Page 5 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
“I know, but now’s not the time to push back. It’s too dangerous.”
“Then when?”
Sirens preceded the arrival of two officers who barged in, their weapons palmed… ready.
Chapter Five
Noel had a few minutes to catch his breath and wonder at the amazing circumstances he’d just lived through.
Thinking the gun had jammed with the help of his new special friend; he glanced upward and mouthed, “Thanks, Clarence.”
Shocked at the idea that he’d hit another person and fought to defend the women, he shook off the trauma and stepped forward. “Officers, things are under control, no need for your weapons. The offender is tied to the stairs.”
The older policeman stepped up to Noel, his manner abrupt. “What happened here? The dispatch said there was a firearm involved and someone had been shot.”
Noel pointed to the offending weapon. “It’s there, and it didn’t actually go off. When this man pointed it at me and pulled the trigger, the bullet jammed.”
Putting on a plastic glove, the sheriff retrieved the gun and checked the chamber. Seeing it was loaded, he commented dryly, “Guess you lead a charmed life, Mr…?”
“Noel Bradford. Could be, but I like to think my guardian angel was on shift and looking after me.”
“Hold it. You say, Bradford. Any relation to George or Harry Bradford?”
“Yes, George was my father and Harry, my brother.”
“Sheriff Phil Lock, and that’s my deputy, Justin Taylor.” In a stiff manner, the Sheriff added, “Tough break about your family’s car accident. Winter storms can be brutal.”
“Yes.” Not sure if he liked the man’s attitude, Noel purposely looked toward where the younger cop was hauling Ralph to his feet and pointed. “I want to lay charges against that man. Where do I fill out the paperwork?”
Shock and pleasure vied on the younger officer’s face, and he grinned. “Just come to the precinct. It’ll be my pleasure to pass on the forms.”
Ralph, shaking his head, stumbled and would have fallen if not for the strength of the deputy who shook him. “Snap out of it, Ralph. It’s about time you got some of your own medicine for a change.”
Interrupting, the Sheriff added, his tone jaded, “No doubt Duggan and his attorneys will have him out before we can finish the paperwork.”
Mary stepped forward and added, “Don’t you let them, Phil. His brother isn’t the law in this town. We need to be able to rely on you doing your job. There’s too much corruption with the businesses and now these gangsters think they can break in anywhere, flashing guns and shooting at innocent folks.”
As he nodded at her truth, Phil worked at appearing sad. “You know there’re only a handful of us to keep control, Mary. We’re doing the best we can. Now if our mayor gave us more power and a few more men, maybe… and I mean maybe, we could make a difference. Right now, we’re barely able to answer every callbefore all hell breaks loose. Duggan and his boys are a constant handful.”
Noel caught the deputy’s eye and read a message written as clear as day. Disgusted by his boss’s whining, his expression hardened. “We have the law on our side, but some people ignore that fact.” Before he could get Ralph out the door, it opened, and a hard-faced stranger appeared.
Wearing an expensive suit, covered with an overcoat right out of Vogue, he looked the complete opposite of the cuffed idiot whose expression lit when he saw him. “Bro. Great. Get these guys to stop jerking me around and let me go.”
“What’s happening here? Ralph, you messing with that Josie girl again? I thought I told you to leave her be.”
Ralph’s sudden incoherency rang false. “I j-jist came in to make sure she-she got home, and… and this dude attacked me.”
“Is that right?” The man facing down Noel would scare most intelligent people. Caught up by piercing eyes - black and lifeless - as they searched his, the lack of respect filled him with shocked discomfort. Knowing how to handle himself with most men, he’d never encountered this type of malice before. Damned if he’d back down. Instead, he stood uneasy and waited.
“You got a problem with my little brother?”
Mary, obviously thinking to protect him, wriggled between them and spoke first, “This stranger came in to get warm, Duggan, and your brother attacked him.”
“That’s not true. Josie was getting ready to come home with me, and this… this bastard started punching and kicking me.”
Duggan’s gaze drilled Josie. “Is that right, sweetheart? Is Ralph telling it like it was?”
Mary interrupted, “Stop threatening her, and no, he isn’t telling the truth. Ralph came at me, and this man jumped to my defense. That’s when your brother pulled his gun and shot him.”
