Page 81 of The Wounded Warrior

Jake Neeley stood there in his sheriff’s uniform, hat in hand.

“Sure, man,” Luke said. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks. Lord, I’m dead on my feet. That chimichanga looks good.”

“The beer is really bitter,” Rory warned.

“Yeah, so I’m told. I’m going to run it to Dallas, LeBlanc. You realize you’re talking a jailable offense.”

“Uh, hello! I’m the one getting screwed with here.”

“You’re the one poking the bear, McConnell. Can’t you just back off and leave us all in peace?”

“No.” No, he couldn’t. Doug Harris had hurt him—body, soul and reputation. He couldn’t just back off.

The bastard deserved everything he got, and Rory was too far into the process now.

Luke stared at Jake. “I imagine if the guys who previously had your job had done something back in the day, this would all be very different. Too bad they were friends with Harris.”

“Well, it’s a damned good thing I’m too young to be,” Jake said, then sighed. “Seriously, mind if I eat? I assume the bartender took off.”

“He did. I remember him from the gala. I was violently sick after.” Rory waved down the waitress. “Sheriff Jake here needs feeding.”

“Hola, Sheriff.” She smiled. “You want chickensuizas?”

“Nah, I want that chimichanga withqueso.”

“It’s good today. Popular.”

“It looks amazing. Extra rice, please, and just iced tea. I’m off-duty but on-call.”

“Yessir.” She hurried off.

Rory passed Jake the chips.

“Thanks. So, I guess I owe you an apology for the whole truck thing. I let it go too damn quick.”

“Undoubtedly. I’ll forgo it for you keeping me alive.”

“Mmm. We need to do that, and I need to connect this shit to Doug Harris if you think he’s behind it.” Jake held up a hand when he would have opened his mouth. “I don’t doubt it, but I need a reason to run him in specifically.”

“I was going to say I understand. I am a lawyer,you know? I want any charges to stick.” He wanted to destroy the son of a bitch.

“I hear you. This is his second?—”

“Third,” Luke cut in. “That same bartender tried to poison him at the cattlemen’s gala.”

“Right. Okay, we’ll watch him, but we want him, right? You know how hard that’s going to be?”

He stared Jake down. He knew. It was sort of his life’s work.

“I dunno.” Matt smiled a little. “He’s getting pretty reckless.”

Rory had to agree. “He called and threatened me a few days ago. Foamy. I wish I’d recorded it.”

“That would be prudent.” Jake rolled his eyes. “I seriously do not need this shit, man.”

“Your life is too boring, Jake,” Luke said. “You need excitement.”

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