“I was sitting behind him in the courtroom and after the jury sentenced him, he turned around and said when he got out, he’d come after me and finish it off.” She saw Roan’s eyes become shards of ice.
“You need to tell that to Sarah,” he murmured, rubbing her shoulders gently.
“I will. . . .” she said, and she sniffed, feeling tears burning in her eyes again. Valiantly, Shiloh fought them away.
“You’re upset,” Roan said, giving her a small smile of encouragement, holding her shattered gaze. “There’s no way you’re going to remember everything the first time around. I’m sure Sarah will be asking you more questions as soon as she gets off the phone. Okay?”
Just his reassurance gave Shiloh purchase. “Y-yes.” Her gaze went to Sarah as she made connection with the probation officer. She sat quietly, listening to Sarah’s end of the conversation. When Sarah asked the officer to send her photos and the file on Leath, Shiloh started feeling a little relief. Sarah believed her. The sheriff’s department would help her.
Sarah hung up the phone, her face grim. She held Shiloh’s broken gaze. “You heard what I asked for. What we’ll do is distribute Leath’s photo to every deputy here in Lincoln County, as well as other law enforcement agencies in the surrounding counties, including the state of Idaho, which is less than fifty miles away from Jackson Hole.” She frowned and rustled her slender fingers through a pile of papers, studying a schedule. “And I’m assigning a detective to this investigation, Shiloh. He will go undercover. I’m going to instruct him to be nosing around Wind River, and several other smaller towns along Highway 89 that run through the center of the valley. Our man will be dressed as a tourist so Leath won’t be able to spot him that easily. I’ll get this detective, who is coming on for the next shift, and give him the intel and his orders.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Shiloh whispered. She grimaced. “Sarah? Why didn’t the New York City police find this out? Why didn’t they check to see if Leath was already released?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes departments get overwhelmed and steps are missed or thought to be low importance at the station. I’m sure when you told the police and the detective that Leath was in federal prison, they didn’t bother to check your statement. They should have, but they didn’t.” She opened her hands. “They’re human too, Shiloh. It doesn’t excuse this mistake, however.”
“It sounds like they put Shiloh’s issue at the bottom rung of a lot of other investigations that were probably considered more high priority,” Roan said.
“Exactly.” Sarah nodded. “What ELSE can you tell me about Leath? Anything you can give me will help us to find him. Even if you don’t think it’s important, tell me anyway.”
Shiloh nodded and closed her eyes, going back to the time when her mother started dating Leath, and slowly moved forward from that time until he stabbed her to death. It took another hour and by the time she was finished, Shiloh felt gutted and emotionally exhausted. It was five P.M.
“This is very helpful,” Sarah congratulated her, giving her a look of sympathy. “All of this is valuable intel, Shiloh. I’m sorry we had to put you through it again.”
“I’d rather do it because you at least believe me.”
Roan pointed to the paper that Shiloh had given him earlier. “That’s the list of people who were on the Wind River the morning that Shiloh had that threat reaction. She didn’t know any of the people, but Leath could have put down a fake name, too.”
Sarah picked it up, rapidly perusing it. “I wouldn’t put anything past him, but I’ll have one of my deputies run these names through our system, see if we get a hit. If we don’t, then I’ll assign someone to call every B and B, motel, and hotel here in our county, as well as in Teton County where Jackson Hole is located, to see if he’s around and under the assumed name. If we get anything, I’ll let you know right away, Shiloh.”
“Good . . . thank you. But knowing Leath like I do, he’s very sneaky and manipulative.”
“All passive-aggressive behavior,” Sarah agreed. She set the paper aside and gave her an understanding look. “Right now, you need to go home and rest.” She glanced over at Roan. “Are you staying at one of the employee’s house? I’d talked to Maud about a week ago and she was telling me Shiloh was there taking a writing sabbatical.”
“Yes, she’s been at the employee house with me since she arrived,” Roan said.
Shiloh compressed her lips. “Sarah? Am I safe there in that house? What should I do? Maybe I should leave the ranch? Keep everyone there safe from Leath? Go somewhere else?”
“Well,” Sarah said, “given your warning reaction you had a couple of days ago, the law officer in me says it’s possible Leath was on Wind River Ranch property looking for you.”