“Not yet. I needed a positive identification before I could arrest her.”
Randy headed to Russellville with a lady deputy to arrest and bring in Brenda McGuire.
Mona was at the office waiting for me. She was eating a donut and drinking a cup of coffee. I poured myself a cup of coffee and selected a glazed donut.
My phone rang and it was Randy.
“Hi.”
“What do you mean she’s not home? Is she anywhere in town?”
“No, Mr. McGuire and the boys said she went out but they didn’t know where she went.”
“I bet she went to Gertie’s Massage Parlor. Mona and I are heading out there. You have your deputies meet us there.”
I put the Honda on ‘fast’ and soon we were driving up Gertie’s drive. I drove around to the back and the black sedan was parked next to Gertie’s rig.
Mona went around front and I made my way to the back door. Everything seemed quiet. With my Glock in hand I opened the back door. I could hear a woman’s voice. I inched around to where I could see Brenda McGuire. Gertie was setting on the sofa. Brenda McGuire’s gun was pointed at Gertie’s chest.
“You ruin good girls with your so called massage parlors. You ruined my Natasha. She was a good girl until she met people like you. Where’s my Natasha. Where are you hiding her?”
“No, please don’t shoot me. Natasha quit working here a few days ago. I don’t know where she went.”
I didn’t want to shoot Brenda McGuire. But I knew I had to turn her attention from Gertie before she pulled the trigger.
“Drop the gun.” I yelled. Startled Brenda turned facing me with the gun pointing at my chest.
“What are you doing here?” She looked shocked. Her eyes were hollow, she looked like she had the devil dwelling in her soul.
“Drop the gun…” Before I could get the words out of my mouth. A loud bang rang in my ears. Brenda McGuire looked at me with her eyes fixed, her aim still on me, the gun fell from her hands and she fell straight back on the floor with blood gushing from her head. I stood in a trance wondering if I fired the shot that killed her.
A deputy and Mona busted through the front door. A deputy sharp shooter standing outside the window had taken her down.
“You okay ma’am?” The deputy asked.
“I’m fine. But she doesn’t look so good.” I pointed at Brenda McGuire on the floor with her head in a pool of blood her eyes still with that hollow look.
Gertie was setting on the sofa holding her heart.
“That’s it. I was considering retiring and this has helped me to make a decision.” Gertie said as she fanned her face.
The deputy summoned the coroner. And put Brenda McGuire’s gun in a plastic bag.
Within a short time the drive was filled with Sheriff patrol cars and the coroner‘s wagon. Yellow crime scene tap was being strung around the perimeter of the property.
Randy drove up with the siren blaring and red lights flashing.
He jumped from his SUV and ran to me. “You okay, Sweetheart?” He wrapped his arms around me and held me close.
The Devil's Dwelling Page 25