“It’s been a busy day.”

“Let me explain relationships to you.”

“Do not condescend to me.”

“I just needed to know that you were breathing. Is that difficult?”

“I’m learning to be less independent, Ryan. But this is who I am.”

“You think I want you to be less independent?” He laughed, and she was about to hang up. She didn’t need personal strife during an investigation. “Max, I love you because of who you are. But because I love you, I want to know you’re safe when I hear the man you flew to San Antonio to interview was shot outside the courthouse.”

He was right. “I’m sorry, Ryan.”

“Accepted. Only because I know you don’t say ‘sorry’ if you don’t mean it.”

That was true. She could count on one hand the times she’d told someone she was sorry, and each time she’d been in the wrong and they deserved an apology.

“I am getting used to this. I appreciate your patience.”

“How formal. You’re getting used to being in love, just say it.”

She squirmed. Not because she didn’t love him, but because she wasn’t as comfortable talking about it. She preferred showing her feelings rather than sweet-talking.

“What happened out there?” Ryan asked, and Max was grateful he changed the subject.

“I met with Grant this morning and he lied to me.”

“About?”

“A lie of omission. He knows more than he’s saying. Maybe it’s just that he’s had six weeks in jail thinking about how to get out of the hole he dug for himself.” She told Ryan about the alleged threat against his sister and the subsequent car accident. “His fear appeared real, but I don’t like flying halfway cross-country and having someone attempt to play me. Yet someone tried to kill him, which has me thinking he does know something and whoever ‘they’ are that he mentioned want him silent. He gave me a small lead and Rogan is pursuing it.”

“Where are you?”

“Fredericksburg. I just arrived at the Mills ranch.”

“Alone?”

“Yes,” she said, knowing where he was going.

“If the shooter knew when Grant was leaving the courthouse, they could know that you met with him. They might think you know something.”

“And his attorney? You think they’ll kill both of us?”

“Don’t say that.”

“I promise, if there was a threat then I would have asked David to return from California. Rogan’s helping me.”

“But he’s not with you now.”