Page 10 of Outlaw Ridge: Shaw (Hard Justice: Outlaw Ridge #5)

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Ava tried to focus on the report she was reading and not the visit that Shaw and she would soon be making. Emphasis on soon. Because while she was trying to keep her attention fixed on Reed’s latest report, she wasn’t blind and could therefore see the GPS on the cruiser dash.

Their ETA was in just twelve minutes.

Not nearly enough time for her to steel herself up for a face to face with Dell. Then again, no amount of time would help her with that.

Shaw was no doubt doing his own attempt to focus and use this time constructively since he had already had a conversation with Owen and the prison official who’d be streamlining their processing for this meeting.

A meeting that would likely turn out to be an exercise in frustration.

Still, Dell might give them something to help with the investigation, and while that was a long shot, they had to go for it. Because as bad as a face to face with Dell would be, it would be even worse if someone else was taken and murdered.

“Anything in that report from Reed?” Shaw asked, turning her attention back to him. Not that it’d strayed too far. Shaw had a way of slipping into her thoughts even when they were about to face down a demon.

“Some. He’s compiled social media posts from Lorelei and those in her support group. The problem is some members use obvious aliases. Jane Doe and John Smith. And they’ve created online personas with those aliases.”

So, while many of the posts were filled with venom and outright threats, it would be hard to ID who was actually making them.

“But Lorelei used her own name?” he wanted to know.

“She did, and she hasn’t hidden her hatred for us, Grant and Donovan. Especially Grant. I think his affair with Melissa could be playing into that.”

“Yeah,” he agreed and stayed quiet a moment. “So, why didn’t Lorelei spill about the affair during the trial?”

That was a huge question, and Ava could only speculate.

“Maybe Lorelei was still in shock, still recovering from the trauma. Or maybe she didn’t know.

It’s something she could have learned later.

In fact, she could have learned it very recently when she went through her sister’s things or had a friend mention it. ”

“Yeah,” Shaw repeated. “Owen’s bringing her in for an interview this afternoon. Valerie, too. He’ll make sure to ask Valerie if she saw Nathan when he was caught on a traffic camera near her place.”

Ava hoped that Owen would be able to get something they could use, but she had to put thoughts of that aside as Shaw pulled into the parking lot of the prison.

She had to focus on the meeting with Dell.

Had to shut out everything else, including the possibility that just seeing the man could trigger a panic attack.

“If you think I’m about to lose it,” she said to Shaw, “please get me out of there. I don’t want to give Dell the pleasure of seeing me fall apart.”

Shaw sighed, parked the cruiser, and then turned to her. He didn’t say a word. He only pulled her into his arms.

“I know you’re about to remind me that I don’t have to do this,” she went on. “But I do, Shaw. I do.”

He eased back just enough so their eyes could meet, and he nodded. What he didn’t do was move away from her. And neither did she. In fact, not only did Ava stay put, she leaned in and brushed her mouth over his.

It was just a touch. But it gave her so much. That sweet jolt of heat. That promise of pleasure if it turned into an actual kiss. It steadied her far more than she ever thought possible.

“Better?” he asked.

She was in mid-nod when he kissed her. It was a soft, barely more than a whisper of his lips against hers, but it stole her breath all the same. The heat spilled through her, chasing away the chill that had settled in her bones. She couldn’t help leaning into him to take just a little more.

When he inched away from her this time, his gaze searched hers, his hand still cradling her jaw as if she were something fragile. Something precious.

“Better?” he repeated. His voice was a husky murmur, laced with the same heat that burned through her.

She swallowed hard, her heart racing in her chest. “Much better.”

And when he smiled—that slow curve of his lips—she knew she was in trouble. Because one kiss would never be enough. Still, what her body wanted, what her body needed from him, would have to be put on hold. For now, they had an unpleasant job to do.

They got out of the cruiser and made their way into the prison.

Of course, getting to Dell was no easy, direct route.

Even though this visit had already been approved by the powers that be, they had to do some paperwork and go through security.

That meant Shaw having to leave his weapon in secure storage before they were taken to the visiting area, which consisted of a row of booths where they sat and waited.

And waited.

Ava wondered if this was a ploy by Dell meant to unnerve her any more than she already was. Possibly. But as she battled her nerves and dread, the side door behind the plexiglass opened, and a guard finally ushered Dell in.

He was cuffed and wearing a standard-issue orange jumpsuit, but he still managed to seem formidable. Intimidating. Ava tried not to let it get to her, but, mercy, it was hard. The flashbacks came, then quickly stopped when Shaw gave her hand a gentle “I’ve got your back” squeeze.

Dell’s seven years behind bars didn’t show anywhere on his face or body. He looked healthy and fit, and she thought he had even bulked up more than he already had been. But there were some differences, too. His blond hair was now buzz-cut, and he no longer sported that golden tan.

“Ava and Shaw,” Dell greeted as if they were old friends. “Long time, no see. So glad you dropped by for a visit.”

He flashed that grin that Ava knew fooled some people into thinking he was charming and nice. He wasn’t.

Dell dropped down into the chair, putting himself eye-level with them, and his smile didn’t fade one bit as he gave them the once over. “Heard you two had some trouble. The cop and DA, too.” He tutted. “Having second thoughts about me being a killer?”

“No,” Shaw and she replied at the same time.

No way would either of them express any kind of doubts about Dell’s guilt. And besides, facing him now, those doubts were vanishing. Ava could see the cold-blooded calculation in the man’s eyes. Could feel it coming off him in slimy, oily waves. This man was exactly where he deserved to be.

Dell laughed. “Too bad. My legal team would love to have the two of you recant the statements you made against me.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Shaw assured him.

This time, Dell shrugged. “Oh, well. It probably won’t be needed anyway. Guess you’ve heard my lawyers are busy, busy bees, working hard to prove that the evidence against me was…how do I put this?” He tapped his temple in mock contemplation. “A pile of horseshit. Yeah, steaming, smelly horseshit.”

“That evidence convicted you,” Ava reminded him and wondered what game he was playing. With Dell, there was always a game.

“Yeah, but pardon the repeat here but horseshit. Somebody put together a whole bunch of lies.” Dell’s gaze drilled into her.

“Not you. Or you,” he added when he did the same to Shaw.

“You’re both too goody two shoes for that.

But the DA…well, I think he could have done it. Grant Huxley is an arrogant dick.”

Dell paused, no doubt waiting for some kind of reaction or response from them. Again, Ava tried not to give him either. She was almost certain that everything coming out of Dell’s mouth was a lie.

Almost.

But then she thought of Grant’s affair with Melissa. She certainly hadn’t known about that during the trial and investigation, and Grant hadn’t seen fit to tell anyone. So, maybe the DA wasn’t as squeaky clean as she wanted him to be.

“You’ve got scores to settle,” Shaw said to Dell, sounding more like a counselor than a cop now. “Why don’t you tell us about that.”

Dell laughed again. “This is about that detective’s murder and the attempt on the arrogant asshole.” He leaned in closer to the glass and winked. “I had nothing to do with that.”

“Right,” Shaw grumbled with a mountain of skepticism. The cop’s tone had returned.

Much to Ava’s surprise, Dell’s expression turned serious. “I had nothing to do with that,” he repeated. Then, he paused and seemed to consider what he was about to say. “But someone’s trying to draw me into this.”

Ava studied his eyes, wishing she knew if this was part of the game. “Who? How?” she demanded.

Again, Dell seemed to have a debate with himself about what to say.

“Three days ago, I got a letter that appeared to be from one of my lawyers. It wasn’t.

It was a riddle. I hold what’s lost, yet I am found.

I am silent, yet my secrets resound. I mark the end, but I am not the end. What am I ?” he supplied.

Ava silently repeated it, trying to make sense of it. Trying, too, to wonder if this was more of that horseshit that Dell had mentioned earlier.

“Once I confirmed that no one on my legal team had sent it, I thought it was just a joke,” Dell went on.

“Or a threat. Plenty of assholes do that sort of thing. But then, I heard on the news about the cop dying after being buried alive, and I knew that was the answer to the riddle. A grave. And I wondered if it was somebody trying to make me look like I had a part in that.”

“Did you save the riddle or take it to one of the guards?” Shaw asked.

“Fuck, no. But the Big Brother assholes who run this place would have read it before they gave it to me.”

Maybe. That was standard procedure for someone in maximum security, but if the letter had appeared to come from his lawyer, then it might not have gone through that kind of scrutiny.

“I memorized it and flushed it down the crapper,” Dell went on. “I did the same to the second and third ones.”

Ava’s body clenched, and the dread came. “You got two more?”

“Yeah. The second one came yesterday. I’m a hidden path, a secret way ,” Dell said. “ Through walls I move, yet still I stay. What am I ? Fuck,” he repeated. “Now, it’s not on the news exactly how the asshole DA nearly died, but tell me if the riddle applies.”

Ava didn’t confirm it to Dell, but, yes, it did apply.

“Look, I’m not going to take the blame for whatever the fuck is happening,” Dell went on. “But my advice is for the two of you to find this fucker fast before he sullies my name and—”

“What did the third riddle say?” Ava interrupted while she reminded herself that this could all be Dell’s way of tormenting them.

Dell huffed, but he answered, “ I take what’s owed, but never lend. I’m justice twisted, I’m the end. What am I ?” He leaned back in his chair. “Now, I don’t know about you, but to me, that sounds like somebody hellbent on revenge.”

Yes. It did. God, it did.

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