Free Diamond in the Rough (Precious Gems) by A.A. King

concern.  He had a large amount of an over the counter sleeping aid and Xanax in his system.  I have checked with his doctor and he said that he had never prescribed Xanax for Charles.”
    “Brian, wasn’t that the pills that Maria was searching for?  The ones that she claimed Jason stole?”
                  “What does this all mean? “ Cheyenne questioned.  “Well, we have a theory but I’m not sure that you want to hear it,” he said. 
    “I don’t want to , but I need to,” Cheyenne stated, near tears. 
    “We believe that he was working late at the office when someone he was familiar with came in.  We know he was drugged at the office shortly before his death because the medical examiner found an undigested, partially dissolved pill in his stomach contents.” He said as Cheyenne interrupted. 
    “Why would anyone drug him if they were going to shoot him?” she asked apparently confused by the theory. 
    “Whoever killed him, drugged him first to make him more manageable.  His filing cabinet was ransacked and at the time we could not tell if he had done it or the murderer.  Our theory is that they needed to be in control of him for one reason or another.  We really haven’t figured that part out completely yet.  When they were finished or had given up, they shot him once in the temple.”
    Cheyenne’s mind was spinning.  “Could Jason really be that dangerous,” she questioned herself. 
    “Do you still think that Jason is the murderer?”  
    Brian face tensed.  “Yes, we suspect it but we are having a hard time tying up the loose ends.  All we have right now is circumstantial evidence,” he confessed. 
    “Do you think that you will ever be able to prove that Jason killed my father?” Cheyenne asked, catching Brian off guard. 
    “Cheyenne, I’m not sure, but with you as my witness I will not stop trying.”
                  Cheyenne knew that he spoke the truth.  He would continue to try but what worried her was whether he would be trying to convict an innocent man.  She tried to put the conversation out of her mind and decided to check on Blaze.  Cheyenne had finally gotten the courage to go to the stable alone.  Before she could approach the stall she was grabbed from behind.  A strong hand went over her mouth and held her tightly.  She was against a hard muscular body and could not move. 
    Into her ear the man whispered,” Cheyenne, it’s me, Jason.  Don’t scream and I’ll let you go.  Slowly, as though testing the waters, he removed his hand from her mouth.  She stood still but realized that she was not afraid. 
    Spinning around to face him she whispered, “How did you get here?” 
    He looked worried and tired as he answer ed,” I snuck in through the pasture.  I need your help Cheyenne” 
    “Just tell me what y ou need,” she said as she took a step away from him. 
    “I ’m being framed by someone and what is even worse is I think I’m being followed.  My attorney told me that I’m days away from being arrested for Charles’s murder and I promise you that I didn’t hurt him.  I couldn’t have ever murdered him.  He was my friend.  I need to find out who did this and I need to know quickly,” Jason exclaimed. 
    “Jason, what do you want me to do?  I don’t see how I can be of any help to you.  There are plenty of people convinced that you committed this murder and that you may have been responsible for trying to kill me. ” she said. 
    He looked defeated.  She felt such empathy for him but truly did n’t know what she could do for him. 
    “ I need for you to help me prove I’m innocent.  I don’t know how just yet but when I do, I need to know that you’ll be there for me.  I didn’t try to kill you.  Until today, I was not aware that anyone had.” He said, full of concern.  Cheyenne nodded her head in agreement just as she heard footsteps coming up the walk.  She turned to see who was coming and