contemplated that idea. What if Leo had been seeing another woman and she had killed him?
Still, why would that woman abduct Sam?
Unless she thought Willow had Leo’s money.
“Tell me about his business,” Brett said. “What did Leo do for a living?”
“When we first met, he said he’d made it big with some investment, something about mining uranium.”
Made sense. Wyoming was rich in rare earth elements and mining.
“Did he say how much money he made? Thousands? A million?”
Willow bit down on her lip. “No. He just said he’d—we’d—be taken care of for life.”
Brett considered the small house where Willow lived. “If he had so much money, why were you living in that little place?”
Willow frowned. “I moved there after Leo left. I wanted a fresh start.”
“Where was your other house?”
“Cheyenne,” Willow said. “But it was a rental, too. He said he was holding out to buy a big spread and build his dream house. But he never started anything.”
“Did he have a business card? Or was there a business associate he mentioned?”
“No.” Willow’s voice cracked. “I’m sorry. I’m not being much help.”
She obviously hadn’t known much about her husband, which seemed odd to him. Willow had always been honest, trusting, and she valued family but she was also cautious because her father had had problems.
So why had she been charmed by Leo? Had his money appealed to her?
That also didn’t fit with the Willow he’d known.
“Did Leo have any family? A sister? Brother? Parents?”
“No,” Willow said. “He lost both his parents.” Willow leaned against the back of the porch swing, her face ashen. “Looking back, Brett, I feel like I didn’t know Leo at all.”
Brett tossed back the rest of his whiskey. “You’re exhausted now, but maybe tomorrow you’ll remember more.”
If he was lucky, he’d find something in the house to add insight into Willow’s dead husband.
Knowing more about him might clue them in to the reason for his death.
He patted Willow’s hand. “Go inside and try to get some sleep.”
“How can I sleep when I don’t know where Sam is? He must be scared...and what if he’s hurt? What if that man did something to him?”
Brett cupped her face with his hands. “Listen to me, Willow. If this man wanted something from Leo, and he didn’t get it, he’s going to use Sam as leverage. So if we figure out what kind of trouble Leo was in, we can figure out how to save your son.”
He coaxed her to stand. “Try to rest until he calls with his demands.”
Willow glanced down at his hand. “Are you staying here?”
He wanted to. But that would be too tempting.
“No. I’ll run back to the farmhouse to shower. I’ll bring you some breakfast in a little while, then we can stop by your house for some of your things.”
He opened the door and ushered her inside. “Now lock up. You’ll be safe here. And when the kidnapper calls, phone me and I’ll come right over.”
Her golden eyes flickered with fear, but she nodded and slipped inside. He waited until he heard the door lock, then hurried to his truck before he went inside and crawled in bed with her.
Tension thrummed through him as he drove back to the farmhouse and parked.
Just as he let himself inside the house, Maddox was jogging down the steps. His gaze roved over Brett’s dirt-stained clothes, a disapproving scowl stretching his mouth into a thin line.
“We just buried our father, and you went out partying, huh?” Maddox muttered. “Some things never change, do they?”
Brett bit his tongue to keep from a retort.
Unable to tell him the truth, he let his brother believe the lesser of the evils, pasted on a cocky grin like he would after an all-night drunk and climbed the steps to his old room.
If his brother knew that he’d buried a murdered man on McCullen land, he’d lock him up and never talk to him again.
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