Page 19 of Outlaw Ridge: Hayes

The wannabe soldier vibe was all over the guy from his buzz-cut hair and pseudo-Army uniform of that t-shirt and fatigue pants with combat boots. He propped his hands on his hips and aimed a scowl at Jemma.

“I don’t appreciate being ordered in here by a bunch of civilians and a rookie with criminal ties,” Duane snarled.

Hayes huffed and was about to intercede, but Jemma spoke before he could do that.

“And I don’t appreciate someone shooting the new sheriff,” Jemma fired back. “A shooting that took place at your school. Yes, I definitely want to interrogate you about that since you have means and motive to go along with the legal trifecta of opportunity. And while those three things together aren’t enough for an arrest, they’re plenty enough to order you in for an interview. Even by a rookie.”

Duane’s dark brown eyes went to slits. “I didn’t have anything to do with that shooting. Neither did any of my students or instructors. Funny that you should be so interested in justice when it’s one of your own, but you couldn’t be bothered with it when it was one of my students.”

Now wasn’t the time for that particular trip down memory lane. Especially since it would just result in more hostility from Duane. Then again, that hostility could be the motive for the massacre.

“Where were you when Owen was shot?” she asked.

Duane rolled his eyes. “At firearms training with five students who’ll vouch I was there.”

“So, you were at the scene of the shooting,” Jemma concluded. “With five students who would likely say anything you tell them to say.” She paused only for a second. “Will you voluntarily consent to a gunshot residue test, or do I need to get a warrant for that?”

“You’ll have to get a warrant, not just for that but for any search of my school or property. I’m not cooperating with anything connected to you or this so-called police department,” he spat out. “Are we done here?”

Jemma gave him a flat look. “Not even close. We can do the interview in the dining room after I Mirandize you.” Which she preceded to do.

That didn’t improve Duane’s expression. “You’re really going through with this witch hunt?”

“I’m really going through with thisinterview,” she confirmed.

Muttering some profanity, Duane took out his phone. “Then, you’ll have to wait until my lawyer gets here. Oh, and I’ll be filing a complaint with the state district attorney. No way in hell should the Rattler’s daughter be questioning anyone about anything.”

Jemma merely tapped her badge to remind him of her authority. It caused Duane’s scowl to deepen, and he turned his back to them to make that call. Just as Hayes heard Aiden say something through the earpiece. Something Hayes didn’t want to hear.

“Hell,” Aiden spat out, “we’ve got trouble.”

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Chapter Six

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Jemma automatically drew her gun when she heard what Aiden had just said. Hayes did the same, and they didn’t have to wait long to hear the shouts from outside.

“Get down,” someone yelled.

That got Duane’s attention, too, and he whirled around to face her. “What the hell’s going on?”

She didn’t know yet, but Jemma saw the thick white smoke rushing past the front window. There was a lot of it, and she doubted this was some kind of accidental fire or sudden fog.

“Aiden, is it tear gas or smoke bombs?” Hayes asked.

“Smoke bombs,” Aiden supplied through the earpiece. “It’s coming from the east, in that area by the trees.”

The very place that Hayes had pointed out as prime for an attack. But what kind of attack was this?

Jemma didn’t have to wait long for that answer.

A series of gunshots tore through the air, and from the sound of the blasts, at least one of the bullets hit something outside. She prayed it wasn’t one of Hayes’ brothers or one of the workers installing security.

“Aiden?” Hayes asked.

“I’m pinned down,” was his brother’s reply. “My guess is this asshole had Declan and me in his sights before he launched thesmoke bombs. I’m at the base of one of those creepy statues, and the last I saw Declan, he was by his SUV.”

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