Chapter Twenty-four
Raven stopped the jeep in front of the Sheriff’s office and noticed the lights were off and the place was dark. That fact sent such a frisson of worry across her skin that it made her reach for her gun.
Cane, who’s senses seemed aligned with hers, quietly removed his from the glove compartment also. Then he pulled Noah behind the jeep where the three met to discuss the situation.
“What’s wrong?” Perplexed, Noah demanded a reason for their weird actions.
Raven spoke low. “The power returned just before we left. There should be lights on in the office. I don’t like it… something’s not right.”
“You left Dwayne in charge you said. He’s a competent guy. Maybe he just decided to grab a snooze.”
“Nah. We didn’t tell you much about Dale, the killer we had locked up in the cell… and another prisoner besides him. No way Dwayne would be sleeping.”
As if being back on the job had finally registered, Noah took charge, his tone nonnegotiable. “Cane, maybe check the back and see if there’s anything out of place there. Raven give me your gun and wait here.”
Raven looked at Cane and they both chuckled at the same time before she spoke. “Noah, I’m an FBI agent. I don’t give my weapon to anyone, nor do I stand back. Look, there’s a rifle in the trunk here you can borrow. But I’m your backup, pal, and don’t you forget it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Noah grinned his regret at talking down to her and waited for her to retrieve a weapon for him. Once they were all armed, Cane slipped away like a shadow in the night, and Noah headed to the front of the building that housed the police office.
Both he and Raven slunk low until they got to the window. Then they peeked inside, and Raven’s blood ran cold. Outrage consumed her, making her livid. Son of a bitch! Dwayne lay on the floor in a pool of blood.
Noah reached for the door handle but found it locked from the inside. Having lost his keys, he stood back and aimed his booted foot at the exact spot where the door would give way. One hard kick and it flew open.
While Noah headed for the back room that housed the cell, Raven crouched beside Dwayne to search for a pulse. At first, she didn’t find one but after a few seconds, she felt it, very slow and weak.
Careful not to make things worse, Raven zipped around to where she could lean closer to his face to find his breathing erratic but happening.
Not wanting to make any more noise than possible until she knew the situation in the back better, she lifted her gun and went to quickly provide backup for Noah, to protect him in case of danger.
Once there, she saw Cane meet up with Noah at the open cell door saying, “All clear back there,” his thumb pointing behind him.
Raven instantly dialed 911 for a medical emergency and waited until someone finally answered.
Once she explained Dwayne’s injury, the harassed-sounding woman on the other line instructed her to bring Dwayne to the hospital.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. All our ambulances are out on other calls. It’s a madhouse in here.”
Before she could share her findings with the men, they’d turned on the lights and found their other criminal, Sonny, perched on his cot, his hands still handcuffed to the bars and a piece of duct tape placed across his face.
Cane got to him first and ripped off the cover.
“Ow. Jesus Christ, man, that hurt.”
“What happened?”
The player hesitated until Cane glared at him, and then he grudgingly talked.
“Your killer persuaded Dwayne’s son, Brody, into taking him to the bathroom, and he played him, man.
Played him like a fiddle. Stupidest thing I ever saw.
Brody didn’t know what hit to him. One minute he’s got his gun on the dude, and seconds later, he’s getting a knee in his nuts.
Oopsie daisy, the asshole had his weapon.
Dumbest Goddamn thing I ever saw. Don’t you guys train your deputies around here? Fucking joke.”
Before he could say more, Cane slapped the bandage back over his mouth. “You gonna yap off or shut up and listen to our questions?”
Bitching through the barrier, he kicked his feet and wriggled for a few seconds before slumping back and nodding nicely. Cane again ripped off the tape, and Raven had to admit to a certain pleasure when the asshole grunted in pain, but he stopped whining.
This time, Noah questioned the perp. “Did this Dale asshole say anything about what he planned to do? And where’s Brody now?”
Spitting the tape goop from his mouth, the loser admitted he wasn’t sure where Brody ended up. “Hell if I know. All’s I do know is that Dale took him along cause he needed his truck. Don’t know what happened to Dwayne either. Haven’t seen him, but I never heard a shot.”
While Noah explained what they found in the front office, Raven started back toward where the older man still lay in a pool of blood.
“Hey, guys, it looks like we have to take Dwayne into the hospital ourselves. Who knows the most first-aid to stop the bleeding before we get him into the jeep? I only have a few basics.”
Cane and Noah both went to crouch by the old man to assess the damage.
After calling his name a few times with no response, Noah went to the cabinet behind his desk and returned with a first aid kit.
Soon, Cane had a pressure dressing on the wound and wrapped more bandages around Dwayne’s head to hold it in place.
In seconds, both men lifted Dwayne carefully to put him in the jeep’s backseat, making sure to keep his head protected while Cane slid in to balance the man’s body and keep it from being too jostled.
Noah waited to close the door and spoke to them, sharing his immediate plans.
“I’ll get more information from the patsy back there and figure out our next move.
Can you guys get back here as soon as possible?
I’d like to use your jeep, Raven. At least, until I can get a hold of Palmer’s police car. ”
“Sure, we shouldn’t be long. The hospital’s on high ground and most likely safe from the flooding.” Raven waited for him to step back and then took off.
After driving for a few minutes, she opened the conversation. “Cane, what’s your take on Dale? Where do you figure he’ll be heading?”
“Don’t know. Obviously, he took Brody to show him where he’d left his truck. Jesus, I fucking hope that sicko didn’t kill him.”
“Yeah, me too. Brody’s a sweetheart… both him and his wife Julie. He works at the lumbermill here in town, and they have four little kids who need their father. Wait… if the truck wasn’t parked in front of the jail, where did he leave it?”
Suddenly, Raven made a U-turn and drove to where Brody might have parked near the schoolhouse.
After all, he could have brought stuff to be dropped off there and walked to the jailhouse.
Scanning the parking lot, a dark shape in the corner caught her eye.
As they drew closer, the outline of a mound like a body curled into itself became clearer.
Yelling a warning, she headed there and carefully hit the brakes.
Jumping from behind the wheel, she rushed over and slowly turned the blood-soaked, mud-spattered body to see the man they’d been talking about.
Brody’s voice was thin and filled with anger.
“Thank God, you found me. The prick sh-shot me. In the leg. The black-hearted son of a bitch, he sh-shot me and didn’t even look back. ”
“Calm down, pal. We got you. Any other injuries besides the leg?” Raven wanted to keep him talking while she sussed out the gaping hole just above the kneecap.
Seeing that the bullet had most likely gone through because of the exit wound, she whipped off her belt and tied it above the shredded mess.
Pulling it tight to stop the bleeding meant hurting Brody but he just grunted words of permission.
“Do what you have to do, Raven. I’ve got a family I need to get back to. ”
“A beautiful family they are too. Can you tell me what happened?”
After he stopped clenching from the pain she’d inflicted, he answered, “I pulled out the truck keys he wanted. When he reached to get them, I threw them into the gravel and tried to grab his gun. It went off. The bastard ran for the keys, and I crawled behind the rock. Thank God, the slimy sicko just drove off. It took some time before I revived and decided to use the rock to get to my feet. I wanted to get to the parking lot where I’d have a better chance of being found, but I only made it a little way before I passed out again. ”
Hugging his head to her shoulder in the familiar way between old friends, she spoke tenderly, “You did good, Brode. Lost a lot of blood but it looks like we got to you in time. I need you to be strong and help me get you to the jeep. We’re headed to the hospital with your dad now.”
“My dad. He’s alive? Thank Christ.” Brody’s voice turned husky with relief, and his body began shaking.
“Dale hit him so hard, I figured the old man was a goner. I tried to stop him, but the asshole snapped. Said he’d shoot Dad in the head if I didn’t cooperate.
Unfortunately, Dad went for him, and Dale smacked him good.
Made me leave him there. Rattlesnake bastard’s meaner than a mutilated bear. ”
Raven turned to see Cane approach, and without more fuss, they each took one of Brody’s arms to help him into the rear seat with his father.
Cane, now sitting next to Raven, found the number to the hospital to alert them that they would be bringing in two patients and gave their medical status to forewarn the emergency team to be ready.
The next hour was a bit of a blur with doctor’s questions and having to wait for Dwayne and Brody’s families to arrive, but they were finally free to go with the good news that both men would make a full recovery.
Driving back to the jail, Raven didn’t notice the blood-soaked look of her, but Cane brought it up. “You’re really something, you know that?”
Grinning from the supposed compliment, she smiled his way. “What makes you say that?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to fuss over the blood on your clothes…
figured you’d be wanting to change or something.
But all you did was wash your hands and get on with it.
Guess I’m not used to anyone out of uniform acting so casual about the danger you’ve faced in the last twenty-four hours. You’re an amazing woman.”
“Hey, don’t be painting any haloes over my head. I had my share of shaking and crying when the hot water washed over me in the shower. I guess training kicks in when the shit flies. It’s afterwards when we deal with the pain and then let it go.”
Cane’s look made her squirm as much as his words. “It’s easy to push the grief into the past when it wasn’t you who caused the damage.”
Raven’s heart stopped for a few seconds while she mulled over his meaning. It didn’t take an Einstein to know he’d done something that ate away at his soul… something he couldn’t get past, and it made him hate himself.
Jesus, how could she ever get beyond that kind of a barrier.
Not knowing the words he needed to hear, she spoke the one truth she knew he couldn’t dispute.
“You’re the only man I’d want with me on a day like we’ve just been through, Cane.
Twice, I’ve trusted you with my life, and you haven’t let me down. ”
“Yeah… well, we’re all tested.”
“Okay then, let’s just say the past couple of days could be God’s way of helping you find your way to retribution.”
Cane lifted his head to look at her, the amazement on his features making her smile gently. Reaching out her hand to pat his arm, she added, “Did I hit a nerve?”
“Guess so. Yeah.”
“Sorry, let’s just back up then. But I won’t apologize for telling the truth. I’ll always be glad that today you were my partner.”