Page 56 of Dangerous Secrets
Neil had blown up when Jerod hadbroached the subject of buying him a new car.He deserved somethingnew, a truck preferably, and the old man was too tightfisted to buyhim one.He stuffed a handful of pickle-flavored sunflower seeds inhis mouth.Bobby held out his hand and Jerod shook his head.“Getyour own, asshole.”
He ignored Bobby flipping him thefinger as he pondered the situation.Martha Watkins was a problem.He’d seen the old woman with her daughter that one time inPonderosa Flats.Of all the bad luck.
After he’d conveniently “died,” Jerodhad used the false identity papers Neil made up for him and rentedan A-frame cabin out in the boonies.He didn’t care where it was aslong as no neighbors were close enough to recognize him if they’dread the papers.
That, and as long as there was heat inthe winter, a/c in the summer, and Dish TV.Since he couldn’t work,he had to rely on his uncle for money, which was a pain in the ass.More so because the money Neil doled out was never quiteenough.
He’d seen Martha Watkins and herdaughter Valerie, and if either one of them recognized him and saidsomething, he was screwed.Jerod had wanted to follow them and finda convenient place to run them off the road and preferably over acliff.But instead of doing it, he’d made the mistake of callingNeil, who’d talked him out of taking action.
So he hadn’t killed them, but he’dfollowed up by doing a little digging and learned Valerie WatkinsRawlings lived in a log cabin house in South Tahoe with her husbandand kids.If something spooked Grandma and she was holed up withher daughter, it would be easy to take a little drive over themountains to get rid of them.That’s what had made Jerod a goodcop.Finding the little details about people he could store awayuntil he needed them later.
He shifted, sweat sticking his shirtto his back.He’d give it another ten minutes, then he was donehere and he could turn his attention to the fun stuff.
He was itching to do somereconnaissance, find out if that shitty little dog had drowned.Butmore than anything, he was dying to turn the screws on WalkerMcGrath.There was something about that asshole that chafed hisass.Always had.
He remembered the first time he’dpulled the fucker over on his motorcycle for doing forty in atwenty-five zone.As a sheriff’s deputy, Jerod had figured makingpeople nervous was the best part of his job.It made him feelpowerful, gave him control, helped him get a little extra attentionfrom women when he wanted it.
But asshole McGrath had flipped up thevisor on his helmet and given him a shit-eating grin and got allcocky, asking, “What’s up, Jerod?”like they were buds.The fuckershould’ve been more respectful.Jerod had been so pissed he’dhauled the kid off his bike and slammed him face first into thepavement.Too bad he’d been wearing a helmet.
Jerod had searched him, hoping to findweed, and the fucker had laughed like it was a big joke.Theclincher had been Jerod had had his eye on Delaney Bryant.She’dbeen a lot younger than him, but she was so fucking hot, he didn’tcare.He’d wanted her screaming as he fucked her.Still did.Butshe’d taken up with McGrath and hadn’t spared Jerod aglance.
One time he’d pulled her over in herhatchback when she’d been in college.She hadn’t been speeding, butso what?His timing had been perfect.She was on a deserted road attwilight and he remembered getting out of his car, his dick alreadyfirming up.In minutes he’d have her on her knees giving him ablowjob.
But a truck had come from the oppositedirection and stopped across the road.Walker McGrath had beendriving with James in the passenger seat, cellphone to his ear.They’d refused orders to leave, instead getting out of the truck tostand with arms crossed, watching.God almighty, Jerod had beenpissed.He’d imagined pulling his sidearm and pumping rounds intoeach of them and leaving their bodies for the vultures to pickover.Then he’d been humiliated when a call came over the radio,his lieutenant telling him to get back to the sheriff’s office.Somehow the old man had made that happen.
After that, Jerod had made it hismission to pull over the younger McGraths whenever he had theopportunity.The most gratifying moment in Jerod’s life had beenwhen Walker McGrath had been found guilty of rape.He hadn’trespected the badge and been made to pay.But now he’d dared toreturn to Sisters, and that meant he had to be dealtwith.
Jerod turned the key to start theengine.
“Hey, we’re supposed tosit on that house.”
“We’re donehere.”
Bobby shrugged and didn’t argue whenJerod dumped him at the entrance to the trailer park where thedumbshit lived with his mom.Once rid of Bobby, Jerod steeredslowly through town, checking his rearview mirror frequently.Wouldn’t do to be spotted by law enforcement.
He turned onto Cider Mill Road, thenhooked a right onto a dirt road snaking into the hills, followinguntil it became too narrow and he risked getting his car stuck in arut.After parking, he grabbed supplies—the bag of sunflower seedsand his binoculars—and found the trail leading to the big-ass treewhere he’d sat before, a spot with an excellent view of the back ofthe farm.
It may’ve been a while, but he knewthese mountains.As a teenager he’d always been on the lookout fora place to escape from under his uncle’s thumb, and the old cabinsand abandoned mines dotting the hills had worked well for thatpurpose.
He panted up the slope, sweat stinginghis eyes, until reaching the tree.He was out of shape, but whatcould he say?He liked his beer.
Settling in the shade under the widebranches, he was hidden well enough he wouldn’t be spotted.Spitting out sunflower seed shells, he brought up the binocularsand twirled the little wheel to bring the scene into focus.No signof life at McGrath’s cabin.
Jerod might need to have a littlelook-see, poke around in the cabin to see if he could find the boxFucker McGrath had carted out of the old lady’s house.
Jerod continued scanning.The bighouse came into view and he gave a start when he spied DelaneyBryant exiting through the back door.Her hair was in a ponytailand she wore a halter top, which made him grateful daytime tempshad jumped up.
The woman was smokin’ hot.All longlegs with her excellent tits on display.He wanted what WalkerMcGrath was dipping his wick in.Wanted it in the worstway.
She went to a hose bib and turned onthe water, taking a hose to spray a flowerpot next to the backdoor.He set the beer can in the dirt and eased himself back a bit,loosening his belt and slipping his hand into his pants to strokehimself.He shifted and the sun blinded him for minute.
She straightened, looking in hisdirection, and had him holding his breath.His dick grew harder atthe thought of her attention focused on him.But then she returnedto her task, bending over to remove some dead leaves from theplant.Done with the hose, she used pruners and clipped off a fewflowers, her pert little ass in the air.Then she opened the doorand disappeared back into the house, flowers clutched in herhands.
She probably knew he was watching andwas teasing him, putting on a show.
He stroked harder.Maybe she hadsecret fantasies about him like he had about her.
Neil always warned him to take care ofhis needs far away from home, and hadn’t he always done that?Beencareful?Picked the kind of woman no one cared muchabout?
