Page 23 of Flashback

He charged over to the deputy, who was chatting with the older woman behind the counter. When they broke off their conversation, he said, “Deputy, do you know the family that went back there with the two young boys?”

“The Haroldsons? Yeah, I know them. Why do you ask?” The man stared down at him, frowned a little.

“I just want to make sure those boys are safe. They were pretty scared and talked about a scary man and wanting to get away from him. Any chance that could be the stepfather?”

“I’m sure the boys are fine.” He turned back to the woman.

“So you’ve never had any domestic complaints or calls to their place?”

The deputy faced Dakota again, this time with a sigh. “I don’t know who you are?—”

“I’m Dakota Masterson. I’m with—” It was on the tip of his tongue to saywith the Benson PD SWAT. But that wasn’t true anymore. “Jude County Hotshots.”

“Well, Hotshot, I appreciate you finding those boys and saving them, I truly do. But you’ve got no other say here in what happens. You’re not a cop or a deputy in this town. So unless you have some hard evidence, you better not start making accusations against a local.”

Really? “I might be a hotshot now, but I’m former SWAT, so I know the drill. It’s pretty obvious the boys aren’t comfortable around Ray. You saw how Ethan reacted to him.”

“Yeah. Pretty much how I reacted toward my stepdad too when he first showed up.” The deputy took his glare down a notch and stepped away from the counter. “Truth is, Ray Haroldson might not be my favorite person, but heistheir stepfather. Not much I can do about that.”

“Darn right you can’t!” Ray stomped over toward them. “You got something to say, Fireman, you say it to my face.”

He shouldn’t, but Dakota was itching for a fight. To put a jerk like Ray in his place. Maybe he could goad Ray into admitting something so the deputy could charge him. “All right, tell me, do you get your kicks out of hurting innocent children? Ever slap your wife around? Just for the fun of it?”

Ray sneered but didn’t come closer. His voice was a mean growl. “You don’t know nothin’.”

“Yeah? That’s why the boys toldmethey saw a man shot to death.” Dakota faced him down. “You know anything about that?”

“About two kids telling stories ’cause they watch too many action movies?” Ray squared up on Dakota.

The deputy moved toward them. “Hold up, you two. Step back. No need to?—”

Dakota didn’t dare break eye contact with Ray. “I know if you hurt those boys, you’re going to regret it.”

“Is that a threat?” Ray got right up in Dakota’s face, his chest bumping into him.

And that was it.

Dakota shoved him back and let a right cross loose. Ray had better reflexes than he’d figured. His head swung back, Dakota’s fist merely glancing off his jaw. But it was on.

Ray charged at him. Chairs screeched as they slid across linoleum. Dakota blocked the hit and jabbed, catching Ray in the soft flesh of his midsection, right under the ribs.

Before he could send his left hook, the deputy leaped in and pulled Dakota off.

“Cut it out! The both of you.”

Dakota pushed against the deputy’s hold on him, but the guy had an iron grip.

Ray staggered back and fell. He wiped off blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “Did you see what he did? You arrest this man!”

“I should throwbothof you in the holding cell. Get up. And go check on the boys.” The deputy released Dakota and stepped in between the men. “Go on, now, Haroldson.”

Ray stood and pointed at Dakota. “You better stay clear of my family, you hear?”

“I mean it, Ray,” the deputy said. “Get out of here before I throw you in jail for disorderly conduct.” The deputy waited until Ray left the room. He swung around to face Dakota. “And you, you don’t have any authority or jurisdiction. Stay out of it.”

Dakota fumed. “You’re just going to let him go? Don’t you care about those boys?”

“Ray is a mean cuss, but there are laws. Andyouare not authorized to enforce them. That’s my job. You better stay out of it, because beating the man senseless might feel good for a moment—and don’t think I haven’t dreamed of doing it myself—but I’ll still be hauling you in for assault if you do, and that won’t help those boys none. Got it?”

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