Mean Streak(117)

He answered with, “Good timing, Jack.”

As he listened, his expression changed from supreme annoyance to alarm. “Lisa? Can you speak up?” He mouthed an obscenity. “Where? Is your mother there?” A moment later, he hissed another curse, then said, “Do what you can to stay away from them. I’m on my way.” He clicked off.

“What?”

“Her brothers picked her up and took her home. She’s locked herself in the bedroom, but they’re threatening to make good on the lies she’s been telling about them.”

Emory groaned. “Pauline?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“I’ll call the sheriff’s office.”

“Don’t,” he said. “They’d go, Lisa would accuse, the brothers would deny, they’d leave. She’d still be stuck there with them. No, this is one of those dirty jobs. I gotta finish it.”

“This is a matter for the authorities.”

He gave it a few second’s consideration. “All right. Give me ten minutes’ head start.”

“Hayes—”

“Ten minutes.” He moved toward the door.

“I’m going with you.”

“Hell you are. I can’t fight them and protect you at the same time.”

“You did before.”

“Not this time. Besides, you need to wait for Connell’s call about Jeff. Don’t forget to charge your phone.” He nodded toward a wall outlet where Connell’s charger was plugged in. “If Jack can’t reach me, he’ll call you. He has your number, right? Knight and Grange, too?”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts, Doc. Jeff’s secure, which is the only reason I’m leaving you alone. But my business right now is with Norman and Will.”

As he pulled open the door, she grabbed his arm. “You said you wouldn’t kill them.”

“They don’t know that.”

*





In a week full of surprises, Jeff received the most unpleasant one of all when he pulled open the door of the suite to find Alice standing on the threshold, fist raised, about to knock.

“Alice. How untimely. What are you doing here?”

“I thought we should talk.”

“Not now. I’m on my way out.”

“Now, Jeff.” She nudged him aside as she stepped into the entry. Noticing that he was already dressed for outdoors, she asked, “Where were you off to?”

Frowning, he checked his wristwatch. “I’ll give you five minutes. People are waiting for me.”

“What people?”

“Those hillbilly brothers.”

“The ones Emory tangled with?”

“Yes. That lot. Emory and Hayes Bannock are the sister’s champions. I thought if anything would lure them out, it would be she.”

“What are you talking about? What have you done?”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s Sir Bannock to the rescue.”

“What about Emory?”

“Hopefully she will be with her cavalier. If not, Norman assured me he’ll happily work on him until he gives over where he’s stashed her. Besides, I think it’s time I met her mystery man.”

“You described these brothers as reprobates.”

“They are.”

“But you’ve cooked up a scheme with them? Have you gone mad?”

“No.”

“I think you must have, Jeff. Whatever your plan is, it could go terribly wrong.”

“I’m prepared for that eventuality.”

He opened his coat and showed her an inside pocket. She gaped at him. “You have a gun? You?”

“I have a gun. Me.” He removed the revolver from the pocket and balanced it in his palm. “Small but trusty.”

She walked over to the sofa and sat down, rubbing her temples as though they ached. “This is insane. If there’s any kind of fracas, Emory could be harmed or killed.”

“And whose fault would that be?” he said. “Her own. Why does she remain everyone’s cause célèbre? All of this, everything that’s happened, she brought upon herself.”

She looked at him, her expression wary and accusatory.

Abruptly he turned away. “I’ve got to go.”

“Where’s the charm on your zipper pull?”

He came back around. “What?”

“Last Friday night when you arrived at my house, you were wearing that jacket. I remarked on it, how attractive you looked in it. You bragged on it being new and told me how much it had set you back. Remember?”

“I’m not senile, Alice.”

“It had a recognizable designer logo dangling from the zipper. It’s not there now.”

“I lost it.”

“Where?”

“If I knew where, it wouldn’t be lost.” With impatience, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Anything else on your mind this morning?”

“You and I. We’re over?”

“I thought I’d made that clear last night.”

“You did. But I wanted to hear it from you in person.”

“Consider it heard.” He motioned toward the door. “I’ll see you out, then I need to get on my way.”