Chapter 12: Complications

"Of course."

Deke rubbed a hand down his face. His life had just gotten more complicated. "And it was just a coincidence Whitney was there to see the body drop?"

"Not a coincidence—an unfortunate happening. Might even have been a warning to her."

"Why her?" he asked. The buck sauntered off, as if Deke were inconsequential. Deke walked the perimeter, checking for breaks in the wires, or trip wires that had been violated. He found none.

"I don't know," Tex replied, "but there are no coincidences."

"True. I haven't figured out yet how she fits into all this."

"She does; we just don't know how yet. I'll do some more digging. Her father owns the newspaper she works for."

Something niggled at Deke's brain. That was important. "Dig more on him."

"Oh?"

"Nothing I can tell you with any certainty, but my gut is saying it has to do with her father." Deke leaned against a tree, suddenly tired. He'd wanted to live out the rest of his life quietly. That option had left when the body had dropped off