Lady Luck (Colorado Mountain #3)(138)

I hustled to the fridge. Then I got Deke a beer. I gave him the bottle thinking he wouldn’t take offense. After asking his beverage preference, I also got Samuel one of Ty’s bottled waters but since he was obviously a millionaire or something, I poured it into a glass.

Then I got myself a diet and since I wasn’t on the phone with a Ty who was being sweet, my calm evaporated and I tried very hard as the minutes slipped by not to start hyperventilating.

Conversation was scarce and only included Samuel and me as Deke’s monosyllabic grunts made Samuel give up on him. Both men were sitting at the stools and I was at the side of the island when the air in the room started pulsating and my eyes went to the boys then to the door.

The glass showed another good-looking black man, light-skinned, close-cropped hair like Ty’s, close-trimmed beard unlike Ty, as tall as Samuel Sterling, as wiry as Dewey but in a lean, attractive way not in a jittery, felonious way and, even though I didn’t know him, he had a face that said he was pretty extremely displeased.

But he was not what I was looking at. I was looking at the man in the uniform standing behind and beside him, glowering through the glass. Older, he had thin, light brown hair going gray at the temples and beyond, a serious beer gut that fell well over the belt on his uniform pants and small, mean eyes.

Arnold Fuller, Chief of Police.

And more, beyond him was not only Officer Frank but also Detective Chace Fucking Keaton.

Shit. Shit. Fuck!

I moved to the door, hoping I was schooling my features.

Then I opened it and my eyes darted between the men, hoping I looked surprised and curious.

“Uh, hi. Can I help you?” I asked.

“Does Tyrell Walker reside here?” Ty’s parole officer asked.

“Yes, this is Ty’s home. I’m Ty’s wife, Lexie.” I looked at Fuller then Frank and back to Ty’s parole officer before I whispered, “Is Ty okay?”

“Yes,” I heard Samuel say from close behind me, “is Ty all right?”

“And you are?” Ty’s parole officer asked.

“Samuel Sterling, a friend of the family.”

“Right,” Fuller muttered and I watched Ty’s parole officer twist instantly to throw him a glare.

Then he turned back and looked at me. “Mrs. Walker, I’m Jamarr Gifford. I’m your husband’s parole officer. We’re here to perform a random inspection of your home. This is normal procedure for parolees, as I suspect you know.”

I nodded, stepped back and hit Samuel who didn’t move so stopped but spoke. “Yes, I knew this could happen. Ty told me.”

“That might be so,” I heard Samuel say from behind me and I twisted my neck to look up at him, “but wouldn’t such an inspection occur when Mr. Walker was in attendance?”

“We –” Jamarr Gifford started.

“Perhaps you should return when Ty is back,” Samuel suggested.

“No,” I cut in when I felt the vibe change and not in a good way. I turned back to the door. “It’s okay. You can do it now. But, can Samuel and Deke and I stay while you do this? We won’t get in your way.”

“Of course, Mrs. Walker,” Jamarr Gifford said, stepping in and the men behind him came in with him, fanning out. “We’ll do our best to complete this quickly,” his eyes went to Fuller and he finished on what sounded like a warning, “and without disruption or disorder.”

“Okay, well, go for it,” I invited then said, “And you can call me Lexie.”

Jamarr Gifford’s eyes came to me, he did a quick top-to-toe then nodded, all business. Then he turned and nodded to Officer Frank and Keaton and he and those two men moved forward.

Fuller planted his feet apart, his arms crossed on his chest and glared at me.

I pressed my lips together.

Samuel did not. “Are you not participating in the inspection?” he asked Fuller.

“I’m the Chief of Police,” Fuller answered.

Samuel didn’t miss a beat. “Is it protocol for the Chief of Police to attend a random inspection such as this?”

Fuller’s face twisted as he replied, “It’s protocol for the Chief of Police to do whatever he wants, includin’ makin’ sure this shit ain’t no farce,” he paused and his eyes moved, I followed them and saw he was looking at Gifford. “Seein’ that it’s all in the family,” he concluded, his point not even slightly vague.

“Right,” Samuel whispered, his anger not even slightly hidden. Then he asked, “Can I have your name?”

“What?” Fuller bit out.

“Can I…” Samuel paused, “have…” another pause… “your name?”

Fuller rocked back on his heels on a stubborn, good ole boy, “Nope.”

“Arnold Fuller,” Deke piped in and I swallowed back a hysterical giggle.

“Thank you,” Samuel said to Deke then his hand came to my waist lightly and he murmured, “Lexie, why don’t you come back, finish your soda. Okay?”

I looked up to him, nodded then moved back to the island.

Then I sipped my soda as men moved about my house inspecting things.

Five minutes later, I watched Keaton come down the stairs, round the railing and stop five feet from the island.