Keller County Cops Book Seven: Code of Vengeance

by Melanie Atkins

  "Yeah," Blaylock said. "See what you can dredge up about Maillet's loan company. We need to find out if his business practices are on the up and up."

  "I'll do what I can."

  "Thanks, C.J. If you run into a brick wall, you have my permission to contact the forensic accountant we used earlier this year in the Simon case. Evans was his name, I think."

  "I remember him, sir." The detective opened his drawer. "I have his card around here somewhere."

  "Good." His voice carried a grin. "Thanks for the update."

  "No problem. I'll let you know if I find anything else or have to call in Evans."

  "You do that."

  "Oh, and sir--" C.J. paused for effect. "Abby and I want an invitation to the wedding."

  "The wedding?" Blaylock echoed, sounding a bit shell-shocked. "What wedding?"

  "Your wedding... to Keegan Riley." He smirked. "'Cause I don't believe for one damned minute your engagement is fake."

  *****

  "What did your detective say?" Keegan asked Rick when she walked back into the living room. She'd slipped into the bathroom the moment he'd answered the phone so as not to disturb him or eavesdrop on his conversation. "Has he found anything on Maillet yet?"

  "Huh?" He glanced up at her with a dazed expression.

  She hurried across the rug and sat beside him. "What's wrong? What did he find?"

  "Nothing."

  "What do you mean, nothing?" Worry streaked through her. She gripped his hand. "Are you saying nothing's wrong, or that he hasn't found anything yet?"

  "Oh, he found something, all right." Rick shook off his stupor, then grinned and told her Maillet's loan company was responsible for Mindy's father losing his business back in the day.

  Keegan stared at him. "Are you serious? Wow. She'll go ballistic once she finds out."

  "I know." He pressed his lips together. "I'm willing to bet he's followed her all these years, too. I mean, back then she was a pretty young girl, suddenly impoverished, living with a father who fell headlong into the bottle and a mom who struggled to make ends meet until her tired heart just gave out. Once she died, Mindy was easy prey."

  "That would explain how he knew she used to strip at that little club."

  "Exactly. He might've even arranged for her to get the job so he could ogle her." Rick squeezed her hand, and she squeezed back. "Then he waited for the perfect moment to hold her sordid past over her head. When he was down in the polls and attempting to catch up."

  "Is that enough to ruin him?" Hope filled her chest.

  Rick met her eyes. "It's enough to destroy his campaign, I'm sure. I've got C.J. digging deeper into the loan fiasco that wiped out Herrington's business to see if it was legal. Told him to call in a forensic accountant if necessary. We need to know the truth."

  "What about the extortion?"

  "Jonah's working on it. Charges should be a given if Mindy follows through and asks her service providers for lists of all her texts, emails, and cell phone calls to Moss."

  "I can't imagine her not cooperating."

  "Me, either," he said, dropping her hand and picking up the TV remote. "Unless Maillet gets wind we know something and threatens her with physical harm. He's always been a bully."

  "How would he find out?"

  "Well, he could if C.J. asks the wrong person about Maillet's loan outfit." He adjusted his sling, turned on the noon news, and rested his good arm along the back of the sofa. Then he urged her to settle next to him.

  Her heart fluttered as she leaned against his broad chest and focused on the screen. One of Mindy's fellow anchors, Todd Jenkins, sat behind the desk at WHBZ.

  "And in breaking news," he said, his long face somber. "A Hunter's Bayou man is dead following a hit and run accident in Long Beach. Tom Foster, a man arrested twice for domestic abuse, was struck by a vehicle early this morning after he ran out of gas on Highway 90."

  Keegan gasped and pulled away from Rick.

  "One eyewitness claims to have seen a white SUV fleeing the scene at the time of the accident," Todd continued. "Anyone with knowledge of this incident is urged to contact the Keller County Sheriff's Department."

  "Keegan?" Rick's deep rumble echoed in her ears. He put his hand on her back, leaned forward, and studied her face. "What's wrong? Did you know that guy?"

  "Not personally, no... but I kind of did. In... in a manner of speaking." She swallowed, hard. How in the world could she tell Rick -- the sheriff -- that Foster had been her next target? Suddenly nauseated, she squirmed. She'd tagged him for revenge just like she had Dirk and Wicker, and now he was dead, too. She hadn't even had to lift a finger.

  Rick gripped her shoulder. "What are you saying? Tell me the truth."

  "After Dave gunned down Wicker in the courtroom, I-I went through the files until I found someone else who'd gotten off with little or no punishment for hurting his wife."

  "And you picked Tom Foster."

  "Yes," she rasped, "but I never acted on my plan. You and Mindy found out about the classes I've taken, and--"

  "That's what made you back off?" he asked, surprise flaring across his face. He dropped his hand. "Damn it, Keegan. I thought you were through seeking vengeance."

  "I-I am now." She met his eyes and reeled from the disappointment embedded there. Her gut told her she'd better come clean with him once and for all, or he'd never consider making their engagement real. The realization she actually wanted to marry him sent a shaft of longing through her, and she peered down at the diamond ring sparkling on her left hand.

  He nudged her. "And?"

  "Once Mindy learned about all the classes I took, I stashed my weapons at my parents' place for safekeeping." Keegan's cheeks burned with shame. Rick had the power to arrest her, and yet she still poured out her plan. She was tired of secrets, tired of plotting alone. Tired of her fight for vengeance. "I-I intended to retrieve them later and take care of Foster, but then Willa suggested you and I should get engaged -- temporarily, of course -- and I lost focus."

  "Your weapons?" His eyes changed from frothy gray to black. "What the hell, Keegan?"

  "Yes. Weapons, plural. Guns, knives, a Taser, some pepper spray..." She longed to take his hand but feared he'd shun her, so she didn't move.

  His threatening scowl darkened even more. "Guns? As in more than one?"

  "Y-yes." She wet her lips, looked down at her hands, and reeled off everything she'd stuffed into the duffle bag. "Two shotguns and three pistols, to be exact. Plus four knives, the pepper spray, a Taser, some brass knuckles, and a leather sap."

  "Holy mother of God."

  "I-I've never actually used any of the weapons on anyone, even though I know how. The men I've targeted just seem to... to die without my help. Foster included."

  "Thank goodness for that, or I'd have to lock you up." He turned to her then, and an odd mixture of awe and arousal lit his face. "Do you have a concealed carry permit?"

  "As a matter of fact, I do." She lifted her chin. "I follow the rules, Sheriff."

  "Except for the sixth commandment."

  "You're wrong. I haven't killed anybody," she murmured, her shame returning in an astounding flash of heat. She gripped his hand. "And my quest for vengeance is over. Trust me."

  "I hope you mean that," he said, his face grave. "'Cause I can't very well--"

  "You can't condone my actions. I know." She interlaced their fingers. They were a perfect fit. She squeezed his hand and looked up at him. "Don't worry, Rick. I-I don't plan to ever choose another target. Hell, every time I do, the person dies. How can I take that chance when I'm engaged to marry the county sheriff?"

  "My fiancée, who knocks people off just by singling them out." He grinned, and then leaned in and captured her lips in a soft, sweet kiss that rocked her to her toes. "You're one scary woman. One word out of you, and everyone should fall in line."

  "Thanks, I think." Grateful he hadn't pushed her away, she laughed. Telling him the truth about everything, from the guns to h
er plan to target Foster, had made her feel pounds lighter. She still had one thing to relay to him, however. She pulled back and gnawed her lip.

  He frowned. "Uh-oh. What haven't you told me?"

  "That I also own a... um, a motorcycle. A Kawasaki." She shrugged. "I rode it to the Kitty Kat Klub the night Dirk died and hid it a couple of streets over."

  "Wow. That is so damned hot." He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Don't know if I can keep up with you or not, you sexy lady."

  "Probably not when I ride the bike." She laughed and nudged him with her shoulder. "Makes for a pretty fast getaway."

  "Really? Then you'd better park it." He smirked. "'Cause I don't plan to let you get away, at least until after the election."

  "Oh, is that right?" She lifted a brow.

  He nodded. "Yeah, you heard me. You're stuck with me... for now, anyway."

  Then he kissed her for real.

  Epilogue

  Four months later.

  "Our exit polls tell us incumbent Keller County Sheriff Rick Blaylock should win re-election by a landslide," anchorman Todd Jenkins stated during WHBZ's six o'clock news broadcast. He turned to the woman sitting next to him and curved his mouth in a bright, knowing smile. "Polls close in less than an hour. What do you think, Mindy?"

  "Well, considering Blaylock's opponent, Hunter's Bayou businessman Henry Maillet, has been indicted for extortion, money laundering, fraud, wire-tapping, and a host of securities violations and other infractions, I'm not surprised," Mindy Ravens said, satisfaction filling her gaze. Her smile was even broader than Todd's. "The indictments came down too late for election officials to take his name off the ballot, so voters could still choose him. Yet chances are that even if he does win, he won't be allowed to take office."

  Hidden by the door of Rick's office, Keegan turned and kissed him full on the mouth.

  "Bet she loves saying those words," she said as she stepped back with her own satisfied smile. "Not only did she receive vindication thanks to that article Willa wrote about her, but she also helped you wrap up Maillet's indictments. And that, of course, ensured you'd be re-elected."

  "How do you feel about my winning?"

  "I'm happy." She rubbed her thumb along the edge of his smoothly shaven chin. His uniform clung to his broad shoulders, and that sent a thrill through her. Who knew she was a sucker for a man wearing his dress whites? She grinned. "Why wouldn't I be?"

  "You had to stop your search for vengeance." He caught her hand.

  She squeezed his fingers. "Yeah, and in my opinion, that's a good thing. I feel a whole lot lighter than I did four months ago with that crazy plan percolating inside my head."

  "I'm sure that's true." He grinned, and then sobered. "What about our engagement?"

  "I've loved it. It's been fun. Although I guess our time's up now, because today's election day. Finally." Her heart fluttered. She looked away so he wouldn't see the tears filling her eyes. "We might want to wait a little while before breaking up, though, don't you think? So your constituents won't be suspicious. I'd hate for anyone to accuse you of using me to get votes."

  "That's probably a good idea," he croaked.

  She turned and gaped at him. He had tears in his eyes, too.

  Rick quirked his mouth. "Surprised?"

  "Yeah," she whispered, tightening her hold on his hand. "I thought you wanted to break up. I mean, we kind of planned to--"

  "No. I don't want to break up. I want... more." He grabbed her other hand, dropped to one knee, and looked up at her. "Keegan Ann Riley, will you marry me for real?"

  "For real?"

  "Yes. I love you, Keegan." His throat jerked as he swallowed. "I don't want to let you go. Who knows? You might become a vigilante again without me to keep tabs on you."

  "Not going to happen." She grinned. "You talked me into going to the academy, remember? I'm going to use my skills to become a deputy."

  "You'll be the best sketch artist ever, too."

  "Thanks." She blushed.

  He kissed the hand sporting her diamond ring. "So what'll it be? Will you marry me?"

  "Yes," she choked out. "I'd love to marry you for real."

  "Thank God." He jumped up, took her in his arms, and pressed a hot kiss to her mouth.

  In the hallway, applause broke out.

  "It's about time, you two," C.J. called out. "Way to go!"

  Jonah whistled, and behind him, Mitch let out a shout.

  "Thanks, guys," Rick said once he loosened his embrace. "Now, get back to work. I'm still your boss, remember?"

  "Yes, sir." Jonah laughed. "We have a party to attend first, though. Ready to head to City Hall to watch the rest of the returns?"

  "You bet." Rick tugged Keegan toward the door.

  C.J. stopped them. "Did you set a date yet?"

  "No," Keegan said, with a concerned glance at Rick. "Guess it'll depend on when they schedule me to start the at academy."

  "Why wait?" he asked with a grin. "Let's tie the knot next week."

  "Whoa, boss," Mitch said. "You in a hurry or something?"

  "Yeah," Jonah broke in. He turned to Keegan. "Do you two know something we don't?"

  "No," she said, startled by Rick's suggestion. Her stomach turned a flip. "I can't get ready for a wedding in a week."

  "Then you set the date." He shrugged. "I just want to marry you as soon as possible."

  "A Christmas wedding would be nice. That would give us six weeks. Haley can be our flower girl," she said with a smile. Jenny would love that.

  Rick nodded. "Sounds good to me."

  "It's settled, then." Keegan turned to Mitch. "Do you think Tiffany would agree to be my matron of honor?"

  "I'm sure she'd love to." He patted her on the back. "You can ask her tonight at the election shindig."

  "Speaking of which..." C.J. checked his watch. "We should get going."

  "Right." Rick dropped Keegan's hand and pulled out his keys.

  She grabbed C.J.'s arm. "I'd like Abby to be a bridesmaid, too. Do you think she'll do it?"

  "Of course she will," he said with a grin. "We'll keep it all in the KCSO family."

  "I'd like that." Keegan's chest constricted. She loved being on the good side of the law after buying illegal weapons and flirting with murder. If she'd killed any of the men she had targeted, she might be in jail right now instead of marrying the handsome, by-the-book lawman who had threatened to arrest her himself.

  Jenny would want me to be happy, and Haley needs me in her life. Never again will I ever attempt to take the law into my own hands. I'll only act when I'm finally wearing a badge. That way, everybody wins -- except the folks who break the law, of course.

  "Ready to go shine for the cameras?" Rick asked, taking her hand again.

  Keegan smiled and wiped away a tear. Her heart had never been so full. "Yes, let's go. We promised Mindy an exclusive interview. I don't want to let her down."

  "You're really something, you know that?"

  "So are you, Sheriff," she said with a grin. "So are you."

  The End

  About Melanie Atkins

  Melanie Atkins a multi-published author of romantic suspense, a fan of crime dramas, and an avid reader. Writing is more than an escape for her -- it's a way of life. She grew up in the Deep South listening to tall tales and penning stories about her cats. Now she writes gripping stories of love, suspense, and mystery with the help of her furry little feline muses. You can read more about her and about all of her books on her blog at www.wordpress.melanieatkins.com, on her website at www.melanieatkins.com, and on her Facebook page at http://www.face-book.com/melanie.atkins. You can also follow her on Twitter: @melanie_atkins.

 

 

 
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