Cut and Run 6 - Stars and Stripes

beginning to laugh as Deuce cackled from his spot on the other end of the couch. Ty glanced at him, narrowing his eyes. “How’s Livi and the baby?”
    “Oh, nicely played.”
    Ty shrugged.
    “Livi is as happy as she can be when she’s not puking her brains out. Her dad hates me, but her mom keeps sending us baby boutique catalogues.”
    “Have you found out if it’s a boy or girl yet?” Mara asked.
    Deuce shook his head.
    “Are you going to?”
    “Livi wants to know so we can decorate. She wants to continue the tradition of the names, though. She thinks it’s the greatest thing ever.”
    “Really?” Ty blurted, and Deuce laughed and nodded.
    “Is that just the boys?” Zane asked.
    “Yeah, the first boys in the family get their maternal grandmother’s maiden names, the second get their paternal grandmother’s. Then it gets convoluted,” Deuce said with a smirk. “Dad’s first name is Antrim. Grandpa’s is actually Chester.”
    “Fascinating,” Zane said.
    “So, if you have a boy, what’s his name going to be?” Ty asked, trying to keep any opinion of the matter out of his voice.
    “Rigsdale.”
    “Oh God, Deacon,” Ty groaned before he could stop himself.
    “I know. I’m praying for a girl.”
    “Good luck with that,” Zane said half under his breath, then flinched and pulled his phone from his pocket to look at the display.
    Ty cleared his throat. “Who wants some pie?” he asked as he pushed himself up off the floor.
    “Yeah, me,” Zane answered as he stood and paced toward the front door, answering the call. “Hey. Everything okay?”
    Ty glanced back at him as he made his way toward the kitchen. He assumed it was Zane’s sister; she was the only person Zane ever used that voice with. He slowed when Zane stopped mid-stride, hand out to open the door, shoulders snapping back. “What? Where is he?” Judging by his tone, something was very wrong. Zane listened silently, the frown on his face deepening. “And no one was with him?”
    Ty watched him, pie and baby names and everything else forgotten.
    “I’ll be on a plane as soon as I can. I’ll text you my flight information. Have Manuel pick me up at the airport.” Zane slid the phone back into his pocket. When he turned back to see all the Gradys watching him, he froze.
    When he didn’t speak, Ty spread his hands out. “What happened?”
    Zane looked at him and swallowed. “My dad’s been shot.”
    “Oh my gracious,” Mara exclaimed.
    “You’re going down there?”
    Zane nodded.
    “I’m going with you.”
    “Ty.”
    Earl was already heading for the kitchen. “I’ll call Jim, see if he can get one of his boys to meet you with a Sheriff’s car. Get you to the airport faster.”
    Zane stared at Ty, dumbstruck and distressed. He no longer even tried to hide behind that mask he’d once used.
    “I’m going with you.”
    “How?” Zane asked, sounding defeated. “You can’t get off work without telling them why.”
    Ty gritted his teeth, but Zane was right. He would never be given time off work for his partner’s family emergency, especially since he was already pretty far into his personal days.
    Zane took a deep breath. Ty reached up to hug him, and Zane rested his forehead on Ty’s shoulder.
    “It’ll be okay.”

“What interest does the FBI have in this case?”
    “None,” Zane answered. He was sitting in the double oven that served as the sheriff’s outpost for the area ranches, fighting the urge to yank his tie off and use it to wipe away the sweat running down the center of his back. The old A/C unit in the window of the trailer wasn’t doing anything to fend off the summer temperatures of Texas.
    The sheriff cocked his head, and Zane leaned forward to speak in lower tones. “Harrison Garrett is my father. I’m not here in any official capacity; I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on.”
    “You’re one of those Garretts?” the sheriff asked, and Zane could see the man’s defenses lowering.
    “That’s right.”
    Zane produced his identification again. The sheriff gave it another once over, taking his time with it. He nodded and held up a thin file, then set it in front of Zane. “That’s all I got to give you.”
    Zane paged through the file, distraught by the lack of information.
    “I can save you some time.”
    Zane glanced up at him and nodded.
    “This is the fifth time your daddy’s found evidence of trespassers on the ranch. Same place every time. We don’t know