Shotgun Justice

Just because she was on her own didn’t mean she was an idiot. She’d installed extra locks on the windows and doors of her rental house. Installed security lights to the point her neighbors had raised their concerns with Dan. She’d even spent a day trimming back the hedge and trees so she had line of sight to the road and sidewalks. Her landlord nearly had a cow, but admitted it was safer for a single woman—even if that woman carried a gun.

Maybe she was an idiot after all. Jesse wouldn’t lie about his concerns for her safety. He was the one guy she’d known who just didn’t lie. And he wouldn’t take off work and come all this way for...for what?

Just because Paul Tenoreno was in jail didn’t mean that the crime family’s money and influence would be stopped. She sat in her truck and waited, watching the jail instead of heading back to the highway. Some of that Texas Mafia money could have prevented the warning Jesse claimed the State’s Attorney’s Office should have made. But what if...?

She jumped from the truck, locking it on her run across the street to the office. “Julie?” She raised her voice to get their dispatcher’s attention in the back.

“Oh, hi, Avery.” She poked her head around the corner. Her cute wireless headset still sat on top of her head. “I thought you said you were—”

“Did Dan have any messages you were keeping until he got back?”

“Avery, you told me to keep all his messages. Remember? You said the big guy deserved time with his family.” She thumbed through a pad of sticky notes. “This is everything that’s come in since he’s been gone. Well, his calls, that is. All three of us are keeping them in the same place.”

“May I take a look?”

“Sure.” Julie passed the notes.

Each page of the lined pad that had been used was folded back, easy to thumb through. One had a scribble about teenagers shooting beer bottles and a note that it had been passed on to Derek to check out. Another from an unfamiliar number. The last on the list that afternoon was from a 512 area code and marked urgent.

“What about this one? Did they leave a message?”

Julie looked closely. “I bet Mrs. Lena took that. She said they asked for Dan and wouldn’t talk with anyone else. Was it important? Should I call him now and pass on the number?”

“No. It’s okay. I’ll take care of it.” An Austin area code, asking for Dan and no one else meant... “Shoot. Jesse’s telling the truth. You mentioned a man came in to see me. What did he look like? How was he dressed?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Avery. Nice looking enough, about late thirties or early forties. Sort of stylish in a Western kind of way. Hair hung below his collar. It was the only thing that just didn’t seem to match the rest of him.”

“That’s not Jesse. Man alive, I’ve messed up.” She pushed the pads of her hands into the corners of her eyes, blocking all the light, wishing she could block the image of Jesse’s face when she’d mentioned this stranger. “Does Dan ever need a forensic artist?”

“I can ask Mrs. Lena when she gets here in the morning. Why?”

“I have a feeling that the man avoided the camera and we’ll need a drawing from your description. I’ll check the video, but I’d like a name to call if I’m correct.”

“You mean a criminal came in here tonight? I was talking to a genuine criminal?” Julie’s face lit up in a smile.

There was no way Avery was going to tell Julie the truth. But she’d need someone to stay with her until this man was caught. If she could identify him, then she was in danger.

“I’d just like to know who was claiming to be a close family friend.”

Hopefully that would quiet Julie’s curiosity. And unfortunately, she’d have to let Jesse out. Or maybe not. Perhaps the safest way to talk to him was with steel bars between them. It might become very public, though. And once she was mad enough, she might just ask about their fated night.

The night she thought things were changing between them. She’d changed clothes and he’d changed locations. Think of something calming.

So maybe a nonconfrontational approach to his release was a better idea. She’d send word to release Jesse with the shift change, leave instructions to take him to his rental car and give him directions to her house. She’d apologize first thing.

Privately apologize for not listening more carefully about the possible assassin. But for sticking him in jail...never. He deserved that. When the yelling began, they’d be in the privacy of her home. Then they could work out a plan to catch whoever the Tenorenos had hired.

Yes, she believed him. Now that she was calm and could reason without his Texas-size smile in her face. But she wouldn’t leave her job. Nope. She had responsibilities. Dan was counting on her to keep things under control while he was gone. She couldn’t pick up and run every time someone threatened her brother.

Or threatened her pride.

Logically, that meant releasing Jesse and getting started immediately on whatever he’d come to do. They shouldn’t wait for morning. She should face him and get everything done.

“Julie, can you get Tosh and Tolbert Jennings out here to go pick up a car on 287?” She dug in her pocket and placed the rental keys on the counter. “Have them leave the car here and leave you the invoice and keys. I’ll pay for it.”

“Sure thing.” Julie raised a finger, paused in thought. “The county usually tows, but you know that, so this must be different.”

“Yeah. There’s one person who gets under my skin and, well...he did. Let Martha know when it’s back, please.”

“I can do that.”

Avery walked back to her truck, changed her mind and went inside the county jail. “No loud banging. That’s a good sign.”

Martha tossed her head back, looking up from her paperwork. “At the moment. That is one angry gent in there. Keeps ranting that you’re in danger. You back to process him?”

“Yeah, about that.” Her choice was a private conversation. It didn’t mean she was a coward. Facing Jesse and exposing their complicated past just wasn’t an option. “The Jennings boys are going to bring his car here. Julie will call when it’s back. Do you mind letting him out?”

Martha closed her eyes and shook her head. “Well, it won’t be the first and I doubt it’s the last. Should I direct him to the nearest motel or tell him they’re all full?”

“I’m sure he has my address. You could tell him I should be there. If he asks.” Tapping the counter, she was hesitant to place Jesse’s wrath on Martha’s shoulders. Private or not, it was definitely the cowardly way out. “Thanks. I owe you.”

“Two margaritas at Consuelo’s. There’s no doubt in my mind that this man is a handful. He’s really a Texas Ranger?”

Avery nodded. “My brother’s partner and best friend. He’s also the guy who grew up next door to me and felt that it was his job to persecute me until the day I left for college. Oh, wait...it didn’t stop, because we all went to Baylor. My social life was horrible with not one, but two, men claiming to be my brother.”

“Whew. I don’t know what went wrong out there tonight, but I’m glad I’m not hanging around you when he gets out.” Martha laughed. “Really, really glad.”

“Yeah. I better get going. Lots to do before the big confrontation.”

“I have faith in you, Avery. And, hon?”

Confidence wasn’t one of the feelings overwhelming her at the moment. “Yes, ma’am?”

“I trust that you’ll let the rest of us help you with whatever is going on as soon as you can. And you might consider calling Dan—even if he is on vacation. He won’t like it that you’re in danger and kept him out of the loop.”

“Sure thing. As soon as I know what’s what.” She stepped onto the covered porch just outside the door, noticing the Jennings truck across the street.

Trying not to be obvious, she looked without moving her head. Nothing was moving accept Tosh’s dog. He barked a couple of times at her until she closed the door to her truck and sat inside. Tosh waved at her as he came out of the county building.

A couple of cars were heading north on the business route through town. Other than that, nothing was moving besides a southwest breeze.

It wouldn’t take long for them to bring back Jesse’s rental. She needed to check the videotape. Whether the man had hidden his face or not would determine how she moved forward.

She had about an hour before Jesse would be waiting on her porch, waiting for answers. And an apology.

* * *

JESSE KNEW AVERY almost as well as he knew himself...maybe better. Predictable, a woman with efficient routines that worked, and a woman who did not like him at the moment.