Egan shook his head. “No idea. But as I said, I didn’t really know him.”

“We’ve spoken to District Managers Murphy and Russo,” Kade said. “Is there anyone else in the company we should talk to? Someone who might be able to give us a little more insight?”

“Not that I can think of.” Rick checked his watch and rolled his chair back from the desk. “Looks like my time has run out. I’m afraid I’ve got an appointment.” He rose, and so did Kade and Ellie. “Sorry I couldn’t be more help.”

“We appreciate your time,” Ellie said.

Rick smiled. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

Kade settled his hat back on, and they walked out of Egan’s office just as a heavyset man in a three-piece suit and slicked-back, iron-gray hair burst into the waiting area. Daniel rose behind his desk, but the man ignored him, yanked open the door to Rick’s private office, and stormed inside.

“Where the hell have you been? You were supposed to be in a meeting with your marketing, sales, and production people half an hour ago! And don’t tell me you forgot—again!” The door slammed closed behind him.

Daniel glanced nervously at Kade. “Sorry about that.”

“Wasn’t that Mose Egan?” Ellie asked. His photo on the internet, along with the three-piece, pin-striped suit and expensive silk tie, reinforced the assumption.

“That’s him.”

“Some kind of father-son dispute, I gather,” Kade said.

Daniel cleared his throat. “Mr. Egan can be a difficult man at times.” The look on the assistant’s face said Mose Egan was a real bastard.

Kade opened the door, and Ellie walked past him out into the hall. She said nothing as they left the building and returned to Kade’s Mercedes.

“Looks to me like we’re back to square one,” Kade grumbled as he started the engine.

“Maybe not. We can eliminate the CEO and CFO from our list, as well Phillip Smithson, the COO, if we take him at his word. That leaves three people employed by Mountain Ore who knew Frank Keller. One of them could have paid him to blow up the tunnel. Maybe the shootings at the ranch were only done as a distraction.”

Kade flicked her a sideways glance. “A distraction. It’s possible, I suppose.” He sighed. “None of it makes any sense.”

“Not yet. But sooner or later it will.” At least for Kade’s sake, she hoped so. She prayed that with Keller and his cousin both dead, the threat to Kade and the ranch was over.

Ellie wished she could make herself believe it.

* * *