Chapter Eighteen
Three weeks later, Rawley entered the department and grinned when the agents rose to their feet to shake his hand and welcome him back. His chest was still black and blue but fading and he felt much better.
“Thanks guys. I appreciate it.” Rawley shook their hands, then removed his hat and coat, and headed to Dave’s office. He knocked and Dave glanced up, then with a grin, he waved him inside and stood to greet him.
“It’s good to see you back, Rawley. Take a seat.” Dave walked around his desk and sat down while Rawley eased himself onto the chair. “How are you feeling?”
“The ribs are still a little sore but not enough to keep me home. Every day, I have less pain. How’s the case going?”
“Damn, I can tell you’re back.” Dave shook his head. “Hud’s out right now, but when he gets back, he’ll fill you in. It’s still an ongoing case until we get them to talk. We need more from them.”
“Nothing from either of them?”
“No, but I bet you want to talk to them, don’t you?”
“You’re damn right I do.”
“Alright. You can go to the jail. But this is Hud’s case now. Got it?”
“Yes. Thanks Dave, I appreciate it.”
“Yeah, I think Hill will be scared shitless when he sees you. I think he thought you were dead, and we didn’t tell him any different.”
Rawley grinned. “Like the guy who thought he killed Creed, then Creed walked in.”
Dave chuckled. “I like letting them stew. I’ll see you later. Get to work, Agent.”
“Yes, sir.” Rawley walked out of the office, then headed out the door.
He stepped into the elevator, pushed the floor for the lobby, then leaned against the wall.
His ribs hurt like a bitch, but the bruises didn’t bother him.
The elevator stopped and he stepped out into the lobby, then made his way to the Sheriff’s Department.
He could have taken the stairs, but he didn’t want to chance hurting his lung again.
Once he reached the department, he opened the door and stepped inside. He mentally groaned when he saw Betty Lou Harper at the counter. She looked up with a frown, then smiled. She stood, walked around the counter and hugged him, making him hold his breath until she let go.
“I’m happy to see you, Rawley,” she said as she wiped a tear away.
“I’m happy to see you too, Betty Lou. Is Sam here?”
“Yes, he’s in his office. I’ll let him know you’re here.” She turned from him and yelled; “Sam, Rawley’s here.”
Rawley had to look away from her to hide a grin. He watched as Sam entered the lobby of his department.
“Betty Lou, when are you going to start using the intercom?” Sam asked then grinned at Rawley.
“When I feel like it, Sam Garrett.” Betty Lou huffed as she placed her hands on her hips.
Sam shook his head as he strode to Rawley and shook his hand.
“It’s damn good to see you, Rawley. I suppose you want to see them?”
“I do.”
“Follow me.”
Rawley nodded then followed the sheriff to the cells in the back. Sam opened the door and nodded for him to enter, then looked at him.
“Let me know if you need any help.”
“I will, Sam. Thanks.”
Sam returned to his office and Rawley stepped inside. He saw both men on cots in separate cells. He folded his arms and leaned back against the wall. When Hill looked at him, all color drained from his face.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Hill,” Rawley said.
“I thought—” Hill cleared his throat.
“You thought I was dead. I warned you what would happen if you were setting me up.”
“I’ll tell you everything.”
“Shut the fuck up, Hill,” Roby said from his cell.
“You lied to me, Hill. I knew I should have gone with my gut about you.” Rawley looked at Roby. “I hope you like the bars because you’re both going to be behind them for a long time.” He grinned when Roby clenched his jaw. “Not so big now, are you?”
“I can still kick your ass,” Roby snapped.
Rawley nodded, then walked from the room to Sam’s office. Sam looked up, then raised his eyebrows.
“You’re finished with them already?”
“No. Could I have the keys to the cell Roby’s in?”
Sam grinned. “Sure.” He opened the drawer in his desk, removed the keys and tossed them to him. Rawley caught them.
“Want to join me?”
Sam stood. “Hell yes. I don’t want to miss this. In fact, let me open the cell.”
Rawley chuckled. “Alright.”
They reentered the jail. Roby and Hill sat up when they saw Sam as he unlocked Roby’s cell.
“I believe you said you could still kick my ass,” Rawley said as he folded his arms across his chest. He smirked when Roby stayed on the cot. “Come on.”
“No way. The sheriff will shoot me.”
Sam laughed. “No, I won’t. This is too good to miss.” He leaned against the wall next to Rawley.
“I don’t trust you, Bowman,” Roby snapped.
“You think I trust you? I don’t. Do you want to do this or not?” Roby never moved, making Rawley grin. “I didn’t think so.” He looked at Sam. “Could you have someone bring Hill upstairs?”
“Yes, I’ll have Jack bring him to you.”
“Thanks, Sam.” Rawley looked at Roby. “I’ll be in court for your sentencing,” he said then walked out and rode the elevator to his floor again.
****
Skylar sat on the sofa, watching TV. She hoped Rawley was having a good day since it was his first day back to work.
He was coming by tonight and she couldn’t wait to see him.
Calvin and Hobbs were still here with her.
Rawley had stayed here until he recovered.
She laughed as she thought about him bitching and complaining that he couldn’t return to duty.
As it was, it was only part-time now, but he was happy to get back to it.
She decided to head to town to buy some Christmas gifts. Thanksgiving was next week and she couldn’t wait to have dinner with Rawley and his parents.
She wanted to buy his parents something too but had no idea what. She decided to call Rawley.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said when he answered.
“So, how’s your first day back going?”
“Good. I’m going to be interviewing one of those men. He said he’d talk, but he’s also the one who set me up.”
“Do you think he’ll be honest?”
“He wants a deal, so I dangle one in front of him.”
She could hear the smile in his voice.
“What can I get your parents for Christmas?”
“Baby, you don’t have to do that. I know they’d tell you that themselves.”
“No, I want to. They’re so great.”
“Yeah, they are. Well, my mom loves antiques and my dad likes Callahan Whiskey.”
“Oh, that’s great. I love antiques too. I’ll go by Timeless Treasures and find something for her. Where’s a liquor store?”
“Do you know where Randi’s Scented Haven is?”
“Yes, I’ve been in there several times.”
“The liquor store is across the street, a few shops up.”
“Okay, that’s what I’ll get them.”
“They’ll appreciate that. Do you want me to bring something home for dinner?”
“Sure. Whatever you want.”
“I want you,” he said in a low voice.
“I want you to, but you need to heal. You’re probably too sore. How about burgers?”
“Let’s back up here, I want to get back to me being too sore. I’m sure I’d manage.”
“Rawley Jamison Bowman, you will behave until you’re completely healed. You know the doctor didn’t even want you to go back to work part-time.”
“What’s that got to do with me wanting you?”
Skylar laughed. “Because if you’re not supposed to be back, you’re not all healed.” She sighed. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Darlin’, I’d feel a lot better if we were in bed.”
“Are you in the office?” She hissed.
Rawley laughed. “No. I’m in the elevator. No one can hear me but you.”
“How about we talk about it later?”
“Talking about it is the last thing I want to do.”
“I’m heading to town to get some shopping done. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Your house, right?”
“Yes. I’m going before you talk me into something. I love you.”
He chuckled. “I love you too. Later, sweetheart.” He disconnected.
Skylar smiled as she put the phone down, then dressed. She pulled her coat on, and beanie over her head, opened the door and stepped into freezing cold.
“Damn, it’s cold. I hope we have a white Christmas.” She locked the door behind her, climbed into her SUV, started it, pressed the heated seat button, then headed to town.
After parking, she walked along the sidewalk, then entered the antique shop.
“Hey, Skylar,” Maggie said when she saw her.
“Hi, Maggie. How are you today?”
“Wonderful. Are you here to finally get that lamp?”
“You still have it?”
“We do.”
Skylar shook her head. “I’m not shopping for me. Maybe after the holidays if it’s still here.”
“Okay. What can I help you with?”
“I want to find a gift for Rawley’s mother. He said she loves antiques.”
“Oh, she does. She’s in here a lot. She kept asking about a certain piece of Kings Crown Ruby Red Thumbprint, but we didn’t have the piece at the time, but we do now. Let me show you.”
Skylar followed Maggie to a shelf on the back wall.
“Darla wanted me to call her if we got any in, but it just arrived and I haven’t had a chance to call her.”
Skylar looked at the pitcher and four goblets. They were beautiful. She looked at the tag and took a deep breath, then looked at Maggie.
“I’ll take it.”
“All five pieces?”
“Is that what she wanted?”
“Yes.”
“Then, yes. All of them.”
“Great. She’ll love this. Let me get them for you.”
“Alright. I’ll let you do that because I’m afraid I’d drop one.”
“It’s fine. You could grab two of the goblets.”
“I think I can handle that.” Skylar reached for two of the goblets and walked to the counter. She set them down as Maggie set the pitcher down then went back for the other two goblets.
“Do you want me to wrap them?”
“Oh, I can do that. I do appreciate the offer though.”
“Okay, but I’ll wrap them in newspaper for you.”
“Thank you. I’ll just look around while you do that.”
“Sure.” Maggie smiled then carried some of the pieces to the back room.