“Maybe I’m just borrowing trouble,” Jarrod allowed, “but Wells is starting to claim that Ray Dean has been involved in a lot of crimes the police couldn’t pin on him.”

“How does Wells know?”

“Wells?” Tiffany repeated, her eyebrows shooting up.

“Isaac Wells?”

“Because Wells is claiming that he was his silent partner,” Jarrod said. “Says he helped mastermind the crimes and case the places Ray would rob. He left town because Ray was getting out of prison and he was afraid for his life, or something. Anyway, now he’s willing to turn state’s evidence against Ray Dean in return for immunity from prosecution.”

Luke’s mind was racing ahead. He didn’t give a hoot about Isaac Wells or Ray Dean or how they were involved in crime together. But he sure as hell was concerned about Katie and it looked as if, because of her articles, and the letter Isaac sent her that she published, she might be a link between the two thieves. “Did Isaac Wells write the letter to Katie?”

“That, I don’t know. But if he did, he didn’t contact her again because his attorney wanted him to deal directly with the police.”

Luke’s throat felt like sandpaper. He thought about the crank calls she’d received, about the feeling he’d had that someone had been watching her, waiting in the shadows at the hotel and at her home. Even after she’d moved this close to him, he’d spent more hours than he’d like to admit, sitting in the dark, staring out his window, watching the main house, scouring the darkness for any hint of a prowler. But he wasn’t convinced. “Do you think Katie’s in any danger?”

“I don’t know. Hell, I hope not.” But there was a note of apprehension in Jarrod’s voice that Luke couldn’t ignore. “Just let her know what’s going on. When she gets in, have her give me a call.”

“I will,” Luke promised and promptly hung up.

Tiffany motioned toward the phone. “What was that all about?” she demanded. “You said something about danger.”

“Isaac Wells is back in town.” He gave her a quick run-down as he reached for the handle of the door. “If you want more details, call Jarrod back. There’s probably nothing wrong,” he said, disturbed and telling himself that he was being a dozen kinds of fool. “I’m going to check on Katie.”

“I’ll stay here with the kids,” Tiffany said, her usually dark skin turning an ashen shade.