Shotgun Justice (11 page)

“Or just plain worry.” He rubbed her arm. The house seemed secure enough. Then again, they'd had a plan before Snake Eyes drugged them. “Will you consider getting someplace safer?”

“I'm safe right here.” She yawned into his chest. “I hope you're okay sitting up the rest of the night, because I'm so...so comfy.”

Her last words were barely audible mixed with a long yawn. She relaxed against him completely. She wasn't kidding about getting comfortable.

“I wish you'd let me take you out of here. You could join your mom and aunt.” He spoke over her head. His arms held her tight. “Or you could sleep on my chest while I hold you all night...keeping you safe.”

She was asleep. That last little bit of resistance was gone as she sank both lower and closer. He helped her roll over onto the pillows without waking. She curled one hand under her face, the other under her chin.

The second he backed away, Avery whimpered. He shifted the unused pillows to under his head, turned on his side and draped his arm across her body. She wiggled a little, getting closer, and continued sleeping.

Did she have any idea what she was doing to him?

Concentrating on his breathing, and not waking Avery as he did, distracted him from the arousal of lying next to her. Every memory of her naked in his arms sneaked between the rapid heartbeats, exciting him all over again.

The sure way to temper the desire was simple. When—not if—Avery found out what him sniffing around her last year had cost...he'd never be allowed back in her life.

It seemed like the way to go. Fast, easy, truthful... But not if he wanted her out of here. Safe. Away from the possibility of Snake Eyes returning to kill them...

“The problem is...” he whispered, spreading his hand across her abdomen when she jerked, already dreaming. “I'm not ready to let you go. So there's gotta be another solution.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Did you hear me, Ranger? I said to knock until you wake them up. No, I don't want you to break down the door. Use your common sense.”

Sore beyond thought and even more tired, Avery heard Dan's voice on her porch. The tap on the window would have been enough to scare her out of bed. But the heavy arm and light popping noise of the man sleeping soundly against her back had her checking to make certain she was still dressed.

“Thank goodness.”

“Is someone knocking on the window?” Jesse asked with a voice full of sleep. He didn't budge.

Avery moved his arm off her midsection. “Dan's outside. He might have news.”

Jesse rolled over, falling off the mattress to the floor.

“Avery, darlin'.” Dan interrupted her laughter. “Sorry to disturb you, but I need to talk to you a minute. Then you can get back to whatever.”

“We're not doing—” She pulled the curtain open, but her boss's back was to the glass. She started to raise her voice. “Oh, forget it. I'll be right there.”

It was Jesse's turn to laugh. He pushed himself up from the floor, extending a hand once on his feet. Let him laugh. She'd straighten Dan out on the circumstances. Of course, it wasn't anybody's business, so she didn't have to bother.

She moved slowly to the couch. Much slower than Jesse, who had opened the door, let Dan inside and already headed to make coffee.

“I'm sorry to wake you up or...” Dan winked.

“Nothing was going on, even if it is my personal life.” She felt her lips flatten, then tried to relax her face to look normal. “Is there news?”

“Want some coffee, Sheriff?” Jesse asked from the kitchen.

“Had my limit hours ago.”

“Holy smokes, is it really four?” No wonder she was stiff. They'd been asleep for thirteen hours and had barely moved. That hadn't happened...well, ever.

“We figured you were both just sleeping, but I told everybody involved that I'd come by personally and check when you didn't answer the door.”

Jesse joined her on the small couch after moving the folded linens. Dan raised an eyebrow and she shook her head. Jesse just grinned like an idiot and then frowned. “They must have found the kid who was shooting at us. Right?”

“Ten this morning. A motel over in Clayton, New Mexico. The maid found the body. No Jeep in the parking lot. And all the towels were missing.”

“Knife?” she asked.

“Sliced him all the way to his spine.” Dan shook his head. “People in Clayton didn't recognize him. They think he might have been part of the harvest crew. Same as the other two at Thompson Grove.”

“I imagine they're canvassing the other motels,” Jesse said.

Dan nodded.

“I'd like to see the crime scene. Who's got jurisdiction? Who's collecting evidence? Do I have time for a shower?”

“Hold on, Deputy. They're practically done. I've been there and back.”

Jesse shrugged when she looked at him for backup.

“Mainly here to see how you're both doing. And to tell you that Bo will go get anything you need. Including a cot.” Dan gave a fatherly glance in Jesse's direction.

“I'm good.”

Dan awkwardly cleared his throat. “I bet you are. Think I'll have him bring by a cot anyway.”

Avery was sufficiently embarrassed admitting to herself that the possibility of sharing a bed hadn't left her mind. “House arrest, then, huh?”

“Protective custody,” Jesse corrected her. “I'm getting coffee.”

“Before you step out...” Dan paused. “Here are some new phones, courtesy of the state of Texas. There's a couple of people expecting some calls from you both. Your personal phones and laptops will come back after they're checked out for tracers or hackers or traces of a hack. You know more about that stuff than I do.”

“Working on the case will be harder without a laptop.”

“Guess you'll have to do your detecting the old-fashioned way with pen and paper and tape.”

“Maybe a whiteboard,” Jesse said before she could.

“No one comes in or knocks on the door. That's the way this works. Just making certain you understand that those two rangers, Bo and me...that's it. If anyone else comes or calls—”

“Something's wrong,” she finished for him.

“Is it better if we leave, Sheriff? I suggested it last night, but we didn't really have a chance to talk about it yet.”

“The powers that be agreed for you to come back here. Here's good.” Dan was matter-of-fact most days, but this wasn't one of them. “This is important, Avery.”

“I know, sir. I wouldn't put anyone else at risk. Everyone at the office knows what's going on? They'll be careful? Work in twos?”

“We got it covered. We brought in extra help from Amarillo. I better be on my way so you can get on with your...um...breakfast.” He looked toward Jesse. “Make a list. Bo will pick it up.”

“Sounds good. And you'll copy the Clayton crime scene?” she asked.

“Got my word and the word of your Major Parker.” He nodded at Jesse. “Nice fella.”

“Yes, sir.” Jesse politely excused himself with a motion for coffee.

“Just say the word and I'll put him up at the jail.” Dan winked.

“Who told? Julie, I bet.”

“Well now, you can't blame her for being forthcoming with information. This has all been on the exciting side of our lives.” Dan leaned forward and took her hands in his. “You're very fortunate to be alive. You know that?”

“Yes, sir.” She wouldn't let herself cry because Dan or the others in the office cared. It was natural, and she needed to do her job.

“You need these days to recover.”

“You could say the same thing for Snake Eyes. They should check all the hospitals and clinics—don't forget veterinarian offices, but I don't know if they carry tetanus, which he'd probably want a dose of. That rake was pretty rusty and he might be worried.”

“Make a list, Avery. You aren't shut out from the case. Speak with Major Parker. He's waiting on you to feel up to a debriefing.” Dan stood. “I better be going for real this time.” He got to the door and nodded at the shotgun. “That thing loaded?”

“Always.”

“I'll add that to
my
list. You'll need a couple of weapons. Glock okay?”

“Sure. Please stay safe out there, Dan.”

He left, and once the door was locked, he said, “Boys, you take care of my girl in there.”

“Throw me in jail again?” Jesse handed her the coffee with a wicked grin. “If I go, so do you.”

“No privacy, remember?” She sipped. “Are you ready to get started?”

“Not really. We've missed breakfast and lunch. I want to begin with those. Where's the food?” He'd leaned toward the door and spoke louder. “Isn't the state supposed to provide food?”

“Under house arrest two minutes and already complaining,” one of the rangers said. “Whoever you send, choose something for us, please?”

Jesse affirmed.

“Thin walls,” he mouthed at her.

“I'll have to remember to keep my voice down.”

Jesse grinned like a man with a secret. “Coffee good?” he asked instead of stating the off-color remark she was certain had passed through his male brain.

“I'm going to shower. Alone,” she said, loud enough for the ranger at the door. “But I'm starving. There's frozen hash browns and eggs.”

“Guess that's my cue.”

In spite of the headache, she managed to move quickly through a shower. She imagined all sorts of scenes in a sordid little motel in Clayton. With the spray adjusted to beat on her shoulders, she thought of hundreds of ways to collect evidence and crossed her fingers that it would be done correctly.

Normally, she wasn't good with anyone doing her work for her. If they were shut out of the case, she would probably go cabin crazy in a matter of hours. Her list of potential items grew. She'd have to give Bo her debit card to pay for everything.

She was reminded that she was really recuperating when she stepped from the shower and landed on the side of the tub. No thuds or screams or even an “oops.” Jesse didn't rush to the door, so she didn't have to be embarrassed. But her hands were shaking until she weaved her fingers together and took a couple of trembling breaths.

No warning. Her legs just seemed to stop holding her for a moment. It seemed the shocks her body had tolerated had left her with a physical problem after all. She got dressed carefully and could only manage finger-combing her hair.

The smell of eggs and pepper hit her nose, and a migraine headache seemed to arrive without any warning. Her legs started shaking again, so she curled up on the couch and pulled Jesse's blanket over her.

“Still hungry?” Jesse asked, smoothing back her damp hair.

“Not really. Can I have that notebook and pen?”

He'd used it a couple of times, so she didn't have to use more words to be specific about where or what.

“You could rest instead of making a list.” He handed her the writing tools anyway.

“I'm okay. I want to get a list written while it's fresh in my mind.”

“I'll hold off scrambling your eggs, then.”

She propped up the notebook and held the pen, but couldn't make it move on the page. The letters were there. She could see them. One at a time they danced around just like the numbers from the day before. She shoved the notebook to the floor and tossed the pen.

Of course Jesse looked at her from the small dining table in the corner. If their roles had been reversed, she'd be searching him critically, too. She'd have sympathy for him and the challenges he'd be facing.

“You're right. I'm too tired and think I need some aspirin.” She pushed at the covers, but he jumped up and lifted a hand, indicating to wait. Water, aspirin, no pity and no “I told you so.”

Jesse Ryder was a good man.

* * *

W
YATT
M
C
D
ONALD
AND
Kayden Cross were rotating shifts. One catnapped in the truck in the driveway, since they hadn't got a room yet. Jesse was very aware how often they changed out positions. He'd walked onto the porch only to be confronted and politely—yet firmly—asked to return inside.

Avery had been asleep about four hours. His first call had been to the doctor to see if that was normal. This was a woman who rarely slept six hours a night, so yeah, he was concerned. The doc had said he'd be more concerned if she wasn't.

The second phone call was to Major Parker. He'd gone to the back corner of the kitchen to place it. As far away from Avery as he could get. You could hear everything in this house. Small and compact. He hadn't meant to listen to Avery and the sheriff, but it had been impossible not to.

Dan didn't have anything to worry about. Jesse wasn't going to sleep with Avery when she was in this shape. But he also wouldn't sleep with her having a lie between them.

“Sir, I think you should reconsider adding me to the guard detail outside.” He tried one more time to do something useful.

“If there's something wrong with your detail...”

“No, sir, nothing like that. It would just be easier with four-hour shifts split three ways.”

“I'll reconsider it next week. Right now your rest is as critical as Miss Travis's. I have the doctor reports. Severe dehydration. Possible concussion. If you were here you'd be on leave at least a week. I doubt you'll have that long. Did you get the laptop?”

“They delivered it a half hour ago.”

“I'll be back in touch in the morning with decisions on how we'll proceed.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Rest up. This isn't over yet.”

Jesse wanted to throw the phone across the room. He didn't normally throw a tantrum. He wasn't the person in the room raising a ruckus or who questioned authority. Garrison had always been around to ask the questions and Avery had been close by to voice objections.

He missed their three-ring circus.

“Finally off the phone?” Avery asked from the table. “I think I could eat those eggs now if you don't mind. Or we could ask Bo to pick something up from the diner if you need to sit awhile.”

“I think I can handle scrambling eggs. I ate all the hash browns, though. Want this teakettle thing going?”

She leaned against the counter. “Eggs, tea and toast would be great.”

“When did you start drinking hot tea?” He set to work. He could scramble eggs in his sleep and it was a good thing. Most of his attention was on observing Avery. She didn't look as pale as she had before she'd fallen asleep. She was resting her head in her left hand and not using her right nearly as much.

“Julie introduced me to it. Got me hooked, actually. She was concerned with the amount of coffee I consumed.”

“I remember your mom voicing that a couple of times. I gave a list to Bo. He said he doesn't mind making another trip in the morning if I forgot something. I, um...had him pick up a puzzle and a card table.”

“Since when do you work puzzles? You hate puzzles. We both do.”

“I noticed...” Did he have to say it? She looked away. “The doc said a puzzle might help.”

“Don't you think we have a big Snake Eyes puzzle to solve?”

He removed the eggs and scooped them onto a plate, handing them to her. She leaned back and let him set it on the table. “I'm just trying to help.”

“Each time you call the doctor, he's probably telling Dan I need more time to sit here.”

“If he doesn't I will. You can't go back on the job like this.”

“What do you know? I'm fine, just tired.” She took a bite and glared at him.

“Then use your right hand.”

“I'm good.”

He couldn't strong-arm her. She'd keep pushing until they were angry. He didn't want that. “Avery, please use your right hand.”