Shotgun Justice

The fingernail against the metal roof stopped. He heard her feet crunching gravel, then the click of the radio as she walked away. The duffel he’d packed was lifted from the trunk and dropped to the ground.

“Check inside,” he told her. If she did, she’d see his weapons. She’d know he was telling the truth.

She ignored his command to look, locked the car and engaged the alarm. There wasn’t anything else he could do at this point. He had to wait to have his story verified by Sheriff Myers.

And he had to keep his mouth shut. He couldn’t afford to tick her off any more—as evidenced by her fast and false arrest. She needed him whether she liked it or not.

“Julie, I’m coming in with a... ETA is six minutes. Out.”

“That’s great. I’ll let everybody know.”

“Could you ask her to have the sheriff meet us there? I’m sure he’ll be able to straighten out this whole mess.”

“No.”

“Dammit, Avery. Enough is enough. I’ve got a job to do.”

“It’s not up to me. Dan’s in Dallas. His daughter just had a baby. He won’t be back for another four days.”

“When did he leave?”

“Three days ago.”

No one from the State’s Attorney’s Office had explained the situation to the Dallam County Sheriff’s Department. Hell. He was on his own.

“Elf Face?”

“Stop calling me that.” She shifted back and forth uncomfortably in her seat as she buckled up.

“You’re not really going to put me in jail. Are you?”

“You bet your last dollar I’m going to. Of course, the cell isn’t as comfy as Dan made mine, but it’s not bad. Hardly any privacy, but that shouldn’t bother you. Right?” She pulled onto the deserted highway and pushed the gas to the floor. “I mean, you don’t care for anyone’s privacy. Or their private life. Or things like suggesting their boss incarcerate them for their own good. Things like that are second nature to you. They don’t bother you at all.”

Jesse closed his eyes and let her rip into him, knowing he was the only person around who could save her life. She was going to force him to take that night in jail. He’d be lucky if he didn’t receive life in prison for wanting to hug a deputy.

Chapter Four (#ulink_46a35392-9349-5596-a4ae-79c71b5c11c2)

There she was... Avery Travis had returned early to process a prisoner. A Texas Ranger prisoner. How fun was that?

The foot traffic in and out of the county jail was higher than Snake Eyes had anticipated. A point in his favor that his employer hadn’t put a rush on the job. He’d have to get creative with this one...a deputy and the additional bonus of a real Texas Ranger.

He couldn’t take one without the other. If he did, there would be too many complications. Both were quite competent. He was aware of their history, of them growing up as neighbors. He had expected that Jesse Ryder would come when Avery went missing.

This was better. Much better.

Now he could widen his plan to include them both and not be bothered with searches. How convenient.

Finding out the prisoner was Jesse Ryder took no skill. Walking in the shadows across the street from the jail, he’d overheard Jesse as they’d gone inside. Not all the conversation, just what had bounced between the buildings.

It was time to go. There was no longer a need to discover vulnerable extraction points. Unfortunately, Jesse’s arrival would delay the extraction while he fortified his plan. If the Rangers were involved, then it meant they knew about his contract. Maybe not the details, or his name—

Well, no one knew his name, as he was very careful not to be identified. He’d taken precautions. Lots of precautions. Even the criminals who employed him didn’t know. Frustrated officers referred to him as the Snake Eyes Killer.

Assassin was the more accurate description. After he’d successfully completed his third murder, he let himself be hired. Then proof of a completed assignment had been needed.

The first pair of replacement eyes had been simple marbles. The next had been fashioned after the venomous creature his victims called him. He rather liked it. Kept it. Made it easy for the police to identify him.

If they found the body.

He pulled away, leaving the jail and sheriff’s office behind. He had work today. Lists to make. A new plan would require a new spiral.

Did their argument indicate they were more than close friends?

The arguing would work to his advantage. He snapped a couple of pictures of back doors and guards on cigarette breaks, noting the time. But he already knew how he’d take Avery Travis. He knew exactly what he was going to do with her and where it would happen.

Smaller towns created a challenge to blend in and not be noticed. He’d handled them before. The extra element of this job required him to obtain information. A nice challenge. A new string of contingencies. He must be detailed. Thorough.

His camper was in Clayton, New Mexico. He’d develop his plan during the ninety-minute return drive.

The ranger needed further study. Killing Jesse was too common. Too predictable. Patience equaled reward. Yes, life would be interesting for the next several days.

The Snake Eyes Killer deserved some fun.

Chapter Five (#ulink_21143c78-930a-5532-acab-e5792810baeb)

“This has gone far enough, Avery. You’ve had your fun, now unlock the door. You can’t leave me here even overnight. We need to call the state’s attorney.”

Did she really want Jesse to spend the night in jail? It wasn’t as if he’d really broken the law or anything. She was exacting her revenge the best way she could. The only way she could, really. So, yes, he would.

She smiled, doing an about-face straight into Martha Coburn. She’d followed them through the booking area asking why they’d bypassed it. “Jesse Ryder is definitely staying the night with us.”

He cursed. Martha jerked at the profanity.

“Sorry, ma’am. When I get out of here, Avery, I’m going to paddle your behind like I used to in junior high,” he shouted.

She shut the hall door on the loud clang of his boot kicking the bars. She recognized the sound well, having made the same gesture once or twice herself during her stay. “I think he needs to calm down a bit before we do any paperwork.”

“You know that’s not protocol, Avery. Is there something wrong with him?” Martha asked, tapping her temple. “I mean, he’s claiming to be a Texas Ranger.”

“How do we go about getting a psych evaluation?” She tried to be serious. If Martha’s reaction was an indicator, Avery had been successful. “Oh, I’m just kidding. We knew each other a long time ago and he...” She raised her hand to whisper behind it even though no one else was there. “He got a little fresh, if you know what I mean. I’m just teaching him a lesson.”

“I see.” Martha crossed her arms, looking completely like an old-fashioned schoolmarm. “Dan’s done that a time or two in his day. I’m not one for telling stories that aren’t mine to tell, but he has a couple of doozies.”

“I can’t wait to hear those. I better get back out there. Never can tell who’s breaking the law before dawn on the weeknight.” She did look forward to those stories about Dan setting someone straight. Maybe it would lessen the rampage she already expected when he found out what she’d done.

Or maybe it would lessen the concern her boss had about her safety when he discovered she’d taken care of herself. It didn’t really matter. The satisfaction of keeping Jesse in jail was worth the chiding she’d receive from Dan.

Now that her heart wasn’t racing ninety to nothing, it bothered her that Jesse would come up with a wild tale about an assassin...or was it? After Garrison had volunteered to spend his time until trial in a safe house, she’d done her own investigation into the Tenoreno family. She’d taken extra precautions.