Shotgun Justice (4 page)

“Elf Face?”

“Stop calling me that.” She shifted back and forth uncomfortably in her seat as she buckled up.

“You're not really going to put me in jail. Are you?”

“You bet your last dollar I'm going to. Of course, the cell isn't as comfy as Dan made mine, but it's not bad. Hardly any privacy, but that shouldn't bother you. Right?” She pulled onto the deserted highway and pushed the gas to the floor. “I mean, you don't care for anyone's privacy. Or their private life. Or things like suggesting their boss incarcerate them for their own good. Things like that are second nature to you. They don't bother you at all.”

Jesse closed his eyes and let her rip into him, knowing he was the only person around who could save her life. She was going to force him to take that night in jail. He'd be lucky if he didn't receive life in prison for wanting to hug a deputy.

Chapter Four

There she was... Avery Travis had returned early to process a prisoner. A Texas Ranger prisoner. How fun was that?

The foot traffic in and out of the county jail was higher than Snake Eyes had anticipated. A point in his favor that his employer hadn't put a rush on the job. He'd have to get creative with this one...a deputy and the additional bonus of a real Texas Ranger.

He couldn't take one without the other. If he did, there would be too many complications. Both were quite competent. He was aware of their history, of them growing up as neighbors. He had expected that Jesse Ryder would come when Avery went missing.

This was better. Much better.

Now he could widen his plan to include them both and not be bothered with searches. How convenient.

Finding out the prisoner was Jesse Ryder took no skill. Walking in the shadows across the street from the jail, he'd overheard Jesse as they'd gone inside. Not all the conversation, just what had bounced between the buildings.

It was time to go. There was no longer a need to discover vulnerable extraction points. Unfortunately, Jesse's arrival would delay the extraction while he fortified his plan. If the Rangers were involved, then it meant they knew about his contract. Maybe not the details, or his name—

Well, no one knew his name, as he was very careful not to be identified. He'd taken precautions. Lots of precautions. Even the criminals who employed him didn't know. Frustrated officers referred to him as the Snake Eyes Killer.

Assassin
was the more accurate description. After he'd successfully completed his third murder, he let himself be hired. Then proof of a completed assignment had been needed.

The first pair of replacement eyes had been simple marbles. The next had been fashioned after the venomous creature his victims called him. He rather liked it. Kept it. Made it easy for the police to identify him.

If
they found the body.

He pulled away, leaving the jail and sheriff's office behind. He had work today. Lists to make. A new plan would require a new spiral.

Did their argument indicate they were more than close friends?

The arguing would work to his advantage. He snapped a couple of pictures of back doors and guards on cigarette breaks, noting the time. But he already knew how he'd take Avery Travis. He knew exactly what he was going to do with her and where it would happen.

Smaller towns created a challenge to blend in and not be noticed. He'd handled them before. The extra element of this job required him to obtain information. A nice challenge. A new string of contingencies. He must be detailed. Thorough.

His camper was in Clayton, New Mexico. He'd develop his plan during the ninety-minute return drive.

The ranger needed further study. Killing Jesse was too common. Too predictable. Patience equaled reward. Yes, life would be interesting for the next several days.

The Snake Eyes Killer deserved some fun.

Chapter Five

“This has gone far enough, Avery. You've had your fun, now unlock the door. You can't leave me here even overnight. We need to call the state's attorney.”

Did she really want Jesse to spend the night in jail? It wasn't as if he'd really broken the law or anything. She was exacting her revenge the best way she could. The only way she could, really. So, yes, he would.

She smiled, doing an about-face straight into Martha Coburn. She'd followed them through the booking area asking why they'd bypassed it. “Jesse Ryder is definitely staying the night with us.”

He cursed. Martha jerked at the profanity.

“Sorry, ma'am. When I get out of here, Avery, I'm going to paddle your behind like I used to in junior high,” he shouted.

She shut the hall door on the loud clang of his boot kicking the bars. She recognized the sound well, having made the same gesture once or twice herself during her stay. “I think he needs to calm down a bit before we do any paperwork.”

“You know that's not protocol, Avery. Is there something wrong with him?” Martha asked, tapping her temple. “I mean, he's claiming to be a Texas Ranger.”

“How do we go about getting a psych evaluation?” She tried to be serious. If Martha's reaction was an indicator, Avery had been successful. “Oh, I'm just kidding. We knew each other a long time ago and he...” She raised her hand to whisper behind it even though no one else was there. “He got a little fresh, if you know what I mean. I'm just teaching him a lesson.”

“I see.” Martha crossed her arms, looking completely like an old-fashioned schoolmarm. “Dan's done that a time or two in his day. I'm not one for telling stories that aren't mine to tell, but he has a couple of doozies.”

“I can't wait to hear those. I better get back out there. Never can tell who's breaking the law before dawn on the weeknight.” She did look forward to those stories about Dan setting someone straight. Maybe it would lessen the rampage she already expected when he found out what she'd done.

Or maybe it would lessen the concern her boss had about her safety when he discovered she'd taken care of herself. It didn't really matter. The satisfaction of keeping Jesse in jail was worth the chiding she'd receive from Dan.

Now that her heart wasn't racing ninety to nothing, it bothered her that Jesse would come up with a wild tale about an assassin...or was it? After Garrison had volunteered to spend his time until trial in a safe house, she'd done her own investigation into the Tenoreno family. She'd taken extra precautions.

Just because she was on her own didn't mean she was an idiot. She'd installed extra locks on the windows and doors of her rental house. Installed security lights to the point her neighbors had raised their concerns with Dan. She'd even spent a day trimming back the hedge and trees so she had line of sight to the road and sidewalks. Her landlord nearly had a cow, but admitted it was safer for a single woman—even if that woman carried a gun.

Maybe she was an idiot after all. Jesse wouldn't lie about his concerns for her safety. He was the one guy she'd known who just didn't lie. And he wouldn't take off work and come all this way for...for what?

Just because Paul Tenoreno was in jail didn't mean that the crime family's money and influence would be stopped. She sat in her truck and waited, watching the jail instead of heading back to the highway. Some of that Texas Mafia money could have prevented the warning Jesse claimed the State's Attorney's Office should have made. But what if...?

She jumped from the truck, locking it on her run across the street to the office. “Julie?” She raised her voice to get their dispatcher's attention in the back.

“Oh, hi, Avery.” She poked her head around the corner. Her cute wireless headset still sat on top of her head. “I thought you said you were—”

“Did Dan have any messages you were keeping until he got back?”

“Avery, you told me to keep all his messages. Remember? You said the big guy deserved time with his family.” She thumbed through a pad of sticky notes. “This is everything that's come in since he's been gone. Well, his calls, that is. All three of us are keeping them in the same place.”

“May I take a look?”

“Sure.” Julie passed the notes.

Each page of the lined pad that had been used was folded back, easy to thumb through. One had a scribble about teenagers shooting beer bottles and a note that it had been passed on to Derek to check out. Another from an unfamiliar number. The last on the list that afternoon was from a 512 area code and marked urgent.

“What about this one? Did they leave a message?”

Julie looked closely. “I bet Mrs. Lena took that. She said they asked for Dan and wouldn't talk with anyone else. Was it important? Should I call him now and pass on the number?”

“No. It's okay. I'll take care of it.” An Austin area code, asking for Dan and no one else meant... “Shoot. Jesse's telling the truth. You mentioned a man came in to see me. What did he look like? How was he dressed?”

“Oh, I don't know, Avery. Nice looking enough, about late thirties or early forties. Sort of stylish in a Western kind of way. Hair hung below his collar. It was the only thing that just didn't seem to match the rest of him.”

“That's not Jesse. Man alive, I've messed up.” She pushed the pads of her hands into the corners of her eyes, blocking all the light, wishing she could block the image of Jesse's face when she'd mentioned this stranger. “Does Dan ever need a forensic artist?”

“I can ask Mrs. Lena when she gets here in the morning. Why?”

“I have a feeling that the man avoided the camera and we'll need a drawing from your description. I'll check the video, but I'd like a name to call if I'm correct.”

“You mean a criminal came in here tonight? I was talking to a genuine criminal?” Julie's face lit up in a smile.

There was no way Avery was going to tell Julie the truth. But she'd need someone to stay with her until this man was caught. If she could identify him, then she was in danger.

“I'd just like to know who was claiming to be a close family friend.”

Hopefully that would quiet Julie's curiosity. And unfortunately, she'd have to let Jesse out. Or maybe not. Perhaps the safest way to talk to him was with steel bars between them. It might become very public, though. And once she was mad enough, she might just ask about their fated night.

The night she thought things were changing between them. She'd changed clothes and he'd changed locations.
Think of something calming.

So maybe a nonconfrontational approach to his release was a better idea. She'd send word to release Jesse with the shift change, leave instructions to take him to his rental car and give him directions to her house. She'd apologize first thing.

Privately apologize for not listening more carefully about the possible assassin. But for sticking him in jail...never. He deserved that. When the yelling began, they'd be in the privacy of her home. Then they could work out a plan to catch whoever the Tenorenos had hired.

Yes, she believed him. Now that she was calm and could reason without his Texas-size smile in her face. But she wouldn't leave her job. Nope. She had responsibilities. Dan was counting on her to keep things under control while he was gone. She couldn't pick up and run every time someone threatened her brother.

Or threatened her pride.

Logically, that meant releasing Jesse and getting started immediately on whatever he'd come to do. They shouldn't wait for morning. She should face him and get everything done.

“Julie, can you get Tosh and Tolbert Jennings out here to go pick up a car on 287?” She dug in her pocket and placed the rental keys on the counter. “Have them leave the car here and leave you the invoice and keys. I'll pay for it.”

“Sure thing.” Julie raised a finger, paused in thought. “The county usually tows, but you know that, so this must be different.”

“Yeah. There's one person who gets under my skin and, well...he did. Let Martha know when it's back, please.”

“I can do that.”

Avery walked back to her truck, changed her mind and went inside the county jail. “No loud banging. That's a good sign.”

Martha tossed her head back, looking up from her paperwork. “At the moment. That is one angry gent in there. Keeps ranting that you're in danger. You back to process him?”

“Yeah, about that.” Her choice was a private conversation. It didn't mean she was a coward. Facing Jesse and exposing their complicated past just wasn't an option. “The Jennings boys are going to bring his car here. Julie will call when it's back. Do you mind letting him out?”

Martha closed her eyes and shook her head. “Well, it won't be the first and I doubt it's the last. Should I direct him to the nearest motel or tell him they're all full?”

“I'm sure he has my address. You could tell him I should be there. If he asks.” Tapping the counter, she was hesitant to place Jesse's wrath on Martha's shoulders. Private or not, it was definitely the cowardly way out. “Thanks. I owe you.”

“Two margaritas at Consuelo's. There's no doubt in my mind that this man is a handful. He's really a Texas Ranger?”

Avery nodded. “My brother's partner and best friend. He's also the guy who grew up next door to me and felt that it was his job to persecute me until the day I left for college. Oh, wait...it didn't stop, because we all went to Baylor. My social life was horrible with not one, but two, men claiming to be my brother.”

“Whew. I don't know what went wrong out there tonight, but I'm glad I'm not hanging around you when he gets out.” Martha laughed. “Really, really glad.”

“Yeah. I better get going. Lots to do before the big confrontation.”

“I have faith in you, Avery. And, hon?”

Confidence wasn't one of the feelings overwhelming her at the moment. “Yes, ma'am?”

“I trust that you'll let the rest of us help you with whatever is going on as soon as you can. And you might consider calling Dan—even if he is on vacation. He won't like it that you're in danger and kept him out of the loop.”

“Sure thing. As soon as I know what's what.” She stepped onto the covered porch just outside the door, noticing the Jennings truck across the street.

Trying not to be obvious, she looked without moving her head. Nothing was moving accept Tosh's dog. He barked a couple of times at her until she closed the door to her truck and sat inside. Tosh waved at her as he came out of the county building.

A couple of cars were heading north on the business route through town. Other than that, nothing was moving besides a southwest breeze.

It wouldn't take long for them to bring back Jesse's rental. She needed to check the videotape. Whether the man had hidden his face or not would determine how she moved forward.

She had about an hour before Jesse would be waiting on her porch, waiting for answers. And an apology.

* * *

J
ESSE
KNEW
A
VERY
almost as well as he knew himself...maybe better. Predictable, a woman with efficient routines that worked, and a woman who did not like him at the moment.

Moment? It would be days. Months that might add up to the rest of his life. The reaction to him on the highway proved she wouldn't work with him. Now or in the future. Walking out on her that night without an explanation was a relationship destroyer. There was no coming back from something like that. He'd known it before he'd seen her cry the next day.

He'd messed up. Hell...she'd left him in jail.

An hour alone, behind bars, was plenty of time to think himself into every possible corner. Or not think his way out of any. Major Parker needed information from him to find whoever said the county sheriff had been notified of this threat. They should know who had screwed up or been bought off by the Tenoreno family.

He had to convince Avery's coworkers that she was in danger and to let him go. So far they'd left him alone. He wanted to see a confident, satisfied Avery waltz through and tease him. He'd imagined her barely speaking to him. Maybe making him beg to be released. Or putting her hands on her hips while stating dramatically to get out of town.

Okay, that was a little on the Clint Eastwood side. She'd try to tell him she could take care of herself. He knew that much and had his argument ready.

The door at the end of the hall opened, and a young deputy with a couple of bottles of water in one hand and cell keys in the other approached him. He began reformulating his arguments.

Jesse had studied a lot of people. When you were best friends with a man as outgoing as Garrison, you weren't required to say much to fit in.

Garrison thought of what to say faster and usually better. Jesse required time to think things through. Then react. Which, admittedly, he could have and should have done better when Avery pulled him over.

The deputy's body movements indicated he didn't know if he could trust Jesse. He dangled freedom from one finger as if he wanted to be convinced, then dropped the keys in his pocket.

“Mind telling me who you are?” the deputy asked, extending a water bottle through the bars. “No one logged you into the system.”

“Lieutenant Jesse Ryder, Texas Rangers. My ID's in that duffel you're holding, unless Avery took it with her.” He gulped the water, letting it cool not only his parched throat but his temper. “And you?”

“Deputy Bo Jackson. Why are you here?”

“Where's Avery?”

“Good question.” He shifted his weight to his other foot, attempting to look casual. He didn't succeed. “We're hoping you could tell us if she's not coming back here because of you. Or if you're here because something's up with that thing her brother's involved in.”