Page 53 of Justice for Daesha

“Yeah! You doin’ okay?”

“Sure am. Got that little one. He’s two now. Wanna see a?” Daesha cleared her throat?loudly. “Oh, um, in a minute. So the lady says you’re working on a case.”

Daesha stared at the two of them. “You two know each other?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the deputy answered. “AgentFletcher helped us with a child porn ring a few years ago. Got the bastards and sent them down the river.”

Amos nodded. “We sure did. DeputyBraxton Hughes here is a damn fine actor. He plays a thirteen-year-old girl very well on social media!” They both laughed until Amos realized he was getting the stink eye from Daesha. “So, um, anyway, yes. I’m working on a case that this might be related to. What does the note say?”

Brax held up an evidence bag and squinted at it in the darkness. “It says, ‘Tell your boyfriend to back off and nothing will happen to you.’ If that’s not a threat, I don’t know what is.”

Jesus. That was a complication Amos hadn’t seen coming, but he really wasn’t surprised. If they could intimidate Daesha and get him to drop the whole thing, it would be business as usual. Then something equally as scary rolled through his thoughts. “Do any of the persons involved in this investigation know where you rehearse?”

Daesha shook her head. “No. We just started using the hall about two months ago.”

Fuck. That meant someone had followed her. And if they followed her, that meant they were watching the house, or had someone else doing so. And in turn, that meant she wasn’t safe anywhere unless there was someone with her. “You thinking what I’m thinking?” Brax asked.

“Yep.”

Daesha’s eyebrows hiked up. “What?”

Amos shook his head. “We’ll talk about it at home. Guys, thanks for waiting with her.”

Gary and Barry both waved, said goodbye, and their cars disappeared into the darkness. Brax’s eyes met his and the deputy asked, “How do you want me to handle this?”

Amos scratched his forehead with his thumb in frustration. “File a report just as you always do. Say she has no idea who left it or what it means, and that a KDCI agent showed up on the scene and took the case from you. That’s all you need to know. You donotwant to get mixed up in this. It’s very, very complicated.”

Brax nodded. “I’ll take your word for it. She gonna be okay with you?”

“You’d better believe it. Hey, thanks, man,” Amos said and extended his hand. Brax took it and shook it heartily. “We need to get together for coffee sometime.”

“Yes we do. Get caught up. Ma’am, I’m sorry for your scare.”

“Thank you, DeputyHughes. I appreciate your time.” Daesha’s words were hollow, and Amos knew she was terrified.

“Not a problem. That’s what I’m here for?to serve and protect. Y’all have a good night,” Brax called as he slipped behind the wheel of the fully-fitted DodgeCharger and rolled away.

As soon as he was out of sight, Daesha wheeled and stared at the man standing there with her. “Amos, what’s going on? I don’t understand.”

“Get in the car and let’s get going.”

“But you’re not coming to my house tonight.”

“The hell I’m not! All my clothes are at my place, but I don’t care. You can’t be alone.”

“I can’t have somebody with me all the time!” Amos’s brow furrowed. “What? I can’t.”

“You’ll have to until we get this straightened out.” Hand on her car door handle, he pulled it and pointed. “Get in. I’ll be right behind you.”

She looked… sad. Exhausted and sad. “Okay. Whatever you say.” He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss. “Yeah, that makes it all better,” she groused as she dropped into the little car.

I wish it could, Amos told himself as he climbed back in the Jeep. He’d take her to work the next day, and then he’d go to the office and talk to Mack. They’d done the one thing that had sealed their fate, as far as Amos was concerned.

They’d messed with Daesha, and if he ever caught them, that was the thing they’d be the sorriest for.

Chapter 9

God,they had to leave early! He drove her to the VA clinic, then drove himself back to work. He’d have to leave that afternoon at about two o’clock to get there when she got off work, then drive her home, then back to the office. If he was lucky, Mack would take pity on him and tell him to work the rest of every day at home until the case was resolved. He hadn’t even seen Mack to tell him everything that was going on, so he was hoping they’d get a chance to talk later.

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