Page 40
Chapter Thirty
“ O kay, I have to run to the drugstore,” Matt said. “Are you sure you want me to just leave you here?”
Luke sat in his wheelchair outside the sheriff’s office, looking at the long, three-part ramp he could do in his sleep. “Yep. It’s all good.”
“Okay, well, I’ll swing back by and pick you up after I get done.” Matt rolled his shoulders. “All you have to do is call if you need me.”
Worry wart.
“I’ll holler.” Like Jake Neeley was going to be ugly to him. Luke had made an appointment, for heaven’s sake.
He needed to find out where they were on the whole thing with his Rory. He wanted this over.
Luke rolled into the sheriff’s department a minute or so later, wheeling right up the desk. “Hey, I have an appointment with Sheriff Neeley.”
“Hey, Luke. Give him two shakes, huh? He’s on the phone.”
“Not a problem.” He peered at the desk sergeant. “Lord have mercy, Danny. When did you become a cop?”
“I went to the Academy after I got out of the Army. It’s a good job.”
“Good deal. You look like civilian life agrees with you.”
“I’m happy. You look like you’re doing well. I saw you on your crutches the other day, too. You’re moving like a pro.”
“Thanks.” He and Danny had graduated together and had gone off to basic at the same time. Danny had been Army all the way, though.
Jake came out of his office. “Luke. Hey. Sorry, man. I was on the phone with my mom. She’s…a mom.”
“Of course she is.” He rolled up to shake Jake’s hand. “Thanks for seeing me.”
“Any time. Come on in.”
Luke followed Jake into his office, where the chairs had been moved for him to settle in front of the desk on his own.
“So, what’s up, Luke?”
“I want to know where we are on Doug Harris. He’s trying to kill my guy, Jake. It needs to stop.” No sense pussyfooting.
“Yeah, the two shooters flipped on Harris. There are going to be charges filed.”
“What about the bartender?”
“Not yet.”
“Damn.” They should never have let him leave the restaurant. Two Senoritas had given them the guy’s name and address, but he’d skipped town. “Well, at least he won’t be here to poison Rory a third time.”
“No shit. I’m sorry about the whole thing with the truck. I just thought he was overreacting.”
“I get it. I thought he was just really fucked up the first time with the beer. That was some kind of date rape drug, I bet. The second time I guess the guy was improvising. ”
“Well, you hadn’t made reservations, right?”
“No. Not at all.” Could you even make reservations at Two Senoritas?
“I was joking, man. Sarcasm, only one of the services we offer.”
“Oh.” Luke shook his head. “I didn’t know cops were allowed to have a sense of humor.”
“I’m an aberration, what can I say?”
“In many ways,” Luke agreed. “So what kind of proof do I need to get Harris arrested, Jake? This needs to be over.”
“I think the county district attorney is going to have him arrested, but they have to build a case.”
“Okay. What does he need?”
Jake scowled at him. “For guys like you and Rory not to get killed trying to force his hand. The old guy is a nutbag. He’ll fuck up.”
“He’s a fuck up. Seriously, I want this over. I have plans that don’t include dealing with that asshole anymore.” Big plans. Some sexual plans.
“Stop it. Just stop looking like that.” Jake pointed a finger at him. “Harris sees y’all being gay as a weakness, so he’ll come after you if you’re not careful.”
“Oh, I’d pay for that privilege.” Was he baring his teeth?
“I know you would, but damn it, just stop pushing.”
“Yeah, yeah.” His phone beeped and so did Jake’s.
Jake sighed, but pulled it out. “Let me check this.”
“Sure.” He grabbed his phone, opening the email notification. What showed up was a video—something shaky and blurry that cleared into a naked man laid out on the floor. A young guy who looked hella familiar.
Luke frowned, watching as the camera shook a little, then cleared again.
“This is our little initiate. He thinks he can run with the big boys. ”
A foot shot out and the man was kicked, flipped over, and the birthmark on the back of the lean shoulder proved who it was.
“Rory.”
Rory stared at the video as it played out on his phone, then grabbed his keys. He had to get out of here.
That was the only thing he could think to do. He headed out the door, thanking God Lori was getting her nails done for her lunch break.
He didn’t know where he was going, but he knew his Mustang would take him there. It had to.
That video had gone to his parents, his sisters, the sheriff, Lori, all the LeBlancs.
Maybe he could go to the lake. His mom’s family had a place at Lake Travis. The key was at the real estate management office.
In seconds, he was on I-30, barreling west, the road seeming to swim. Rory blinked, trying to clear up his vision. He couldn’t do this. Not again.
No thinking. None. Just drive. Turn the radio up and drive.
Turn the radio up and fucking drive.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40 (Reading here)
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50