Shotgun Justice

“I doubt it. Makes too much sense.”

“So I guess you’re on board with flushing this guy out. No way to talk you out of it?”

“I said yes to Parker. He explained why it’s important and asked that I remind you to take Snake Eyes alive. I don’t understand why he thinks you’d shoot him. I mean, you haven’t killed anyone in the line of duty.”

Jesse knew. Watching her, he’d kept an eye on her legs, her waist, the curve of her lips. There wasn’t a night that went by that he didn’t wish his hands were stroking her silky skin. He remembered how she’d felt against his flesh, how she’d eagerly responded to his kisses.

He’d defend her with his life. He’d rather shoot the other guy first. Yeah, he knew why his commander needed to remind him.

“You know he’s not going to approach me if you’re around.”

“Probably won’t be tonight, then.” He chugged the rest of his beer, listening to her small pretend gasp. “I’m not heading anywhere.”

“I put sheets and a pillow on the couch. I don’t have a guest room.”

The security light popped on. They both went for the shotgun. Both realized it was just a tree branch blowing in front of the sensor. No one stood in the driveway ready to kill them. She slid the gun across her lap anyway.

“You’re not going to like the couch,” she added with a grin.

“It’s okay. I didn’t plan on getting much sleep.”

Avery stood on the step, shotgun resting on her arm as she looked up and down the street. He understood that she was silently waiting on him to gather his things and come inside. He did, watching as intently as her.

Once inside, he dropped his bag and laptop, then began checking window locks.

“They haven’t been open since I was locked up.”

Focus. They’d apologized. No need to go back and dredge up another hurt. If they were going to do that, he’d talk about their last night together. Explain how things had seemed different.

Later. Now was the time to talk strategy.

“When’s your shift start tomorrow? How much do you plan to tell your staff?” He checked the back door and paused for her answers back in the living area.

“Are you even curious why I didn’t get the message that Rosco was dead?”

“You said Sheriff Myers is out of town and you released me before daylight.” He returned from the small bedroom that was just big enough for her queen mattress sitting without a frame in the corner. “We both have deductive skills that we utilize fairly well. All the windows are secured. You spoke to Parker. If there’s a problem, he’ll find it.”

“Glad nothing’s changed in the last ten minutes. I checked them when I got home.”

“Just making sure.”

“Well, you could have asked.”

“Come on, Avery. We both need to be on our toes. We can’t get emotional about this situation.” He dug through his bag, removed weapons and ammo. Unzipped carrying cases, setting a rifle and three handguns on the coffee table.

She placed the shotgun between the door and porch window. Easy access. Then she huffed to the kitchen. “I suppose some things will never change.”

“I’m the same man I was before. I’m not changing who that is for this assignment. It’s the reason they sent me.” It sounded as if a metal pot hit the floor. “I never wanted to let you down, Avery.”

“Ha.”

They were there. Emotional. A night of mistakes between them. “There’s no way to avoid this conversation. Is there?”

“You seem to have done a good job avoiding it for at least eight months,” she said, not quite shouting from behind a wall.

“I’m sorry.”

Half her body appeared at the kitchen entrance. She pointed a wooden spoon at him. He would have ducked if it had been in her throwing hand.

“For what part? Not speaking to me? Not making love to me? Leaving me embarrassed in my apartment without a word of explanation? Why are you apologizing?”

“All of the above?”

“That’s what Garrison would say.” She left him alone.

If she was using the spoon, she used it silently. He barely heard a sound for several minutes. The microwave beeped and a pretty good aroma wafted into the living area.