Page 9 of Stilettos & Whiskey (Deputy Gemma Stone)

The strong smell of pine tar woke me up. I sucked in a startled breath. Jim Bob Duke was standing by my bed. His cold silver eyes studied me intently. I bolted to my feet. “How did you get in here?”

“Oh darlin’, you are a mess. Did Alexander or Tess do this to you?”

“No. I’m a Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputy and it happened on duty, but you already know that. Let me be perfectly clear. I owe my grandfather nothing. He was going to give me to a child molester to pay off a gambling debt.”

Jim Bob interjected, “Alleged child molester.”

“Igor has a three-page rap sheet and is currently incarcerated in the state prison in Florence.”

“Your grandfather was unaware of his criminal activities.”

I snorted. “Like hell he was. You’re under arrest for trespassing.”

Jim Bob’s smile reminded me of a hungry shark. “You’re not in any shape to arrest me, darlin’.”

“Maybe not, but I am,” Lucas snarled from the doorway.

Jim Bob’s smile got bigger, and he held out his hand. “I’m Jim Bob Duke, the lawyer. You know, when you need help in a legal fight, I’ll Duke it out for you.”

“I know who you are.” Lucas took his hand, spun Jim Bob around and handcuffed him.

“I didn’t trespass. The training center is open to the public and the door to the house was unlocked. I was simply doing a welfare check on a badly beaten woman,” Jim Bob stated.

I shook my head sadly. “For a lawyer, you don’t lie that good. What’s your game plan? Money? I’m not rich. Revenge? Taking on the Alpha Dogs wouldn’t be a smart move.”

“The blow to your head has you confused. Your grandfather simply wants to take care of you,” Jim Bob replied.

Lucas laughed. “Raul Garza has numerous arrests for beating up helpless women, but Julie is far from helpless.” Lucas plucked a derringer from Jim Bob’s right boot, a knife from his left and an electronic lockpick from his back pocket. “These get you arrested for armed burglary.”

Jim Bob scoffed, “I’ll have the charges dropped within a day.”

“How did you know I was injured?” Call me curious.

“I was at the hospital when they brought you in. Your grandfather is concerned for your health,” Jim Bob replied.

“He didn’t give a rat’s ass when I was eight, why would he now?”

Jim Bob smiled, showing his pearly white teeth. “In prison he joined Alcoholics Anonymous, and he wants to make amends.”

“Right. And how does suing my parents for ten million dollars accomplish that?”

“Your adoptive parents illegally took his custodial rights away from him,” Jim Bob responded.

“Raul Garza kicked me out of his trailer when it was one hundred and ten in the shade and told me not to come back until dark. I was hungry, hot and lost when Alexander Stone found me. My grandfather was arrested for child abuse and assaulting a police officer.”

“That’s not quite true,” Jim Bob declared. “Raul Garza was only trying to protect you from a dangerous intruder.”

Lucas snorted. “My father identified himself as a police officer and Garza threw the first punch.”

“All your grandfather wants is to spend time with you and get to know you again,” Jim Bob stated.

I laughed. “Again? I spent one night locked in an insect-infested room, without a bed, food or water. He was a stranger then and he’s a stranger now. I want nothing to do with him. You keep coming around and I will get a restraining order.”

“That would be a mistake,” Jim Bob stated ominously.

Mom stormed into the room. “Are you threatening my daughter?”

“Just stating a fact, ma’am.”

“Get him out of here,” Mom snapped.

Lucas dragged the lawyer out of the room.

“You are only delaying the inevitable,” Jim Bob called over his shoulder. “I will get his custodial rights restored.”

I bristled. “I’m an adult, you moron. He has no control over me.”

“I will petition the court for a mental competency hearing,” Jim Bob shouted.

Mom yelled back, “And we’ll get you disbarred for fraud, harassment and criminal misconduct.”

“I’ll see you in court.” The kitchen door slammed shut.

I slumped on the bed. “This is crazy. What does Papa Garza hope to gain from all of this?”

“I don’t know.” Mom sat next to me. “He made no effort to block your adoption.”

I grimaced. “This reeks of a setup. I wouldn’t be surprised if Roger Evans and his family are behind this.”

“A good possibility. We’ll do a deep dive on Jim Bob and see what comes up.”

My stomach growled loudly. “What’s for dinner?”

“Your father hired Bitsie’s food trucks to come in and feed all the officers in the task force.”

“Seriously? After the food poisoning incident?”

Mom laughed. “Lucas thoroughly vetted the trucks this time.”

“I just bet he did.”