Page 82 of Cowboy's Last Stand
Wade put the notebook away, his eyes narrow.“I don’t believe you were just passing through.”
“I don’t care what you believe, Wade.Why don’t you do your goddamned job and investigate your brother?”
“I need cause and evidence.”
Jason gestured to the flat tire.
“What would you suggest I do?Get a search warrant for a screwdriver?”
“You could look for M-16s.”
“I couldn’t get a signed order if I wanted to.Property damage of less than $250 is a misdemeanor offense.So is lighting firecrackers.They don’t issue warrants for petty crimes.Without direct evidence, my hands are tied.”
Jason crossed his arms over his chest, irritated.“Does the library have security cameras?”
“For the parking lot?I don’t know.I can check.”
“Don’t go out of your way,” Jason said in a sarcastic tone.
“I’ve already gone out of my way,” Wade said.“I interrupted Billy’s fun last weekend to warn him.I humiliated him in front of that sassy babysitter and her friend.He probably wants to shoot me even more than he wants to shoot you.”
Jason glanced toward the house, where London was watching Marcus.He wondered what would have happened to the girl and her friend if Wade hadn’t interfered.One of them might have become Billy’s next victim.
“The best remedy for this is de-escalation,” Wade said.“Billy started harassing Natalie when you entered the picture.He’s mad at you for beating him up and moving in with her.If you leave town, he’ll cool off.”
“You’re the third Hendricks to tell me to leave town.Are you sure you’re not in lockstep with your father and brother?”
Wade’s neck flushed red with anger.“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re either in with them, or you’re turning a blind eye to what’s going on.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Have you considered the possibility that Billy has done this before?Has he targeted other young women for harassment?”
Wade recoiled at the accusation.“That’s far-fetched.”
“Is it?”
The deputy paced the length of the garage, his fists clenched.Then he rounded on Jason.“How do I know that you haven’t targeted other women?Maybeyou’rea threat to Natalie.You came out of nowhere and latched on to her with amazing speed.”
Jason wanted to punch him in his tired, handsome face.
“There’s no way you just happened to be in the area the other night,” Wade added with surprising insight.He wasn’t as dumb as Billy.“You’re lying about something.I’m going to find out what it is and bury you with it.”
“Before you dig into my closet, search your brother’s.”
Wade paused to take a breath.His patience was running out.“I have a history with Natalie.”
“I know.”
“She told you we slept together?”
Jason scrubbed a hand over his mouth.He was annoyed with Wade for speaking so plainly, and personally, about Natalie.“Yeah, she did.She said she called you Mike, and you didn’t get her off.”
Wade made a growling sound and grasped the front of Jason’s shirt.He wrenched Jason forward and held him in a choking grip.“If I was the type to resort to police brutality, I’d smash your teeth in.”
“Try it,” Jason said in a low voice, his adrenaline pumping.He’d been spoiling for a fight for hours.He’d rather exchange blows with Billy, but Wade was close enough.“I’ll waive my rights.”
