3

Matt got up bright and early to head down to the courthouse to get a copy of the deed. It didn't take too long and probably would have gone a lot faster had C.J. been there with him. He only filled out the wrong form twice before the secretary directed him to the right one.

He picked up Bo and Lamar as they headed over in the truck to the house. Once satisfying the federal agents they drove on to the house. Sure enough yellow crime scene tape wrapped around each door and window. Matt got out and then looked back down the little dirt, private road/drive way that lead up to the house.

Bo asked, "What's wrong?'

Matt looked back and answered, "Why are there federal agents protecting an old abandoned house out almost in the middle of nowhere?"

Lamar then said, "Well, whatever they're doing, they're keeping the ones responsible for the fire away. That's good news, right? We can go inside and look around."

Matt nodded and lead the way. He got in through the door into clearly the living room. It smelled like smoke still and maybe even gasoline. Most of the furniture was there unharmed if not really old. He walked into the kitchen and saw that it seemed to have avoided any serious damage. All the drawers and cabinets were open but the pots and pans and other items were still in place.

Matt looked down the hall to what used to be C.J.'s bedroom. That was where the fire had originated. It was basically an empty room. She never really had much furniture except for that bed Bill had bought her for her tenth birthday. They found out when C.J. had come over one day that she was sleeping on a mattress on the floor in her bedroom. She had taken that with her to college when she lived in an apartment along with the other things Bill bought her. Floyd never really spent much on her. He provided only the bare essentials.

Matt looked around and began pulling at the panelling in an area that seemed loose. He found tucked behind it a metal box, like a small lunchbox.

He carefully pulled it out and looked it over. It was a metal WonderWoman lunchbox. The fire, it seemed, had welded it shut though. He ran his hands over it for a second wondering if it was C.J.'s, whom he figured it was, and if she even remembered it. Then he looked in the closet, or what was left of it. As he pushed back against the panelling there, he found another piece that was loose. His eyes widened when he pulled it all the way back and found a charred 45 magnum gun.

Lamar asked, "What is that doing in her room? It wasn't hers was it? I don't remember her ever carrying a gun around."

Matt just shook his head as he held it by the handle, "I don't know what its doing here. She never carried a gun like this, only a rifle and that was when she was a teenager helping out with the coyotes we were having trouble with."

Bo then came in the room, "Why didn't they ever take any pictures of her. I mean there's nothing here. Only pictures of Floyd and Missy."

Matt then told him, "I told you, they never really treated her like family. I guess if she wasn't then that would explain a lot now wouldn't it. It just doesn't explain why a gun was kept in her closet wall and this box was kept in her bedroom wall." He looked back out the window and then said, "And it certainly doesn't explain why someone would want to buy this house or burn it or why federal officers are interested in it."

Bo then asked, "What are you gonna do?"

Matt turned back to him and said, "I'm gonna find out what's going on Bo, that's what. Make sure whoever is responsible for the fire and that letter doesn't have any interest in my wife."

They spent the rest of the day trying to get information from the federal officers but only got that they were U.S. Marshals. There was no record of anyone trying to purchase the land, no return address on the envelope and when they finally got in touch with the only realtor that knew anything about the land, he simply told them that someone had called and asked about it. They told him they would call back next month and ask again. In the meantime though, there wasn't much Matt could do.

Back in L.A., C.J. had gotten up and ready to head in to the office to work more on Baby with this new case. Roy came in not long after and she and Chris got there so she started the presentation.

"Ok, Uncle Roy, here is what I have so far." She clicked some buttons and brought up a picture of Macy Raven. "Here we have the victim, Macy Raven. She was on top of the charts with her newest single Baby Love. Since news of her death sales on her albums have soared increasing her net worth exponentially, even after her death. As of this morning, her estate is worth $47 million dollars."

Roy raised his eyebrows, "That's quite a net worth. How much does her agent get?"

C.J. then clicked more buttons, "Sam Perkins, manager for Macy Raven for the last 5 years and ex husband for the last 3. His contract with Macy was what most would call unusual. Most agents get around 25% or more, his contract only got him 5%."

Roy then said, "Well, 5% of $47 million is still a lot of money, but if its not the going rate he might be upset."

C.J. then told him, "Well its comes out to $2,350,000 which, you're right is not mere change, but not nearly as large an amount as most managers would be getting. It appears in the divorce agreement that Macy wanted to fire him but was court ordered to keep him in lieu of paying essentially alimony herself and child support. Her daughter Dove..." C.J. clicked on more buttons to bring up the picture, "stands to inherit most of the rest. Whatever remains would be evenly divided among her current husband, lover and ex husband number two."

Roy asked, "So the big question is, who is the real father? It seems they all want to claim her now." He looked over at her as she put her head down for a second. "C.J...something wrong?"

She looked back at him and smiled a little telling him, "No, its just...you're right...They all want to be the father now that she has an inheritance." She shook her head and then said as she looked up at Dove's smiling face, "That poor girl...she's only three uncle Roy. She doesn't know what's going on, but when she gets older, she'll figure it out. I know what that's like...to be in a family but not really to be a part of it, to feel like you're a burden or you're just wanted for monetary gain."

C.J. just got up then and walked out on the patio. Roy wasn't as confused as most would think. Bill had told him a few things, confided in him before he died and he knew his nephew was back in Texas. He walked out and stood beside C.J., "You know, even if you weren't really close to Floyd and Missy, Bill always thought of you as the daughter he never had. So have I. You have always been and would always be a part of our family, even if you hadn't married Matlock."

She smiled and looked at him before saying, "I know and that means a lot to me Uncle Roy. Its just that growing up was a lot harder after my parents died." She squinted her eyes for a second and then said, "Its even hard just to remember them. I have so few memories now. Most of what I remember about growing up was in that old house. Floyd yelling at me and Missy. Them going off to see family and me staying behind to look after the ranch. They told me it was because they trusted me to run it, to make me feel better I guess, but...it really just made me feel more and more disconnected from them. It was like they didn't want me. That poor little girl could grow up with that same feeling."

Roy rubbed her back and said, "We did want you though, and I know Bill wanted you there in Texas. I probably shouldn't say you were the daughter he never had because that wouldn't be entirely accurate. You were the daughter-in-law he knew he would have someday."

They smiled at each other and started back in when C.J. lost her balance, almost blacking out. Roy had grabbed her while she held on to him and the chopper, steadying herself. "C.J., are you alright?" He asked incredibly concerned.

She blinked several times and then said, "Yes, yes I'm fine, I just got dizzy there for a second." She put her hand on her forehead, "Oh and I have one heck of a headache all of a sudden. I think I'll just go in and lay down for a little while."

He helped her back in and to the couch. They turned off Baby, deciding to work on it more later in the afternoon after she slept. He brought her an aspirin and water and she went right out. Roy just watched over her for a second. This seemed very odd, not so much odd as...well...he had seen things like this before. When operatives weren't supposed to remember something, sometimes they could be trained to blackout. That almost seemed to be what happened here...almost.

After spending his day looking into who wanted to buy the house C.J. grew up in and finding nothing, Matt headed back to the ranch. Bo and Lamar asked for his help with one more stray heifer that had gotten across to the other side of the river. After putting in a full day Bo said, "Man, I could go for a cool one. You boys want to head over to Lucky's?"

Matt laughed, "The Lucky Horseshoe? That place still around? I would've thought ole Fimple would have closed up shop by now."

Lamar laughed, "Oh no, he's still around and ornery as ever. He still remembers you too I'm sure after all the bar fights you used to get into when your best friend was dating some guy that didn't treat her right."

Matt shook his head again and said, "Now I don't recall either of you having a problem with me explaining things to a handful of guys she gave the time of day to that didn't deserve it."

Bo kept at it, "Well, I do remember one guy...I think his name was Eric or was it Rusty that said something about spending some quality time with your best friend and you threw him onto the pool table and Fimple had to get the whole thing relined. Made your Daddy mad too when he had to pay for all that damage."

Matt then said after looking up for a second, "Yeah well he calmed down when I told him how Eric defined quality time. Then he patted me on the back and said, 'Good job'." They all just smiled at each other before he said, "Come on...I'm buyin."

Lamar then said, "Now you're speakin my language." They all laughed and headed in.

They changed quickly enough and all headed in Matt's truck to The Lucky Horseshoe. Matt nodded and smiled to people as he walked in, several ladies, that is smiled right away. They made their way to the bar and all three sat down and ordered a beer.

Old man Fimple limped over to them from behind the bar and popped the tops off of three beers and handed one to Bo, one to Lamar, and then held back a second before handing Matt his. "You gonna behave tonight?" He asked Matt with a very tired smile.

Matt smiled back as he held his hand out waiting for the beer and said, "Cross my heart Mr. Fimple. I have no plans to get in trouble tonight. The wife would have my hide."

Fimple smiled back as Bo and Lamar laughed patting Matt's back. He told him as he gave him the beer, "Heard you married that girl and if she keeps you in line, all the better." He walked off.

It was only another minute as Matt and the two were looking around enjoying their beer before they heard from the pool tables, "Heard you were back in town." They all turned to see a man Matt remembered from their days growing up. His name was Owen Richardson and C.J. had dated him for about 3 whole months.

When Matt saw him he could feel his temperature rise. This was the guy C.J. had dated that Matt for whatever reason didn't seem to think was good enough for her at the time. In fact when he told her that, she had informed him that she didn't need any help deciding who to spend her time with. Back then it seemed she had something of a hard time breaking up with him. They went back and forth after that first month of going together. Even though Matt had hesitated in his inquiry then, he knew deep down there was more to the story than C.J. was sharing. After getting injured one day on the ranch it seemed over and Matt had sarcastically said a few days later that the horse that had tossed her had finally knocked some sense into her. He remembered she seemed to fake a little laugh and then walked off. He had shrugged it off then thinking she was just a little heart broken maybe but would get over it soon enough.

He found out only a few months ago after reading her journal that a horse didn't throw her, Owen had punched her. That was the final straw for her and she dumped him right away. The journal mentioned something about him trying to get her back but she didn't really put many of the details to paper. Matt looked up now, sizing Owen down thinking about all the different ways he wanted to let Owen know that he knew now what had happened and that he wasn't pleased about it.

Owen, more than a little drunk swaggered over, "Yep, it is you...spoiled little rich boy turned P.I. or something right...You still keep in touch with that little sweet thing, what's her name...oh yeah, Parsons, right..."

Both Bo and Lamar sitting on opposite sides of Matt put their hands on each of his shoulders to try to keep him from getting up. Lamar told him, "Remember what you told Fimple...C.J. definitely won't like it if she has to fly down here to bail you out."

Owen got right in front of Matt and laughing said, "Yeah, that's right, her name was C.J...stupid little name but the body on her...she just needed to understand where she fit in the order of things..."

Matt then stood up and said, "And where exactly was she supposed to fit in the order of things?" The tone in Matt's voice made Lamar and Bo shrink down a bit as he not only almost growled like an angry dog but folded his arms to stare Owen down.

Owen wasn't phased though and continued, "In her place, a woman ain't supposed to give orders to a man, ain't natural. Any woman of mine does what I tell them, when I tell them. I make it clear."

Matt then took two steps forward pushing Owen back with his body, arms still folded. "And exactly how do you make it clear Owen?" He then pushed him with his hands and Owen fell down on a table making it collapse under him, but Matt continued, "Pushing them around, huh? Knocking them around a bit? That how you handle your women?"

Owen got up, pushing back the table and chairs more, "What's your problem?" he yelled. "All I do is give them a little discipline when they need it and that little C.J., your little friend there...she just needed a little to fall in line."

Bo and Lamar looked at each other, both a little nervous as they knew what was about to take place, your standard Texas bar fight defending the honor of whatever female happened to not be present to hear the insult. The two veterans of such skirmishes did a preliminary check of potential half drunk patrons that would join the other side that they would fight while Matt handled Owen himself. They actually half smiled to each other as they prepared themselves in that whole second before he started because they both loved C.J. wanted a little piece of this Owen themselves, but would settle for whatever lowlifes wanted to support him.

Sure enough, Matt picked Owen up by his collar and threw him into another table. As he walked over he told him, "Well now, you see here I have a big problem. That little C.J., as you called her, is now my wife and my best friend. I thought I made it clear Owen when she let you go out with her that you had better not hurt her. Seems as though you didn't get the message then so I'm going to make it clear now. Let's just say you need a little discipline and its late in coming. Don't worry though, I'm gonna make up for lost time." At that the brawl began. Owen got lucky with a couple of punches when one of his buddies came over to grab Matt, but Bo and Lamar made quick work of him.

Fimple just shook his head and called down to the sheriff to haul them all out. It took 10 minutes for them to get there and by that time Owen was practically unconscious along with all his friends and Matt, Bo and Lamar had a couple of bruises but were otherwise just fine. All 7 got arrested though.