Chapter 27
27
Judge Felner paced the length of George’s office, his grip tight on the gun but not quite steady. Papers littered the desk, some fluttering to the floor with each agitated turn he made. His face was damp with sweat, his shirt sticking to him. He swiped a trembling hand across his forehead, muttering words that barely made sense.
Ronnie stood her ground, keeping her breathing even, making sure she stayed between him and Giavonna. Judge Felner’s movements were erratic, but he hadn’t pointed the gun at them yet. That was something. She just needed to keep him talking. Keep him distracted.
“Can you tell me what this is about?” She didn’t want him to look at Giavonna at all. She nudged George’s sister toward the conference room. There wasn’t a window in there—but there was a lock on the door.
“It’s Ward. He’s got me by the balls. I can’t find a way out, and with Hiller digging like he is… what in the hell am I supposed to do? Really? What am I supposed to do?”
“I’m confused. What’s Deputy Ward making you do?”
“You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.”
“Then tell me. Maybe I can find a way to help.” His hand trembled slightly as he waved the gun around, but he still hadn’t aimed it directly at them. That was something. “Deputy Ward’s pushing you into this? How? I really don’t understand.”
“Tolben’s land. Ward wanted them. I told him to leave Tolben alone. But he wouldn’t listen.”
“Why did Deputy Ward want Jim Tolben’s ranch?” It was a decent-sized property, but it wasn’t highly profitable, even though Jim and his four sons had done their best. It just wasn’t.
“The mines. Ward thinks there’s treasure down there—some kind of fortune buried under that old mess. He wants it all.” His voice rose in frustration. “Said I had to make sure Tolben lost everything so he could take it cheap at auction.”
Ronnie knew what he was talking about. It was just a myth. Her uncle had told her the stories long ago. No one really believed there was anything down there in the old mines. Copper or silver—she didn’t even really know what kind of mines they were.
Judge Felner blinked at her, momentarily distracted. “You have?”
Ronnie nodded. “My Uncle Charlie told me about them a few years ago. He offered to take me treasure hunting recently to help me pay my bills, actually. I turned him down—that whole ‘Ronnie never goes underground, ever!’ thing I have going on.”
Judge Felner’s lips twitched, almost as if he wanted to smile, but it vanished just as fast. “Ward’s convinced it’s real. Said I needed to make it happen. He—he has things on me.” His voice cracked, and his grip on the gun faltered just slightly. “He wanted the land cheap. It was my job to make it happen. I sat the bench for thirty-five years. Youngest appointee in Barratt County history, young lady. And for what? So Ward can use me now. And that damned Hiller kept digging. Making it all worse.”
“Things like what? What did he make you do?”
Judge Felner’s breathing grew heavier.
“Talk to me, Your Honor. Help me understand. Maybe… when George gets back, he can help you find a way to fix this. Thirty-five years on the bench—I’d hate to see you just throw that away because of that oily piece of garbage Wyatt Ward. That man has always made my skin crawl. Talk to me. Please.”
Ronnie didn’t push, just let him talk. Every second he ranted was another second closer to getting Giavonna out of there safely.
Behind her, Giavonna didn’t make a sound.