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“That might be the smartest thing you’ve ever done. Where is this Settler’s?”

“It’s a few blocks away. The only local grocery store.”

“My car’s out back. Keep following orders and you’ll get out of this alive.

Chapter 45

Effrem

Less than two hours left on the clock and I’m free to go home and cook my woman and unborn child dinner. My cell phone rings. I answer.

“Gilli, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Ruby’s in trouble.”

“What do you mean? How do you know? Tell me everything.”

“I just got off the phone with Ruby. She asked me to bring her the prenup. She said you were making vegan lasagna and needed help picking wine.”

Gillian rattles off.

“Gilli, you’re not making sense.”

“Exactly. She didn’t make any sense, Eff. She’s in trouble. I’m to meet her at Settler’s at five.”

“I’ll meet you outside of town at four-thirty by the old mill.”

“I’ll be there.”

I open the door of my office. “Boyd, Jeffries, get in here.”

The deputies ran in the door.

“What’s up, chief?” They ask at nearly the same time.

I tell them about the phone call with Gillian and a plan I have.

??

Four thirty took forever to get here. I met with Gillian and my deputies outside the old mill. Together we went over the plan, refined it a half a dozen times, then went our separate waysto get in place. I get in place hidden behind a nearby building where I can see traffic coming in and out of the parking lot.

A few minutes until five, I see a late model sedan pull in. Ruby’s in the driver’s seat. A man a decade older than me in the passenger’s seat. I narrow my eyes. He looks familiar. Then it hits me. It’s Willem Buffet. Mother fucker.

He’s got some balls on him. Soon he’ll be in jail beside his son. Low life scum. There are days I long for Old West style justice. Where putting a bullet between the eyes of a bad guy was the right thing to do, always.

My heart in my throat I watch the car park and Ruby get out followed shortly by Willem. He had a gun on her. I figured as much. He knows enough to keep it hidden from the public but as a trained professional I spot it easily. So will my deputies.

The whole scene plays out in front of me in slow motion. Gillian approaches them with the papers. Not the original but the idiot doesn’t know that. These papers are mocked up to look exactly like the original, including the court seal.

Willem grabs the papers, then points the gun at Ruby.

Jeffries and Boyd jump out of hiding telling him to drop the gun. I pull my pistol and take up the second I see Willem’s finger on the trigger I shoot.

Two shots to the chest. Jeffries grabs Ruby and pulls her out of the way split-second before Williem’s finger reflexively pulls the trigger of his own gun. I sprint across the street and gather Ruby into my arms.

She’s sobbing. Hell tears are running down my face. I could have lost her. I could’ve lost them both. I kiss the top of her head.

“You’re safe, baby. I’ve got you.”