Page 29

“It was Kenny…he sort of…snapped. We were outside talking by my car, I made a comment, and he hit me.”

“Sheriff, when will you be arrestin’ the bastard?” Andy asked as he pulled back.

“I won’t be.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Unfortunately Helen parked her car at the back of the lot under a tree. It’s out of sight of the security cameras. All I have is the allegation but there’s no proof to back it up.”

“Isn’t her face proof enough?”

“I wish it was. We need more than just the accusation.”

“So…that’s it?”

“Not exactly,” Brody interjected. “He gave her a couple of envelopes. She’s supposed to hand them off at the charity event and collect the payments.”

“No, it’s not going to happen!” Andy exclaimed as he led Helen to a couch and sat down. “Enough is enough.”

“I’ve been speakin’ to the boys in Dallas,” the sheriff continued. “They’ve been after Ken Lockhart for a while, and they claim there’s enough evidence to put him and his crew outta business and behind bars. They’re comin’ here to make plans.”

“When you say the boys, who do you mean?”

“The Narcotics Division of the Dallas PD. Besides cocaine, he’s been peddlin’ a dangerous new substance called Synthetic Cannabinoid. It sounds like cannabis, but it’s not. Chemicalcompounds are sprayed on organic matter then smoked like weed. It’s bad news. Real bad.”

“And he’s sellin’ this stuff as well?”

“Yep.”

“Sheriff, where does this leave me?” Helen asked nervously. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Wait until the detectives from Dallas arrive and we’ll take it from there. Right now you should go home and try to relax.”

“Shoot. My car,” she muttered. “I don’t feel good. My head’s starting to hurt and I don’t think I can drive right now.”

“Ah, right. Don’t worry about that,” the sheriff said with a nod. “I’ll have my deputies deliver it to Andy’s ranch, unless you want it at your parents’ place.”

“God, no, they can’t see me like this.”

“Then Andy’s it is.”

“There’s just one other thing,” she said with a sigh. “Kenny warned me not to say a word. I was supposed to come up with another reason for having a red face and a cut lip,” she stammered. “When he finds out I told you…and all this is going on…he’ll come after me.”

“Let him try,” Andy growled. “There’s an old sayin’, forewarned is forearmed.”

“Now, Andy, you leave this to me and the boys from Dallas,” the sheriff declared. “Just get Helen home and call if you need me.”

“Sure,” Andy replied, but everyone in the room knew if Kenny, or any of his men showed up at the ranch, they’d be met with a unpleasant welcome.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

By the time Andy turned his truck into the ranch, Helen seemed much calmer. She’d checked her face in the sun visor mirror a couple of times, and made comments about how she might be able to cover the reddest areas with makeup.

’“I wish I’d never met that beast,” she exclaimed as he rolled to a stop. “I didn’t even say anything that bad. I was just sort of…”

“Provoking him?”

“I suppose,” she muttered, “but he was being so rude.”