“The woman who scares accountants.”
Khloe laughed.
Then the office window shattered.
Vincent moved first.
He pulled Khloe down.
Glass struck the desk.
A rifle shot cracked from outside.
Men shouted.
Vincent drew his revolver.
“Stay down.”
Another shot.
Then hoofbeats.
Riders leaving fast.
Vincent reached the window carefully.
Two figures.
South road.
Too far to identify.
He turned.
Khloe was pale.
“You hit?”
“No.”
He crossed to her.
Checked anyway.
Hands at shoulders.
Arms.
Face.
She stared at him.
“I said no.”
“I know.”
“You’re shaking.”
Vincent looked at his own hand.
She was right.
Not fear for himself.
Something worse.
He lowered his hand.
Khloe touched his chest.
“I’m here.”
He nodded.
Then saw the desk.
A bullet had struck the manila folder.
Right through the forged deeds.
Khloe looked too.
“They know.”
Vincent’s expression hardened.
“Yes.”
No more pretending.
Sheriff Dalton arrived before sunset.
So did Vincent’s attorney, Elias Moore.
They listened.
Examined documents.
Interviewed Samuel.
Elias looked increasingly disturbed.
“This company registration alone is enough to freeze transfer.”
“Do it,” Vincent said.
“The money theft is harder.”
“Why?”
“Need bank records.”
Khloe handed him a stack.
Elias blinked.
“What are these?”
“Copies.”
“Of?”
“Everything.”
He stared at her.
Vincent almost smiled.
Elias read.
Then looked at Vincent.
“Where did you find her?”
“Ranch office.”
Khloe blushed.
Vincent enjoyed that more than he should.
Sheriff Dalton tapped Marco’s name.
“No proof he’s alive except Samuel.”
Samuel said:
“And Paulie.”
Sheriff looked up.
“If Paulie admits.”
“He won’t.”
Vincent said:
“Then we make him meet Marco.”
Everyone turned.
Elias frowned.
“How?”
Vincent looked at Khloe.
She understood immediately.
“The deed.”
“Yes.”
“If Paulie believes you signed it…”
“He has to deliver.”
Samuel shook his head.
“Dangerous.”
Vincent smiled without humor.
“That applies to most useful plans.”
Khloe did not smile.
“No.”
Vincent looked at her.
She stood.
“No.”
Elias watched with interest.
Khloe continued.
“You’re not carrying fake signed deeds into a meeting with a brother who may have staged his own death.”
Vincent raised an eyebrow.
“You have an alternative?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She walked toward the map.
“We let Paulie carry them.”
Silence.
Khloe pointed toward the false company paperwork.
“He wants your signature.”
“Yes.”
“Give him one.”
Elias said quickly:
“Absolutely not.”
“Not legal signature.”
Khloe looked at him.
“A copy altered enough to be invalid.”
Elias slowly understood.
“Forgery designed as decoy.”
“Yes.”
Vincent looked at her.
“Then?”