Small Town Justice

by Valerie Hansen

  “Back then, a few of the guys belonged to that private club we used to hear about in high school. You know the one. If your family wasn’t rich you weren’t welcome.”

  “Probably why they never asked me to join.”

  “Me, either,” Steve said. “But once in a while they’d befriend outsiders if it suited them. That’s how Ray and I ended up keeping company with the regulars sometimes.”

  “Go on.”

  “I was never in on any plans for real crime. You have to believe that. If I had been, I’d have tried to stop it.” He swallowed hard. “At least I hope I would have. We were all dumb kids back then.”

  “Why did they involve my brother in the accident and not you?” Jamie asked.

  “Maybe because I didn’t like to drink as much as he did. At any rate, I knew something was up when the whole crowd ditched me and drove off, laughing. There was one other car besides Ray’s. I didn’t think anything of it until the next morning when I heard what had happened.”

  It took supreme effort for Shane to stifle his anger. “So, Ray could very easily have been driving? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “No, no.” Steve eyed the closed door and further lowered his voice. “Ray was already too shot down. He had to be carried to his car. Somebody else drove it while Ray bounced around in the backseat.”

  “Names,” Shane demanded.

  Sweat had beaded on the other man’s brow and his face was flushed. “I really don’t...”

  Jamie touched his forearm. “Shane promised to keep your secret but I didn’t. Either you give us the names of the kids who were with my brother that night or I’ll stand up in front of everybody in church this morning and shout what you just told us.”

  “Okay, okay. It was Alan, Bobbi-Sue and Marty. Those are the only ones I remember leaving with Ray. Honest.”

  Shane was astounded. “Who drove Ray’s car?”

  “Um, Alan, I think.”

  “Be sure.”

  Heaving a sigh, Steve nodded. “It was Alan. Bobbi-Sue usually rode with him so Marty must have driven the other car. I didn’t actually see them leave.”

  “Okay. Get out of here before somebody notices us. I’ll take it from here.”

  As soon as the door closed, Shane pulled Jamie closer and just held her while he sorted out his thoughts. Clearly, she had been right to doubt her brother’s guilt, and for more reasons than one.

  “I guess I was too young to remember those people,” she said, leaning back to look into his eyes.

  “You will when I tell you more. Their full names are Bobbi-Sue Randall, Alan Abernathy—and Martin Williford.”

  Her jaw dropped. “That’s impossible! How could the judge and both attorneys arrange to take part in R.J.’s trial?”

  “It’s a small town and there was an even tighter good-old-boy system in those days,” Shane explained. “Given enough incentive, money and power, it probably wasn’t hard to do. It took all three to see to it that their kids were never mentioned in court.”

  “But, but...the defense attorney, too? No wonder my poor brother gave up. He must have realized he couldn’t possibly win.”

  “That, and the threats against your family that your aunt told you about,” Shane reminded her. “Williford isn’t the only name Harlan and I’ve been trying to track down with no success. We can’t locate either of your parents.”

  “Assuming they’re alive,” Jamie added soberly. “I suppose my mother may be, but according to Tessie, Mom was convinced somebody had murdered my dad. They must have said so to scare her. And it worked.”

  “When this is over and justice is served, I’m sure the story will make the news. Maybe she’ll see it and realize it’s safe to come home.” To his relief, Jamie began to smile wistfully.

  “‘From your lips to God’s ears,’ as Otis likes to say,” she told him.

  “Are you ready to brave the congregation or do you want to leave?”

  “We can’t go. Marsha will expect us to join her for Sunday dinner after the service,” Jamie replied. “What about Otis? Doesn’t he come to church?”

  “Unfortunately, no,” Shane said. “Mom would love it if he’d keep her company but he’s a stubborn old mule. Says his faith is just fine without being hit over the head with it all the time.”

  “I wonder if he’s right.”

  “No telling. Pastor Malloy says that’s between each individual and God. We can’t judge another person’s heart.”

  Jamie pivoted and reached for the doorknob. “That’s not entirely true. I have a pretty good idea there are at least three black-hearted parents and three of their offspring whose dirty secrets are about to resurface and give them plenty of grief. What I don’t understand is why God let my brother rot in jail for so long.”

  “Neither do I.” Shane held the sanctuary door for her as she passed through. “We may never know. All we can do is bring our information to the authorities and step back while they work.”

  He knew he should not have been surprised when she glared at him and countered, “No way, mister. I’ll talk to the sheriff and whoever else will listen, but I’m not going to sit on my hands while my brother suffers. I don’t care who gets mad or threatens me. R.J. needs a new trial and he needs it now.” Leading the way to the sanctuary, she added, “I’ll go all the way back to Rhode Island to find an honest defense attorney if I have to.”

  He would have asked her how she intended to pay for the lawyer’s services and begged her to be more cautious if he’d thought it would help. Unfortunately, she was plunging full speed into more danger.

  A touch on her arm slowed her while they were still alone in the hallway. “Wait. Think for a second, Jamie. Any judge who’s powerful enough to arrange a trial and wrongful conviction plus hide the corruption my dad suspected years ago is a force to be reckoned with. If you let him know you’re onto him, there’s no telling what he may do.”

  “I have to help my brother.”

  “And we will, I promise. But let’s start by having a talk with Pastor Malloy and seeing what he advises. He told me to leave things to the authorities when I brought up the subject this morning, but now that we know more, I think he’ll feel differently.”

  Although her jaw muscles tightened and her eyes narrowed, she gave in. “Okay. For right now, I’ll keep my mouth shut. But the second I think these rats may walk free, I’m going to do something about it.”

  “Fair enough.” In view of her righteous anger, Shane figured he was doing well to have gotten any promise. Now all he had to do was keep her from acting like the idiotic heroines in the movies and on TV who walked into dark rooms and didn’t turn on the lights.

  Unbridled emotions were funny things. They could make fools out of geniuses. And often did.

  * * *

  Jamie understood that having dinner in a restaurant after church was common practice. The only surprise came when Shane drove their little party out of Serenity. “Where are we going?”

  Seated in the narrow half backseat with Kyle, Marsha said, “Otis likes DD’s Diner in Gumption. He’s going to meet us there.”

  “It’s a retro fifties place,” Shane added. “The food isn’t fancy but it’s always delicious.”

  Jamie Lynn sighed and began to relax. “Good. I’ve had just about all the pleasantries I can stand for one morning. It’ll be good to get out of town and kick back.”

  She saw Shane smile as he glanced at her. “I’m glad you feel you can relax and be yourself with us.”

  The truth of that statement hit her squarely in the conscience. “I should have been totally honest in the first place,” Jamie said. “I really am sorry.”

  “We didn’t meet under the best of circumstances. It’s understandable that you’d be cautious.”

  “Not cautious enou
gh.” She pressed her lips together in a thin line. “I’m still not sure whether it’s smart to confront the people I think are crooks or if I should bide my time and try to gather more evidence against them.”

  “If you’re asking me,” Shane said flatly, “neither.”

  “Then I guess I’m not asking,” she replied with a chuckle. “Look. There’s Otis.”

  “And a parking place,” Shane said. “Must be our day.”

  Jamie agreed. Except for the one incident with the face peering through the nursery door, which still rattled her when she thought about it, the morning had actually been pleasant.

  She stepped out of the way so Shane could help his mother down from the backseat. Otis was there to take her other hand, and the look in his eyes was so loving, so sweet, it reminded her of the way her parents used to gaze at each other. She blew a sigh. So, so long ago.

  The men stood aside for Marsha and Jamie to enter the café with Kyle, then followed closely. The place was crowded. Only one table was available.

  Following Marsha and the little boy, Jamie scanned the old movie posters plastered all over the walls. Black-and-white checkerboard floor tiles were accented by red-topped tables and matching chairs.

  As they jockeyed for seats at the table, Jamie was about to slide in when Shane grabbed her arm. “You sit over here.”

  “Okay.” Although she didn’t ask why, she did shoot him a questioning look.

  The tilt of his head was barely noticeable. She turned slightly. Looked at the table next to theirs. And saw a man she might not have recognized if he had not been glaring at her.

  It was Judge Robert Randall.

  FOURTEEN

  By shifting Jamie Lynn to the opposite side of the table with his mother and Kyle, Shane was able to place Otis and himself between Randall and the women. He would have been happier if he hadn’t had to turn his back on the man to do so. Judging by the expression on Jamie’s face, she knew exactly what he’d done and why.

  His mother didn’t look pleased, either. She arched a brow at her husband, then gave Shane the same treatment. He shrugged in reply, ignored her and spoke to his son. “Chicken strips or a burger, Kyle?”

  “Cheeseburger!”

  Jamie leaned closer. “You don’t have to yell, honey. We can hear you fine.”

  “Cheeseburger,” the boy repeated. “And a soda.”

  “Milk,” Shane said, eyeing Jamie Lynn. “We don’t want you to eat junk food.”

  A resonant voice behind him caught his attention. He didn’t know who the judge was ostensibly speaking to, but his words were clearly meant for Shane’s party.

  “I say, people who endanger children should lose custody of them.”

  Freezing, straining to hear more, Shane held up a hand to quiet those at his table and focus their attention.

  “I know, I know,” the judge went on. “It’s up to the courts to step in when parents insist on keeping company with troublemakers. I’ve seen it happen a lot, particularly with single parents who don’t keep track of their kids while they’re at work or out on dates.”

  Shane’s hands were tight fists. He was clenching his jaw. The moment he made eye contact with Jamie Lynn and his mother, they both shook their heads.

  Otis was the next to speak. “You know, I’m not that hungry after all. What say we pick up a pizza on the way home, instead?”

  By the time Kyle started to whine about not getting his burger, Marsha was already on her feet, had him by the hand and was well on her way to the exit. Jamie Lynn hurried after her with Otis and Shane bringing up the rear.

  As Shane passed through the door, he glanced back at the area they had just vacated. Most of the diners were busy eating and had ignored their abrupt departure.

  One, however, was looking straight at them. And grinning. Randall had made his point and Shane was so angry he wanted to wipe that sarcastic smile off the judge’s face with his fist.

  And land myself in jail for assault, giving him even more reason to go after Kyle, he reasoned, realizing that that might be just what the man had intended.

  Instead, they would get him the right way. The legal way. A way that would make Sheriff Sam Colton proud.

  “I miss you, Dad,” Shane murmured as he trailed the others to their vehicles. He knew what his father would have done. He’d seen it often enough as a child. Sam Colton had stood up for the underdog and the innocent. He was strong and faithful to his duty, yet could be tender when the situation called for sensitivity. And he never quit. Once he was committed to a cause he never wavered.

  Which is exactly why he was killed.

  * * *

  Jamie had begged off and asked to be taken back to her motel Sunday afternoon rather than stay with the family for supper. She was wrung out, physically and emotionally. The less time she spent with the Coltons from now on, the better it would be, particularly for them. She knew that. She also longed for the comfort that came from being near Shane, from listening to his ideas, from leaning on his strength.

  What surprised her the most was how much she missed him. It was one thing to rely upon someone. It was quite another to feel such a deep yearning that it caused her actual pain—pain that even cuddling her affectionate dog could not ease.

  By the time Shane called to tell her about their upcoming appointment with the pastor the following week, she’d all but given up hope. Hearing his voice gave her mood such a boost it was scary, and by the time he showed up to get her, she had to fight an almost overwhelming urge to fling herself into his arms. Thankfully the judge’s threats against Kyle and her own sense of impropriety were enough to stop her.

  “Are you sure Logan Malloy can help us?” she asked as Shane ushered her into the church through a side door. “He’s nothing like the kindly old minister from the church where I grew up.”

  “That’s not a bad thing,” Shane countered. “Logan is intelligent and savvy as well as having a background in law enforcement.”

  “Okay. If you think he can help, I’m game. I just don’t want to do anything that might jeopardize you or your son.”

  “Judge Randall was a fool to threaten us in front of witnesses,” Shane said. “If anything, he did us a favor.”

  “That remains to be seen. Let’s go get this over with before somebody sees us together.”

  The pastor welcomed them to his office and shut the door. Jamie was surprised at how knowledgeable and open he was as soon they had filled him in.

  “Actually, I’ve been in touch with Williford recently,” Logan said. “Max needed a favor and I obliged. I’ll phone him if you’d like and see if he’ll agree to meet with you.”

  “You’ll ask him? What if he refuses?”

  “I don’t think he’ll hesitate,” the pastor countered. “Sadly, Marty is out of the picture now.”

  “What happened?”

  “Let’s just say his youthful mistakes caught up to him and he didn’t survive the health consequences.”

  “I’m sorry.” It surprised her to realize she meant it.

  “It happens in the best of families,” Logan said. “Even Christians can go astray. We’re human, after all.”

  “How far away is Max?” Shane asked.

  “An hour or so. He changed his name and occupation.”

  “What about his wife?”

  “She left him after Marty got to the end of his rope. Max thinks she blamed him for the loss of their son, even though Marty was an adult by then. You won’t have to worry about her trying to stop Max from talking to you.”

  “Okay. See if you can set it up,” Shane said. “As soon as Harlan gets something he can match to the DNA of the blood samples from the motel, he expects to be able to arrest the Lamont brothers. If they reveal who hired them and it’s who we think, he can go ahead
and question Randall and Abernathy. Before he has something concrete to go on, he’s afraid he’ll spook them.”

  “Is there some place Marsha and Otis can go with Kyle?” Logan asked. “A short vacation, maybe?”

  Jamie leaned forward, elbows on the conference table they were sharing. “I’d suggested that already, particularly since Shane’s worried about Kyle being made a ward of the court.”

  The pastor looked astounded. “Why?”

  “Because of me,” Jamie said. “Randall made veiled threats when he knew we were listening. I’ve stayed away from Shane since then, for the sake of his son, but that may not be enough. I wasn’t even sure we should keep this appointment. At least not together. But Shane insisted. He has a stubborn streak a mile wide.”

  Shane frowned at her. “Then go home to New England and let the pros handle the case from here on out.”

  “That is not going to happen.”

  “See?” He arched his eyebrows at their adviser. “What did I tell you? She’s impossible.”

  “Yes, but if she had not come back here and stirred things up, we wouldn’t know what really happened to Sam.”

  “There’s still no real proof.” Seeing Jamie stiffen in the chair beside him, Shane reached for her hand. “Let me put it this way. We know Ray Jr. wasn’t driving the car that hit my dad because he was passed out. What we don’t know is who was behind the wheel and whose blood might be on the car seat. All the evidence from years past is stored at the old sheriff’s station. As soon as Harlan has a chance, he’ll go back there and look for it.”

  “You think they gathered those samples at the scene?” Logan asked.

  “We certainly hope so.” Shane held tighter when Jamie Lynn tugged to free her hand. “We aren’t going to give up until this is settled and the right person pays the price.”

  Nodding, she spoke quietly. “Do you think you could see if my brother will at least talk to you, Pastor Malloy? He refuses to see me and I thought maybe, if you asked, he’d agree.”

  “I’ll be glad to try,” Logan said, making a note on the pad of paper in front of him. “I take it he’s in Little Rock?”