Page 112 of Badges
Instinct has me reaching behind me for my cuffs.
Fuck. I don’t have my belt. Or my gun.
If this is who I think it is, he’s lucky.
Blue comes jogging up. “I saw the commotion. Elena’s okay, she’s sitting with Libby.”
“Thank you.” I feel like I can breathe again. “Call the station. Tell Billy to get his ass up here.”
Blue nods and digs out his phone.
“Oh, here.” I toss him my keys. “Grab my real cuffs, huh?” I let my leg drift up the pinned man’s neck, knowing it’s mashing his cheek against the asphalt.
If it was just me and Blue, we’d load this guy in the truck and he’d never be seen from again.
But Sawyer’s here. He’s too damn young to be putting those kinds of skeletons in his closet.
I’m sure he’ll learn how to solve his own problems one day.
Time for the big moment.
Reaching down, I rip the mask off the mystery cloaked man. “Well, well, well. Max Simmons. What the fuck are you doing here? Didn’t you know I was looking for you?”
“Bite me, sheriff,” he grumbles into the dirt.
I lean close enough he can hear me, but no one else can. “Tell me why you were taking her and I’ll consider letting you survive to make it to jail.”
“You can’t threaten me.” But panic widens the whites of his eyes when I shift more weight onto the knee against his neck.
“I knew you’d be here,” he chokes. “Everyone does. I just needed to wait for my chance at your whore.”
I glance up in time to see Sawyer watching me intently, his angel wings hanging limply from his back.
My fingers tighten in the clothing and I pry Max’s arm a little higher, making him wince.
He’s so damn lucky that kid is here.
Sirens wail in the distance signally my deputy’s approach.
“Got your bracelets.” Blue dangles my cuffs in front of me.
Within seconds, Max is locked down and sitting with his legs in front of him.
“My mom’s gonna have me out tomorrow.” He turns to spit in my direction.
Shit, his face is gnarly.
Ford really did a number on him.
“Pretty boy like you? Everyone will love you in prison.” I squat so he has no choice to see me. “Maybe I’ll make a phone call too? Know my buddy, Ford?”
Max freezes and his face pales to the same color as the discarded mask on the ground.
“Let’s hope there’s enough of your DNA left after he’s done with you to match to that rape kit from a few years ago.” I stand, pulling out my cell.
“No! Don’t you fucking dare!” Max contorts his body so he’s bouncing on his ass across the pavement.
“Then you get a choice.” I glance up at the lights blazing into the parking lot. “You can tell the truth, or I tell him when you’re being released.”
