Keller County Cops Book Seven: Code of Vengeance

by Melanie Atkins

  A car parked next to the curb about a block from her house looked familiar. Once Keegan got closer, the WHBZ logo emblazoned on the side of the car caught her eye.

  "Oh, my God," she said, appalled Mindy Ravens would have the nerve to show up on her doorstep without even phoning her first. No one had called Keegan since she'd left the courthouse. She'd had no missed calls, no texts, no nothing. Not quite knowing what to do, she strangled the wheel and stepped on the accelerator. "Damn that nosy reporter."

  Her anger flamed even hotter as she rolled past her house. Mindy Ravens sat on the front porch in one of the two large white rockers Keegan's mom had insisted she take home from Jenny's place while they were cleaning it out. Seeing the reporter in her sister's chair made Keegan's stomach roil. She longed to hide away inside the sanctuary of her home, but stopping now meant she'd have to confront the bitch, and she was in no mood to deal with the woman.

  So she kept on driving. Forget taking an extra class today or focusing on Foster. That would have to wait. All she could think about now was dodging the reporter.

  She made her way back to Main Street, weaved through downtown Hunter's Bayou, and raced out to Rick Blaylock's small frame house on the edge of town. Why she went there, she didn't know. She only knew she had to talk with someone, and right now he was the only person who knew her story. Well, most of it, anyway.

  Her heart pounded as she pulled into his driveway. She dug her cell phone out of her purse and found his number. Maybe if she alerted him first he wouldn't turn her away. He didn't have to know she was already at his house. Unless, of course, he looked out the window.

  His phone rang several times before he picked up. "Yeah? Who is this?"

  "Sheriff? Rick?" Keegan swallowed, hard. He sounded groggy. "Did I wake you?"

  "Um... kind of, yeah." Fabric rustled, and she imagined him turning over in bed, that big body flexing under the covers.

  Her mouth went dry. "I-I was just checking on you. I took some personal time because of the verdict, but I couldn't go home. Mindy Ravens is on my front porch, lying in wait for me like a predator anticipating its next meal. I can't deal with her today."

  "I know the feeling," he rasped. "She's a nosy bitch."

  "True. How's your shoulder?"

  "Sore, but I'll be all right." He coughed. "Damn. Just looked at the clock radio. It's after one o'clock. I've been sleeping for a while. Glad you woke me up. I need to grab some lunch."

  "I'll be happy to fix you something, if you'll let me join you."

  "Seriously, Keegan?" Fabric rustled again, and she figured she'd startled him and he'd sat up in bed. In the picture embedded in her mind, he didn't have on a shirt.

  Her face flamed. "I'm, um... sitting in your driveway. I can't go home right now, so--"

  "So you came here? Why on earth would you do that?"

  "I-I don't know. I just... I went to visit my mom, dad, and niece first. Only, I couldn't hang around there too long because I can't talk to them about Mindy Ravens or Dirk's case or... or any of the classes I've taken. They don't know about any of that. They're too caught up in raising Haley, Jenny's daughter, to pay much attention to me, and they wouldn't understand."

  "And you think I will?" His gruff words chilled her to the bone.

  She drew in a shaky breath, sent up a quick prayer that he would understand, and plunged on. "Well, so far, you've seemed fair enough. I-I don't know where else to turn."

  "You do realize I'm the sheriff in this county, right?" he asked, his stark question resonating within her heart. "If you've done something illegal, I'll have to arrest you. I won't have a choice. The law's the law, and I believe in doing what's right."

  "I know you do, but I haven't broken any laws." Except for buying the illegal weapons, of course. She pushed that little indiscretion to the back of her mind and toyed with the hem of her blouse. "Please, Rick. I don't have anywhere else to go."

  "Oh, all right, but I want you to put your car in my garage." More rustling carried over the line. "Give me a second, and I'll open the door."

  "Okay. I'm hanging up now." She ended the call and restarted her car.

  A few minutes passed before the rolling door in front of her rose, revealing the sheriff's big black SUV and a space about the width of Keegan's car that was empty except for a couple of cardboard boxes. Rick stepped out a door to the left of the SUV, rounded the vehicle, and gingerly moved the cartons out of the way using his good arm. Keegan debated about helping him, but he tossed them out of the way before she could get out of the car.

  He stepped in front of the SUV and motioned for her to drive inside, so she threw the vehicle into gear and crept into the narrow space. Without acknowledging her any further, he turned and pushed the button to close the rolling door.

  She cut the ignition and got out. The place smelled of oil and dirt. "Rick?"

  "Over here. Come on in." He opened the door to the house and held it for her.

  Keegan figured he must be exhausted since he just got out of the hospital, so she hurried around the SUV and slipped past him into the kitchen, a cool, unlit room with white cabinets and spotless stainless steel appliances. A warm, spicy scent, highlighted by a slight medicinal tang rolled over her as he shut the door and turned to face her.

  "I don't eat here that often, so I don't have much in the refrigerator." He ran a hand over his stubbled chin. "I do have some bread, though."

  "Do you have any peanut butter?" Keegan bit her lip.

  He focused on her mouth for a long moment, and then raised his gaze to meet her eyes. "Um, yeah. Peanut butter and jelly. That actually sounds pretty good."

  "You have bananas, too, I see," she said with a shy smile, glancing toward a glass fruit bowl on the counter. Why did he make her feel like a silly schoolgirl?

  He rubbed his chin again. "Don't know if that's such a good idea."

  "What's wrong with bananas?" She lifted a brow. "Haven't you ever had a banana and peanut butter sandwich?"

  "No." He looked at her as if she'd suddenly sprouted an extra head.

  She laughed. "You should try one. According to legend, Elvis loved 'em."

  "I'll take your word for it." He twisted his lips. "Give me peanut butter and jelly."

  "Fine, if you refuse to be adventuresome. You don't know what you're missing."

  "Maybe I'll try one another day." He opened the cabinet directly in front of her and took out a jar of peanut butter. Then he got out a loaf of bread, a jar of strawberry jam, and a jug of milk. "Can't have a PB and J sandwich without milk. It's unnatural. The utensils are in the drawer next to the stove. Please... make yourself at home."

  "Perfect. I will. Give me five minutes, and we can eat. If you'll pour the milk." She walked over to the drawer and got busy making them each a sandwich. Instead of adding jam to hers, she sliced a banana and slapped it between two pieces of peanut butter coated bread.

  Rick wrinkled his nose, but didn't say anything else as he took down two plates and two glasses, then poured them each some milk. Once Keegan finished making the sandwiches, he led her over to the table and pulled out a chair for her. He didn't speak even after she thanked him, but saved his compliments until he bit into his peanut butter and strawberry jam delicacy.

  "This is good. Thanks." He smiled at her. "Even making a sandwich is hard to do with one hand, so I've been avoiding the kitchen. Didn't know I was so hungry."

  "That's one reason I wanted to come see you. To find out if you needed any help."

  "The doc told me I needed someone to stay with me until I get this sling off, but I didn't listen." He blew out a sigh. "I just wanted to get out of there."

  "I'll stay with you," she blurted without thinking. Once her words hit home, her cheeks caught fire. Why had she said that? She and Rick weren't even friends. Or were they?

  He put down his sandwich. "Keegan, you can't. You're a witness in a murder case."

  "Nobody has to know."

  "I'll know." He tapped himself on the
chest. "I'm a by-the-book kind of guy, and getting that close to a witness is against the rules."

  "I'm here now." She tilted her head. "Is that a problem?"

  "Probably, but I made an exception because Mindy Ravens is roosting on your front porch." He picked up his sandwich and took another bite.

  She'd finished a little over half of hers, and now her appetite had fled. She pushed her sandwich away. "Maybe I should go."

  "Where?" He scowled. "The reporter's staking out our house, you said you've already visited your parents and your niece, and you're already off work for the day. You might as well stay here for a little while longer."

  "Fine, but if I'm going to do that, you need to know the truth about that night. I didn't kill Dirk, but that is why I went to the club that Saturday. To get vengeance for Jenny and Haley." Surprised she'd let her secret out -- and to the sheriff, no less -- she swallowed back the urge to bolt. Instead, she kept going. She'd already laid so much on the table, she didn't see any point in holding back the rest of it. "I didn't get to avenge my sister, however -- you know what happened, thanks to the surveillance video -- so I decided to avenge other women wronged by the men who were supposed to love them."

  "Let me guess. Ronald Wicker was next on your list."

  "That's right." She sat back and slowly deflated. "Until fate intervened after the trial, just like with Dirk. I guess I'm not meant to be a murderer."

  "Good." He put his hand over hers on the table. "I'd hate to have to arrest you."

  "So I haven't broken the law yet?"

  "Did you stalk either man?"

  "Don't know if you'd exactly call following Dirk for three days stalking, but if so then I guess I did." She lifted a shoulder. "I just wanted to know the places he frequented, where I might have a good chance of catching him alone. I went with the Kitty Kat Klub because it's really not that busy, even on weekends. It's also pretty isolated."

  "How were you going to do it?" He took his hand away.

  Without his warmth, she felt bereft. Her heart ached. "With a knife."

  "So you planned to do it basically the way it went down."

  "Not exactly." She met Rick's stormy gray eyes. "I was going to slit his throat."

  Chapter Nine

  "Set up right here, Bob," Mindy told the cameraman from the corner of Sheriff Blaylock's front porch. "You'll have an excellent angle on the door, and that's what we want."

  "Are you sure Ms. Riley's here?"

  "Of course I'm sure." The reporter scowled. "I paid Paul to follow her after we spotted her on her street, and she drove straight here and pulled into the garage. All nice and cozy-like."

  "You think she and the sheriff are sleeping together?"

  "I'd put money on it," she said with a smirk. "In the long run, though, it really doesn't matter one way or the other. All I need to make Maillet happy is the illusion they're together."

  "He's playing dirty." Bob hefted the camera and aimed it at the door.

  Mired too deep in the scheme Maillet had concocted to worry about what the cameraman thought, Mindy shrugged. "What can I say? He wants to be sheriff."

  "Do you really want a jackass like that in charge of Keller County law enforcement?"

  "No, but it's not up to me."

  "Exactly. It's up to the people of Keller County." Bob met her eyes. "And if you distort the truth and trick them into voting for the wrong guy, it'll be on you."

  "I don't have a choice." Her voice broke, and she looked away.

  Bob lowered the camera and put his hand on her arm. "What does he have on you?"

  "I can't say." She stepped away. "Please, Bob... just let it go."

  "Mindy--" He snapped his mouth shut and shook his head. "This is wrong."

  "Oh, stop being so damned self-righteous and do your fucking job." Her heart in her throat, she glowered at him. If he bailed on her, she'd be in deep shit. She needed this report for tonight's news to placate Maillet. Yet she'd probably just offended him, so she countered her snappish tone with a touch of desperation. "Please, Bob. I'm begging you."

  "He must have something really bad on you."

  "I-I can't talk about it. Ever. Please... just help me without asking any more questions."

  "Of course I'm gonna help you." He sighed. "I'm here, aren't I?"

  "Yes, thank God. Now, focus on the door and not on me." Unable to tamp down her frustration, she turned on her wireless microphone, checked to make sure her digital transmitter was on, and stalked over to the door. Her heart did a crazy tap dance inside her chest. She glanced at him one more time before she knocked. "Ready?"

  "Yeah. Go ahead."

  She rapped hard on the door three times, and then stepped back. Her gaze fell on the doorbell lying flush against the side of the jamb. Damn. Didn't see it.

  Mindy waited a moment before pressing the small white button for extra emphasis. The bell echoed throughout the house. Seconds later, heavy footsteps reverberated from inside. Then a muffled curse met Mindy's ears. She figured Blaylock had just looked through the peephole.

  "I'm not going away, Sheriff," she shouted through the closed door. "I need more answers, and I'll stay here all night if necessary. So you might as well open up."

  The door swung open to reveal an angry-eyed Rick Blaylock wearing the same dark blue sling over a fresh white tee shirt and a pair of worn jeans.

  "What do you want now, Mindy?" He glared at her.

  She flashed him an innocent smile. "I believe you have a visitor, and I need to speak with her, please."

  "What?" His mouth fell open. "How do you... are you freaking kidding me? I can't--"

  "So you do have a visitor, Sheriff?"

  "I -- no comment." He muttered another oath and stepped back to close the door.

  She put her foot against the jamb. "I wouldn't do close the door in my face if I were you. I know for a fact that Keegan Riley, a key witness in the Dirk Woodward murder investigation, arrived at your house half an hour ago and hid her car in your garage. So you can refuse to acknowledge her presence, but you won't be able to stop me from using the video of her pulling in and making your collusion with her the top story on tonight's six o'clock news."

  "Damn it, Ms. Ravens--"

  "I'm right here. What do you want?" Keegan stepped up behind Sheriff Blaylock and peeked around his left shoulder.

  He muttered a curse and blocked the door with his big body, keeping his eyes on Mindy's the entire time. "No, Keegan. I won't let her grill you like she did me."

  "I'm here to ask you about the numerous classes you've attended since your sister Jenny was murdered six months ago, Ms. Riley. According to my sources, you've taken four self-defense classes, at least six or seven martial arts classes, and three firearms training courses. Amazing, especially for a woman who doesn't work in law enforcement. You've been quite the busy little bee."

  "Well, I like to stay in shape and--"

  "That's enough," the sheriff barked, his back to Keegan. He leveled Mindy with a vicious glower. "Now, get the hell off my porch before I call dispatch and ask for backup."

  "Keep rolling, Bob," the reporter threw over her shoulder with glee. Her excitement grew even more intense as she turned her attention back to Sheriff Blaylock, who visibly seethed at having had to confront her. "I'm going to air the story whether or not I speak with Ms. Riley. Don't you want her to have a chance to defend herself against my allegations?"

  "And just exactly what are you allegations?" he asked, his face an angry thundercloud. "It's a free country. Ms. Riley has the right to take all the classes she wants."

  "Taking classes isn't the issue. What I want to know is why she took so many in that ilk in such a short period of time. She had to be gearing up for something." Mindy leaned close and peeked around him, hoping to catch Keegan Riley's eye. No such luck. She met Blaylock's furious gaze instead. "Revenge, perhaps, against the person she believed killed her sister?"

  "That's enough," he said with a growl. "Get off my porch."


  "Rick -- Sheriff Blaylock -- move out of my way. Please." With a perturbed look on her face, Ms. Riley shoved him aside and stepped in front of him. "She's talking about my life, not yours. I want a chance to explain before she makes me out to be some kind of monster."

  "Go ahead, Ms. Riley," Mindy said, pushing her microphone closer to the woman's face. Wonder vibrated through her. If she could get a good story out of this, she might be able to placate Maillet, at least for a while, and get him off her back.

  The sheriff looked anything but pleased. He grabbed Ms. Riley's arm. "Think about what you're doing."

  "Believe me, I have thought about this -- for the past six months." She met Mindy's eyes. "I took all of those classes because I feared for my life. Someone killed my sister, and I was afraid that same person might come after me."

  "And why is that?"

  "Because I knew who'd killed Jenny, and he was aware that I knew."

  "Who are you talking about, Ms. Riley? And why aren't you afraid to talk about him or her now?" Excitement bubbled through Mindy. She couldn't wait to get this story on the air.

  The other woman hesitated.

  "Don't give her anything," Blaylock snapped. "I mean it, Keegan. Think about your options."

  "What options?" She looked up at him. "Are you trying to protect your investigation, or do you have some other agenda I don't know about?"

  "No agenda," he said. "I'm only trying to keep you from making a big mistake."

  "How can this be a mistake if I tell her the truth?" Ms. Riley straightened her shoulders and turned back to Mindy. "Lord knows, somebody needs to get the real story out there. And now that Dirk is dead--"

  "Son of a bitch." The sheriff grabbed her arm. "Keegan--"

  "You believe Dirk Woodward killed your sister?" Mindy could barely contain her delight at what the woman had just revealed. Oh, this is just too good.

  Keegan met her eyes. "Yes. I've always believed he did, and he knew it."

  "And that made you fear for your life."

  "Yes, especially before he was acquitted." She lifted her chin. "So I took class after class, hoping to be ready if he ever came after me. Luckily, he never did."