She shrugged. “Well, that’s too bad, Sheriff.”
He took a step up. “Turn around, you’re under arrest.”
“You can’t arrest me.” She folded her arms across her chest. “You’re out of your jurisdiction.”
He stopped and then swore under his breath.
“What?” she asked. “You didn’t think I was smart enough to find a place to stay out of your jurisdiction?” She watched him a few seconds. “Or you thought I was stupid enough to go along with you willing.”
He threw his hands up. “You’re making a terrible mistake if you leave here tomorrow and go back to New York.”
“Well, it’ll be my mistake to make … won’t it?” She looked at the dog. “Come on, Gabe. It’s time for bed.”
57
The house had been empty when Callie arrived. She’d gone upstairs to her room with the novel and had flopped across the king-sized bed. After she’d read the last page, she sat up and threw the book across the room. It made contact with a large mirror and jarred it loose from the wall. The mirror crashed to the floor. Shards of glass scattered across the plush carpeting.
She’s ruined me. I’ll never be able to show my face in town again. Lying bitch!
Callie sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed two handfuls of her hair, and pulled while she sucked air in and out through her gritted teeth. Her face turned red. After it’d become too painful, she let go, stood up, and began pacing the floor. She stopped and fisted her hands. She looked toward her bathroom. She hurried inside and on into her closet.
She pulled a suitcase off an upper shelf, dropped it to the floor, and unzipped it. She flipped through hangers and slid them across the bar. When she found the items she wanted to pack, she yanked them off the hangers and tossed them into her suitcase. She pulled one of her designer dresses off a hanger and noticed the hem was wet. She examined the skirt and then felt the material. She brought the fabric to her nose and sniffed. Her brows puckered and the corners of her mouth turn down.
“Oh gross! Dog piss!”
She flung the dress out of the closet. It landed on the bedroom floor. She grabbed several more outfits and shoes, and stuffed them into her suitcase, and tried to zip it but couldn’t. She crawled on top of it, bounced a few times, and then zipped it. She stood up and eyed a garbage bag in the corner. She picked it up and put it in the bedroom.
Twenty minutes later, she came out of her bathroom. She wore a hot pink mini skirt with a white stretch lacy top and a pair of silver strappy stilettos. She collected her things and then headed out of her bedroom. A tote bag full of makeup and toiletries hung by its strap over one shoulder and her purse hung on the other. She carried the garbage bag and rolled the suitcase behind her. When she got downstairs, she left everything but her purse at the foot of the stairs and headed to the study.
She entered the room, headed straight for a large painting on the wall, and took it down. After several twists and turns of the knob on the safe, she had it opened. She took out an envelope in the back that Ted had told her was emergency money in case of a disaster. The only money he’d ever kept in the safe, and was not near enough for her to get by on for one month.
But every little bit helps.
She stuffed it inside her purse and hurried to retrieve the garbage bag.
With the garbage bag in her hand, she rushed out the patio door and around to the back of the house to the gardener’s building. She opened the door and stepped inside. After her eyes adjusted to the room, she walked to the back of the building, opened the garbage container, and dropped it inside. She closed the lid and turned to leave but stopped in thought. She looked back and scanned the shelves and the workbench. Her gaze landed on a roll of duct tape. She snatched it off a peg and tucked it into her purse.
A minute later, she was back in the house. She hurried into the den. The doorbell startled her. A fisted hand beat on the door. She walked across the room to the foyer. With a finger, she moved the curtains aside and peered out the side window. Her eyes grew wide. She let go of the curtain and scampered back across the room. She slipped the tote bag over her shoulder, grabbed the handle of her suitcase, and then headed toward the kitchen. As she crossed the kitchen floor, she fished around in her purse for her car keys. She latched onto her keys and then opened the door to the garage. The suitcase wheels banged as she hurried down the steps.
She opened the trunk of her BMW, shoved her suitcase and tote bag inside, and closed it. Her heels tapped across the concrete as she hurried around to the driver’s side. She slid in, started the car, and hit the garage door opener. She placed the gearshift in Reverse, stepped on the gas, and came within inches of the garage door before it had opened all the way. Her mouth gaped. She slammed on the brakes and stopped in time. Angus’ car was parked behind her.
Angus rounded the corner and screamed obscenities. She flipped the switch that locked the car doors. He grabbed the passenger door handle, stuck his face to the window, and glared at her through the glass. With his fist, he banged on the window.
She dropped the gearshift into Drive, cut the wheels to the left, and took off. Angus couldn’t hold on and fell to the ground. He had let go right before she plowed through the shrubs. The back tires slung grass and dirt into his face.
She sped across the yard and turned the wheels sharp. The car fishtailed when it hit the driveway. She fought with the steering wheel until she had it under control.
Five miles down the road, she breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t seen any headlights behind her, but she wasn’t taking any chances. She held the gas pedal down. She knew Angus would kill her if he ever got his hands on her.
“Nothing has gone according to plan. I can’t stand living in this one horse town any longer. Bunch of lowlife gossips who think they’re better than anybody else.”
Fifteen minutes later, and after she’d made a stop at the bank’s ATM, she circled the block around the sheriff’s department. Satisfied that Cal and Justin were gone for the day, she parked around back and got out. She walked the distance around to the front of the building and kept in the shadows. When she got to the front, she looked up and down the street and then hurried up the steps. She stood on the top step, looked down, and eyed her boobs. She pushed each one up. When she was satisfied, she opened the door and stepped inside.
She noticed a young deputy sat at Justin’s desk. Another deputy sat behind a desk across the room from him. He had a paperback in his hand and was reading. He hadn’t looked up from the book. She squinted at the book and then dropped her shoulders.
You’ve got to be kidding me! Is everybody in this town reading that damn book?
She shook it off and sashayed toward the young deputy at Justin’s desk. He looked up from his paperwork, and as she’d hoped, his eyes glazed over. He scanned her body from top to bottom and back up again. She smiled at him.
“Uh …” he stammered, “can … may I help you?” Blotches of red popped out on his face.
She stopped in front of his desk. “Maybe. Are you the sheriff?”
“Uh … no, ma’am. I’m Deputy Lansing. The sheriff’s gone for the day.”
Her jaw clenched, but she kept her smile. When she straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath, her breasts lifted. “Well, I don’t know then.” She glanced around the room as if in thought, but checked on the dispatcher. His eyes were still glued to the book.
“I can call the sheriff for you,” he said as he turned and reached for the receiver.
She jerked her head around, leaned over, and grabbed his hand. He held on to the receiver and turned his head back toward her, but his eyes didn’t go any farther than her cleavage.
“No,” she said, “I’m quite sure that you’re more than able to help me.”
“Uh huh, I … I mean I’ll try.”
She let go of his hand, placed both of hers on his desk, leaned closer, and gave him a better view. “I was in here earlier today about a speeding ticket.”
He looked up at her. A look of disappointment covered his face. “Oh, ma’am, I can’t let you off of that. You’d have to talk with the judge.”
“Oh no! I wouldn’t expect you to. I was just going to say that I ran off and left my cell phone here, and I thought that maybe y’all might have a lost and found.”
He smiled at her. “Oh. Uh … sure.” He stood up. “It’s back here. I’ll go check for you.”
He walked toward the hallway. As she hurried to his side, she glanced at the other deputy. He still hadn’t looked up.
“Oh, may I come too? I mean, you don’t even know what kind of phone it is you’re looking for.”
He hesitated, and for a moment she thought he’d say ‘no’, but instead he led the way down the hallway. He stopped in front of a door across from the sheriff’s office, reached in his pocket, took out a set of keys, and unlocked the door. He opened it, reached inside, and flipped on the light. He stepped aside to let her inside. She glanced around the room as he walked over to a desk in the corner and opened the bottom drawer. Her gaze landed on a large safe in the far corner of the room. She reached behind her, closed the door, and locked it.
When he heard the door close, he turned, and watched her do a slow striptease as she walked toward him.
Timing … it’s all about timing.
58
The dog stuck his cold wet nose to Raven’s. She lifted her brows as she tried to open her eyes, but drifted back to sleep. He stuck his nose to hers again. She rubbed the end of her nose. He sat back on his haunches and watched her sleep. He whimpered, stood up, and stuck his nose to hers again. She tried to rub the end of her nose once more, but felt his nose instead. She opened her eyes, blinked several times, and then tried to focus. She looked down his snout into his eyes.
“You’re an early bird,” she said. “Give me a minute.”
He stepped back and wagged his tail. She stretched and then threw back the covers. He scampered back as she slid out of the bed. She padded to the bathroom.
“Sorry, kiddo! I get to go first.”
A few minutes later, she walked back into the room, grabbed the leash, and took him outside.
An hour and a half later, after a shower and gathering her things, she and the dog had gotten into the car and were headed to the Rayburns’ home. She pulled the car into their long, winding driveway and parked. She got out, came around to the other side, and let Gabriel out. She leashed him and walked him to the front door. The door opened before she had a chance to ring the doorbell. She looked up, and her jaw went slack.
“Cal! What are you doing here?”
“Arresting you.”
”Oh no you’re not!”
He brought the handcuffs around in front of him. “You’re in my jurisdiction now.”
She dropped the leash, turned, and bolted toward her car. Gabriel barked and took off after her. Justin appeared from the side of the house and cut her off.
She came to a stop. The dog ran into her butt. She tittered but managed to stay upright. She looked behind her. Cal took long strides as he walked toward her. She glanced around and then darted across the front lawn. She headed toward a fence line that ran alongside the main road. The dog chased after her.
She heard fast approaching footsteps on the lawn behind her. She dared a glance over her shoulder and saw Cal run past the dog. He bore down on her. She pushed herself harder. Her ponytail sagged, and the ribbon that had held it in place had slipped. He grabbed her around her waist, and they both went down. The landing knocked the air out of her. His hat sailed off his head.
Cal rolled her over onto her stomach, pulled her arms behind her, and slapped the cuffs on her wrists. Gabriel hurried over to her and licked her face.
Cal rolled her back over and sat on his heels. “Are you okay?” he asked and looked down at her.
The dog sat down beside her and “woofed”. His tongue hung from the side of his mouth and his tail wagged.
She took in a deep breath and then another one. She eyed the dog. “Some guard dog you are.” She looked up at Cal. “You’re gonna regret this.” She tried to catch her breath.
He grinned at her, stood up, reached down, and helped her to her feet. She leaned over and spit grass out of her mouth. She tossed her head to the side as she tried to get her long hair out of her face.
His brows drew together. “Did I hurt you?” he asked as he eyed her swollen lip.
She looked at him and then shook her head.
“What happened?”
“Just history repeating itself. I swear, I should have never come back here.”
A concerned expression covered his face. He led her over to where his hat had landed, reached down, and picked it up.
“Please get that ribbon for me,” she said.
He looked at her. “What?”
She nodded toward the ground not far from where she had fallen. “Right there. The ribbon.”
He looked at the pink ribbon coiled on the grass and then at her. “Why do you want that ribbon?”
“It was in my hair a minute ago … and … it’s my favorite.”
He reached down and picked up the ribbon. He slipped it into the front pocket of his slacks.
After he got her back to the house, he looked at Justin and asked, “What happened to you? Couldn’t keep up?”
Justin grinned. “No, sir. Looked like you had it all under control.”
“Bring the squad car around.”
Twenty minutes later, Cal led her into the lobby of the sheriff’s department. Justin followed with the dog on a leash.
“Please tell me you’re not taking the dog to the pound. They’ll put him down,” Raven said as Cal led her down the hallway.
“No, he’s going to jail with you.”
She balked and looked up at him. “Do what?”
“He’s going to jail with you.”
“That’s what I thought you said. What’d he do wrong?”
“Nothing. When you get out, you can figure out what to do with him. That is, if you ever get out.”
“What if he needs to go do his business?”
“Just yell and someone will take him for a walk.” He nudged her through the door that led to the jail cells.
“If I’d have known Angus was going to throw such a hissy fit over the dog, I wouldn’t have driven over there, and I’d of been long gone by now, and you’d be seeing nothing but red taillights.”
“You should have known he wouldn’t want a dog. Suzanne has little to no say in that house.”
“Was he that way when you were growing up? Did he treat your momma that way?”
He unlocked the cell, slid the door open, and released her. She stepped inside.
“Call the dog,” he said.
She turned. “Come on, Gabe.”
The dog walked inside, sat down beside her, and faced Cal. Raven waited for him to shut the door. She turned her back toward him, backed up to the cell door, and lifted her hands. He unlocked the cuffs.
She turned, tilted her head, and looked at him with anger in her eyes.
He smiled. “Hold that pose. Justin will be along shortly to get your mug shot and your fingerprints.” He turned to walk away.
“Cal, the ribbon. I want my ribbon.”
He stepped back, pulled it out of his pocket, and slipped it through the bars. She latched onto it. He walked away. A few seconds later she heard the door close.
She wrapped the ribbon around her wrist and tied it.
A female voice came from a cell further down the corridor. “What are you in here for?”
She leaned her head against the bars and tried to peer around, but couldn’t see anyone. “Resisting arrest … twice.”
She chuckled. “Looks like you need more practice.”
Raven made a face. “How about you? What are you in for?”
“Prostitution.”
Raven lifted an eyebrow. She’d never met a prostitute. She thought a moment. Well, just Momma.
The woman continued, “You think if I told the sheriff that my biggest customer was his daddy, he’d let me go?” The woman chuckled again.
Raven stared straight ahead. “You know Angus Rayburn?”
“Know him? I know every inch of him. I could draw you a map of every mole on his body.”
Raven made a face.
“He’s been passed out drunk at my place more times than I can count, but not before he’d told me every dirty deed he’s ever done. If I were into blackmail, I’d be rich … or dead.”
Raven raised her eyebrows and mouthed, “Oh.”
“By-the-way, my name is Imogene. What’s yours?”
59
“What the hell were you thinking?” Angus stood with his hands on his hips in the doorway of the kitchen and across the room from Suzanne.
She sat down in a chair in the breakfast nook. “I wanted a dog.” She propped her elbows on the table and rested her forehead in her hands. “Why did he arrest her?”
“Who gives a damn why he arrested her? She should have put that dog down and left town right after the funeral.”
“Put the dog down?” She jerked her head toward him. “What kind of person would do something so inhumane?”
He ignored her question. “You don’t need a dog. If you’ve got time to take care of a dog, then you’ve got too much time on your hands.”
Her brows creased.
“Besides, how did you and her come to this agreement? I didn’t even know you two knew each other.”
“We met at the park.”
“That’s another thing. Your parents would roll over in their grave if they could see you out there slaving away, acting like a commoner. You’ve got no business letting yourself be seen like that.”
She pushed herself up from the table. “My father might have inherited all of this, but he was still a hard working man, and my mother didn’t sit around elegant tables, holding tea parties with the privileged. She stayed busy, serving her community. Being wealthy is a blessing, being generous with your wealth is showing your appreciation for that blessing.”
Diana Anderson - Entering Southern Country 01 - Famous in a Small Town Page 17
