Page 74 of Surly Sheriff
Rae burst through the kitchen door and slammed it behind her. Trembling fingers engaged the lock — not that it could protect her against the demons chasing her — and she lowered her head in defeat. She slapped her open palms against the granite counter, and the screams she had tamped down earlier escaped.
Agonized. Guttural. And defeated.
Kismet’s whimpers penetrated her stupor.
She sank to her knees, and the hound wormed his way onto her lap, licking away her tears. Burrowing her fingers into the silky fur, she bowed her head.
What now?
Her mind whirled, despair building.
Think. Think. Think.
Verify it!
She pushed Kismet off her thighs, clambered to her feet, strode to the living area, picked up the remote, and clicked through the major news channels. All but one carried the story.
Presidential Pardon!
Sentence Commuted.
Startling Development. Vasily Liminov A Free Man Today.
Another familiar face appeared on the screen, one of the few people she trusted. Standing on the sidewalk before the New York FBI building, reporters crowded around him.
Rae turned the volume up. “Special Agent Barker, what comments do you have regarding the imminent release of Vasily Liminov?” one reporter asked, thrusting a microphone in his face.
SAC Simon Barker pulled the lapels of his dark overcoat closer and looked straight into the camera. “It’s a travesty,” he said, his deep voice matching his grave countenance. “Vasily Liminov was convicted of the crimes he committed, and his release is a mockery of our justice system.” His eyes narrowed. “But I promise, if it’s the last thing I do, he will be back behind bars before long. It’s where cockroaches like him belong.”
“How? He cannot be retried for the same crimes.”
Simon scoffed. “Then I guess we’ll just have to find something new.”
“What about the Liminov sisters?” Another reporter called out. “My source says their kidnapping was a ruse perpetrated by the FBI.”
Her legs buckled under her, and she sank to the coffee table behind her, her eyes glued to the screen.
A deep frown formed between the agent’s eyes. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“The disappearance of the Liminov sisters mere months prior to their uncle’s arrest was always considered suspicious.”
“And you think theFBIkidnapped them?” He barked out a laugh. “Whatever did you spike your morning coffee with?” he said, eliciting a few snickers within the media group.
“The girls were never found …” The reporter left the comment hanging.
The agent shrugged. “The manhunt for the Liminov sisters following the death of Sergei Liminov was extensive. Theirdisappearance and the murder of their grandfather was attributed to a rival criminal group. All leads regarding the sisters dried up and their case remains unsolved.” Simon scraped his throat. “That will be all. I have work to do.” He spun away and walked through the main entrance of the tall building.
She clicked off the television and flung aside the remote.
An otherworldly calmness descended over Rae.
Her time in Clearbrook was up.
No. Stay. Tell Beau everything, Rae-Rae encouraged.
And contaminate him with your brutal history?Raegan countered.
She should never have stayed in the first place.
