.”
    “And I have no say in it.” She wanted to fight for her right to stay and yet...two men were dead.
    “No, Andrea, you don’t. It’s obvious to everyone now that you were the target. The man beside Griggs in that ditch is the same one from the car.”
    “And Sharon?” She’d barely known the young woman, but her heart sank under the guilt. Sharon was probably dead because Pete had taken her to Marfa instead of to the observatory. If it hadn’t been for Pete finding her when he did, she’d be dead, too.
    Pete’s phone rang, squealing a hard-rock tune she loved before he tapped it and raised it to his ear. “Come on, Dad. Take it easy on the man and work with him. Right. You, too. See you at the ranch.”
    Question after question rammed their way into her mind and needed to be asked as soon as Pete set the phone down.
    “They thought they were us. That could have been you. Oh, my God, I can’t believe— I mean, I know what that suit tried to do last night, but it all sort of seemed surreal. You were there to stop him. What do we do now? I mean, I heard what you said, but are you taking me to the Commander? He’s going to ship me home on the first plane headed in that direction. Or any direction, for that matter.”
    “Honestly, Andrea, you throw out so many questions that I don’t know where to start. They haven’t found your friend. Were you close?”
    “Not really. I just can’t believe she’s dead.”
    “The body from last night is an undercover agent working for your father.” His grip tightened on the wheel. He was obviously upset, too. “I’ll wait with you until your father’s helicopter arrives. He’s ordered—”
    “I’m not leaving.”
    “Someone’s trying to kill you. Two people are dead, maybe three. What do you mean you aren’t going?”
    “I’ve waited two years for this one week. This one specific week. I’m scheduled to use the telescope for the next six nights. If I don’t, all of my research is useless.”
    “And that’s more important than your life?”
    “I have one shot at this star.”
    “In the right wind, one shot’s all any sniper needs.”
    “You really believe that my life is in danger?”
    “Yes. Or worse,” he mumbled, but she heard him loud and clear.
    “Then I’ll go.” She really had no choice. The longer she stayed here, the more people she put in danger. Her father had loosely warned about threats a year ago when he was transferred. Until that very moment, she’d never believed anyone would actually threaten her.
    Now she was indirectly responsible for at least one man dying. She couldn’t handle another—specifically Pete—losing his life, too.
    “You’re not just saying the words that I want to hear. You’re going to leave when the time comes?” He reached out and tipped her chin upward. Her eyes raised from her hands and focused on the dimples apparent in his cheeks.
    His smile relieved the apprehension, lessened the guilt, made her want to spar with him again. “Do you need me to pinkie-swear or something, Sheriff?”
    “Acting sheriff, and no.” He rested the crook of his arm on the back of the seat between them. “So...um...I guess this will be it.