The Code Enforcer

by Valerie J. Clarizio

  "I see where you're going but that would be way too easy," Captain Tomie commented.

  "I know, but it's worth a shot, right?"

  He nodded. "We've got nothing to lose."

  Bryce called Lori from his office phone. She easily agreed to come to City Hall without even asking why.

  They watched and waited for her to put their plan in place. Within ten minutes, the woman parked in front of City Hall. She practically skipped into the building. An unstoppable smile covered her face. She buzzed by the reception desk and headed straight for Bryce's office.

  They let Lori settle into the chair before they barged in with Sargent Maxwell.

  Lori's eyes went wide. The blood drained from her face. She turned white as a ghost.

  "Bryce Hawk, you're being charged with the murders of Sister Ann, Edwin Hulbert, and Junior Willming." Sargent Maxwell stated as he yanked Bryce out of his chair and read him his rights.

  Lori sprang from her seat, and Captain Tomie placed his hand on her shoulder. "Stay put."

  "But..."

  "Quiet," Captain Tomie ordered.

  Tears pooled in the shocked woman's eyes.

  Maxwell handed Bryce his crutches and held him by the arm as he led him out of the office.

  Bryce played along beautifully. The shocked look on his face when they barged in was priceless. He was just about out the door when Lori called out his name.

  He glanced back at her. "It's okay. I didn't do it. I'll call my lawyer."

  "Yeah, right," Markie huffed out.

  Lori lunged toward her, but the captain held her back.

  "He didn't do it! He didn't!"

  Eagerly, she leaned toward the crying woman. "Really. That's not what the evidence suggests. We can place him at all three scenes, and he had an axe to grind with each one. Plus, he had a lot to gain by Edwin's death. He's guilty as sin."

  Markie fixed her gaze on Bryce. "Three murders. You're never going to see the light of day from outside a prison fence again."

  She swung her gaze back to Lori. The woman reached toward her, but the captain yanked her back.

  "Lori, there's something I always wanted to tell you," Bryce said smoothly.

  The woman's dark eyes softened. "Yes?" Her pining look was over-the-top.

  He was adlibbing now? What was he going to say?

  "I lo—"

  "I did it! I did it for you, Bryce. I love you, too!" She planted her gaze on Markie. "He didn't do it. He didn't kill those people!"

  Holy shit! A freaking confession. No way. Though they'd got exactly what they wanted, everyone other than Lori looked dumbfounded. Maxwell released Bryce and had Lori in cuffs in about three seconds. It was then it seemed to register with her what had happened.

  She glanced back at the man she loved. Desperation written all over her face. "Bryce?"

  He shook his head.

  The woman's body trembled. "No, no, no."

  Maxwell read her her rights as they disappeared down the hall.

  Bryce melted back into his chair.

  He looked spent, exhausted, even a bit sick.

  Empathy washed through her.

  "What in the hell? Both of them?"

  "Well, if it's any consolation, at least it appears both women were acting out...out of love, I guess," Captain Tomie stated.

  "I feel sick. One killed people to make my job easier, and the other almost killed me to protect me from being a suspect?" Bryce recapped.

  "That's the way it appears. But it is still possible Tiana intended to kill you to keep anyone else from having you. We’ll keep working on that and flesh it out," Captain said, his tone sober as a judge.

  That made it even worse.

  "I kind of get Tiana, but Lori, it just doesn't seem right. She's always so kind and bubbly."

  "People do strange and desperate things for all sorts of reasons important to them." The intuitive man placed his hand on Bryce's shoulder. "I know what you're thinking, and this isn't your fault. You are not responsible for this."

  Markie tore her gaze from the men. She should be the one consoling him, yet, she let it to her superior. Why was she unable to come up with any words for him—the man she loved? Loved? Her stomach fluttered. Her pulse raced. Her palms perspired. Yes, she loved him.

  Bryce was innocent. She knew it all along. Yet, her sense of judgment that had been tainted by her cheating ex-fiancé years ago kept her second-guessing herself, and held her at bay from her soulmate—Bryce.

  Chapter Eleven

  Markie was tied up with the investigation when Bryce left City Hall for the day. He let himself into her home with the key she'd given him and grabbed his stuff. Then he set the key on the counter with a note thanking her for her work on the case and her hospitality.

  Staring at the note, he knew it was lame, but it was for the best. His eyes watered. Cut the ties now. It will be easier this way versus when reality sets in and she figures me out—realizes the extent of my disabilities, and dumps me.

  He checked into a hotel downtown and flipped on the television. Completely drained, he sank into the faux leather chair.

  All he could think about was the judgmental look Markie had given him earlier in the day, doubting his innocence. His chest hollowed. How could she after what they'd shared the night before?

  He couldn't be with someone who doubted him like that. Her distrust hurt more than anything he'd ever endured before, including his injuries while in Afghanistan. She probably had no idea how that look pained him.

  Bryce closed his eyes and rubbed his aching chest. Exhaustion consumed him.

  A knock startled him out of his sound sleep. He glanced at the clock from the chair. Ten o'clock, he'd been out for over two hours. Who'd be knocking on his door at this hour? More importantly, who knew where he was? He knew who. Markie. He'd known he'd have to deal with her sometime, but he'd hoped it wouldn’t be tonight. He wasn't ready.

  Even through the peephole, her knotted jaw was easy to see. Her hands were ground into her hips. Smoke practically poured out of her flaring nostrils. He knew that note he left her was cold, but she deserved it for doubting him.

  He pulled the door open. Said note was gripped in her hand, which was now only inches from his face.

  "Really. Hospitality? Was that all it was to you?"

  She stepped by him. He wasn't going to get out of this too easily.

  "No, it wasn't to me. But apparently, that's all it was to you," he spat back.

  Her eyes watered. He knew she knew exactly what he referred to, that look of doubt.

  "I'm sorry." Her voice wasn't much more than a whisper.

  "That's not going to cut it. The real you, your real feelings came out in that moment. You doubted me—didn’t trust me. After what I'd shared with you. I put my full faith in you and poured out my soul. And you doubted me. You're as superficial as all the rest. You're all the same." His voice cracked.

  In his entire life he'd never laid out so much depth to a person, and he felt like a fool even now, yet, he just kept pouring it on, telling her things he wished he hadn't...trusting she was a woman with whom he could share everything...a woman who could see beyond his disabilities and love him for who he was.

  Moments ago, when he’d tongue-lashed her, his brain had begged him to stop, but his mouth kept going. It was like he knew he used that split second in time as a tool to push her away so he could revert to hiding behind the wall of defense he’d built years ago to guard him against the heartbreak that was destined to come when the full effects of his disabilities impacted her life.

  Hurt swam in the tears clouding that emerald gaze pinned on him. Shards of pain sliced through his heart. He was such a coward to lay this breakup on her rather than assume responsibility.

  Deep down, he knew she hadn’t meant to judge—doubt him. He figured she did it because some part of her, some wounded part of her heart resurfaced—reopened during this trying time, causing her to doubt him, unconsciously push him away, keep him
at arm's length.

  What a duo we are.

  Maybe neither of them were ready for anything more yet the desire delightfully swirling in every cell in his body begged him to reconsider. His extremities shook with excitement. Just as quickly, that usual, dreadful shadow of doubt froze the exhilarating rush of adrenaline in his veins. Use your common sense, Bryce. It will never work.

  She reached out to him, and he backed up.

  "Okay then. I'll just go."

  Like an idiot he let her.

  The door clicked shut, and he stayed frozen in place. Chicken-shit. Ball-less.

  Ha. Ball-less. He laughed hysterically at his own joke even though it wasn't funny. At that moment, he realized the woman he just let go knew his deepest, darkest secret, yet she still came knocking on his door. His dad had been spot-on. She was the right woman for him.

  She had knocked on his door knowing. If or when the time came that his nightmares held true, and he couldn't father children... he swallowed hard—or satisfy her. They'd work through it. She’d proven over and over she would be understanding and patient.

  Much unlike the way he'd been moments ago.

  He yanked the door open prepared to go forward when Markie suddenly sprang through, poking at his chest.

  "I call bullshit."

  "Huh."

  "What you said is absolute bullshit. You don't mean it. It's just your way to make it about me and my issues with trust, rather than you taking ownership of your fear. Your own issues and not dealing with them. I'm not going to let you lay this on me," Markie spat.

  She hitched her chin up. Her bright green eyes sparked a challenge.

  All he could do was smile at her.

  She'd hit the nail on the head, and he knew it. She was right. He'd heard second-hand about her cheating fiancé, he knew her story, and though the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, he did just that a moment ago by using her fears as a tool to hide from facing his own. Just like she'd said.

  Markie ground her hands on her hips. "Why are you smiling? This isn’t funny."

  "No, it's not."

  Bryce dropped his crutches, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her tight to his body. He crushed his mouth down on hers in a hot, needy, unbridled kiss. He put absolutely everything he had into it. Years of built-up need and desire flowed through him and poured out.

  The incredible woman in his arms met him with an equal amount of passion—lust. Quite the desperate pair they were. Lips locked, tongues caressed, hands roamed. Clothes fell to the floor.

  He was going to be okay. She was going to be satisfied. He'd never let her down. Physically or emotionally. She was the right woman for him.

  The End

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading my book! I hope you enjoyed Bryce and Markie's story. If you'd like to support me please leave a review. You are the reason I write and I sincerely appreciate you!

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  Valerie

  About the Author

  Valerie Clarizio lives in romantic Door County Wisconsin with her husband and two spoiled cats. She loves to read, write, and spend time at her cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

  She’s lived her life surrounded by men, three brothers, a husband, and a male Siamese cat who required his own instruction manual. Keeping up with all the men in her life has turned her into an outdoors enthusiast, of which her favorite activity is hiking. While out on the trails, she has plenty of time to conjure up irresistible characters and unique storylines for her next romance novel.

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  Valerie J. Clarizio's Other Titles:

  The Nick Spinelli Romance Mystery Series

  Covert Exposure, a Nick Spinelli Mystery, novella 1

  Craving Vengeance, a Nick Spinelli Mystery, novella 2

  Crazed Reckoning, a Nick Spinelli Mystery, novella 3

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  Unforeseen Obsessions

  Plan Interrupted

  Missing the Crown Jewels, a Chandler County novel

  Missing out on Life, a Chandler County novel

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  Family Forever

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  Love Thaws a Frozen Heart

  Talia & Ryan's Story, Beach Chaos and Romance, story 1 in the Love on the Door County Peninsula Series

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  About the Author

  Valerie Clarizio is a USA Today Bestselling author who lives in romantic Door County Wisconsin with her husband and extremely spoiled cat. She loves to read, write, and spend time at her cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

  She's lived her life surrounded by men, three brothers, a husband, and a male Siamese cat who required his own instruction manual. Keeping up with all the men in her life has turned her into an outdoors enthusiast, of which her favorite activity is hiking in national parks. While out on the trails, she has plenty of time to conjure up irresistible characters and unique storylines for her next romantic suspense or sweet contemporary romance novel.

  Read more at Valerie J. Clarizio’s site.