A/N: I own nothing and please forgive all of my mistakes. You have made it to the end of Part One. Chapter 26 and Part Two which takes places four months after the events of this chapter will be posted on tomorrow hopefully. Thanks for sticking in for this long and crazy, emotional and heart tugging ride.
25
Parking reserved for members only.
Violators will be baptized and made to join or church.
—SIGN AT LIMA CITY CHURCH ON THE ROCKS
Gina woke up and everything hit her at once. Ricky. Her grandparents. Ashlyn. Her mom.
She fought a dizzy spell, then sat up and refocused on her grandparents.
"Where is mom?"
Malcolm nodded. "She's at work."
Ricky took her hand in his.
She swallowed and asked, "Where's Ashlyn?"
"She's in the hospital, but she is going to be fine. Your mom, Sam, and her deputies got to Ashlyn just in time."
The emotion Gina had been holding in for days threatened to erupt out of her. A happy sob escaped her, and she pressed her hands over her mouth as the news sank in. Then she sprang forward and hugged her grandparents.
"Your lover boys are gone."
Cedes paid Hunter little attention as she walked past his desk. She hadn't gotten a full night's sleep since she begun this job as sheriff and last night Gina made her tell her everything as soon as she'd gotten home. She'd skipped the gory details, but she did tell her that Jay had taken the kidnapper out to give her daughter closure.
"I don't know who you are talking about."
"Yes, you do."
She stopped and gave him the look and Hunter began to spill everything he knew. "Agent Campion was called back to the FBI's McKinleyville office. And the marshals' work here was completed."
"Completed?" She asked him.
"The fugitive was caught last night in Eureka after robbing a convenience store and conveniently falling asleep in the getaway car while it was still in the parking lot!" Hunter then pointed to her eyes. "That's gorgeous."
She'd managed to get a black eye that looked purple on her face, so she called it a purple eye. She didn't even remember how, and then Jay told her it was from the concussion of the shot. Cedes didn't understand how that happened, but she wasn't an expert of the side effects of a kill shot from that distance.
Jay was placed on mandatory leave pending a review into the shooting, but she had come to work to file her report. Hunter gushed at seeing his twin and was almost at the point of hero worship.
Cedes understood his adoration of Jay. Any person who could eliminate a target at night, in a very intense situation, at fifty yards, and avoid killing her boss deserved the admiration.
"Get me that file on Martinez?"
"I don't think that's my job, is it?"
She side-eyed him and went to her office.
He knew she meant business. "Okay! I'm right on it, boss!"
Dani walked to her office door and announced, "Mrs. Pierce is here to see you."
Cedes moaned. "Not again?"
"She has Puff Daddy with her."
"Just what I needed." Cedes got up to look into the lobby as Hunter gave her the file as quickly as he could.
Dani giggled. "Should I send her back?"
"Sure, put her in the interview room."
"Oh, and Mr. Duncan is here, too."
"Wonderful. Put him in the other interview room."
"We only have one."
"Okay, pick a closet, then."
"Yes ma'am."
But much to Cedes' surprise, they insisted on seeing her together.
Mrs. Pierce held on to Puff Daddy like she'd been reunited with the love of her life. Which he very well could have been if her daughter's cat was the love of her life.
"Puffy was lost not stolen," she said, giggling nervously.
Mr. Duncan chimed in. "Yeah, and Whitney . . .may I call you Whitney?"
She nodded blushing. "Of course."
"Whitney thought I had stolen Puff, but I would never do that."
Honestly, she could barely look at the man. He was covered in more cuts and bruises than a Fight Club brawler. It took everything in her not to laugh at him.
Hunter who had not entered the interrogation could be heard laughing through the two-way observation room.
She glared at him, then turned back to what could be a potential problem as long as she was sheriff because they lived across the street from one another and were always arguing, filing formal complaints, and pressing charges and then suddenly dropping everything days or weeks later.
This was getting ridiculous.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Pierce, but once the complaint is filed, it has to be taken to court."
They both stared at her in shock.
"We never had to go to court before," she whined.
"I know. It's a new law in Lima Springs County. If a complaint is filed with the sheriff's office and not the local police department, the suspect must be arrested, and it go to trial. You'll, of course, be called in to testify, and you can tell the judge it was all a mistake when you do. But by then, wow, I can't imagine the legal bills you're going to have to pay Mr. Duncan. I wish there was some other way—"
"There has to be," Whitney said. "I don't want Herb—may I call you Herb?"
He nodded and grinned like a schoolboy in love.
Seriously? They'd been feuding all these years, and they were just now getting to know each other on a first-name basis?
"I really don't want Herb to have to go through all that."
Cedes took out her handcuffs as soon as she got up. "Can you please stand and put your hands behind your back, Mr. Duncan?"
"No!" Whitney jumped to her feet, upsetting the rooster whose wings flapped several times, and feathers of all shapes and sizes were in the air.
At this point, Cedes could hear both Hunter's and Jay's laughter through the two-way. And that was when she rolled her eyes at everybody.
"I'll refuse to testify against him!" Whitney said.
"You could be arrested as well and held in contempt of court, unless you—"
Their gazes zoned in on her. "What?"
Cedes shook her head and sat down. "Neither of you would be willing to do it."
"Please tell me." Whitney said as she used several aggressive strokes to calm down Puff Daddy.
"Okay, but you aren't going to like what I have to say."
"Sure we will," Herb insisted
"The only way the assistant district attorney can't force you to testify is . . . is if you're married."
Both members of the upcoming wedding stood motionless, neither willing to say anything first.
"It's only if you're married before I have to get this paperwork to the courthouse. Today. At 3:00," she prodded. "And I just can't see that happ—"
"No, it can happen." Whitney looked at Herb and nodded.
He nodded back at her. "Today by three. If we leave now, we can use my son's plane and have him fly us to Reno and be back by two."
Cedes shrugged. "If you are able to get me a copy of your marriage certificate by the end of the day, without anyone willing to testify, I will have no choice but to drop the case."
"You'll have it before three we promise."
Hunter came into the interrogation room as soon as they left. "You realize she's going to do more damage to him than what the chicken did."
"Rooster and funny thing about that," Cedes said. "I have a feeling he's going to enjoy every minute of it."
"Gross."
He started to walk off when she said one name. "Biff."
He asked. "Are you asking if Biff is gross?"
"You know what I am talking about Hunter."
"Who were you asking about?"
"Undersheriff Bifford McIntosh," Cedes continued. "The only deputy who gets paid to do absolutely nothing."
Hunter grinned. "Well, he's been out of commission."
"Where is he?" And if you say 'who,' I will throw twenty sharp knives at your liver."
"Ouch. I was just going to ask you what day it is. Really. I have to know what day it is before I can tell you."
"Fine. It's Thursday, January the ninth."
"Ashlyn's birthday. Well, we can go see him now."
"Who?" She asked to show him how it felt.
"Really?" he asked.
Hunter drove her to the Lima Springs Mortuary and, after a heated discussion with the mortician, Hunter led Cedes back to the embalming room.
"Hunter, what the hell is going on?"
"He had a wife and two kids," he said as the mortician opened a chamber and pulled out a tray containing a handsome deputy.
"Mercedes Porter, meet Undersheriff Bifford McIntosh."
"Hunter," she said.
"He passed away this morning."
"He's a block of ice," she said.
"Yeah. He . . . froze to death."
"Hunter, tell me the truth."
"Biff had a heart attack and passed away two weeks ago while hunting. He was only two weeks away from retiring with full benefits instead of that package they offer you if you retire early. It was exactly two weeks, Cedes."
When she didn't speak, he continued, "He just got married to a woman who loves him five years ago, and they have two small kids who are torn up. They deserve his entire pension."
The mortician stood back looking like he was going to have a heart attack himself now that the sheriff had arrived.
"Did Schuester know about this?"
"Hell no. Just a handful of us who could keep a secret."
After offering Biff a silent prayer, she turned to the mortician. "He died in the line of duty last night during a manhunt."
"Yes, ma'am. Sheriff. I'm sorry for your loss."
If ever there were a town that could pull this off, it was Lima Springs. After all, they'd pulled off a fake husband for her and she won an election that she didn't even know she was a candidate of.
"We'll be taking care of all the funeral costs, if you could arrange that and let Mrs. McIntosh know."
"Thanks, Sheriff, I really appreciate you do this."
"Hunter," she said, walking him out, "you have a lot of paperwork to do and hope this crime doesn't come back to bite us all on the ass."
"I hate paperwork, but for once, I'm not complaining." He stopped and faced her. "Thank you, Mercy. And if you really need to be bitten on the ass . . ."
She slammed a hand over his mouth. "I'm good."
He chuckled from behind her hand and asked, "Where are you off to?"
"I need to ask Roz Washington why she was harboring a fugitive."
As she walked off, he called after her, "You already know, don't you?"
"I have my suspicions."
Cedes stepped outside with a tray of fruity drinks in her hand.
"I love Sundays," Gina said, angling her face toward the round ball of fire in the sky. "They're so relaxing."
"Don't get too relaxed," Cedes said.
Gina opened her eyes and took a drink off the tray. "Can you believe two days ago we were in our winter coats and today it's seventy something degrees?"
"That's California for you." The temp had risen to a downright balmy seventy-seven degrees, but there was still snow on the mountains. The sun sparkled off the white peaks, reminding the sheriff it was still winter.
Gina, Ricky, and Stevie were sitting on chairs in her front yard. Which was basically her parents' backyard.
"How can it be so sunny and warm today, when it was so cold yesterday? This state is weird."
"Did you talk to Ashlyn's mom?" Ricky asked.
"I did. Ashlyn is great and happy to be alive. She's coming home today."
"Can we go see her? Please? We've been texting, but it's just not the same, and she's been in the hospital forever."
"It's only been one night and a couple of days."
"And?"
"If it's okay with her mom, but first, I have a favor to ask." She looked at Ricky. "Both of you."
"And me?" Stevie asked, his blond hair ruffling in the light breeze.
"And you, but I'll need you to hang back with me. Help me with operations."
"I can do that." The excitement in his eyes was contagious, and her daughter leaned over and hugged him.
Cedes loved that he was like a brother to Gina. Had been since that day on the cliff over seven years ago. If Cedes had known, things would have been a lot different the last few years.
Water under the bridge now, but she'd missed so much. She'd just have to make up for it.
"Ask away," Ricky said.
"Okay," she said, but Gina interrupted her before she could get two words in.
"I know that look."
"Not this one. I just bought it."
"Nope." She pointed at her suspiciously. "You've had that one in the back of your closet, waiting for the opportunity to wear it again. It's that 'I'm about to do something dangerous' look."
"Okay, you caught me. But before I tell you the plan, I have to know, do either of you have any experience buying drugs?"
One hour later, with the help of one Roz Washington, Cedes sat a few yards away from an orange Chevy long bed, faded with large patches of rust on the roof, that should have been retired from duty in the '80s. Her daughter and her daughter's potential boyfriend strolled up to the window of said orange Chevy long bed.
If her hunch was correct, the man sitting in the driver's seat was a pretty great guy. This would be the ultimate test to prove her theory either right or wrong.
"Jay? Hunter? You got eyes?"
"Twenty-twenty," Hunter said.
Jay told them. "I got him."
"Great, well, don't shoot him yet."
Jay laughed. "Copy that."
"Stevie, are you okay?" she asked the boy sitting next to her.
He gave her a thumbs-up.
Ricky's dad allowed her use his son without question, and she realized they had an incredible bond, much like she and Gina had. That trust shone through. Stacey was a little harder to convince. Cedes had had to swear to her that Stevie would be not be near any danger. Cedes was one hundred percent sure that this little sting wouldn't be dangerous or she wouldn't involve high school students.
The guy in the truck sat facing the the lake, he had a lot on his mind if the two kids who walked up to his window and he still hadn't noticed them was any indication.
"Are you sure you want to do this, baby?"
"Of course," Gina said into her mic. "I have the best backup ever."
"Damn straight you do," Hunter said.
"Damn straight you do," Stevie repeated.
Gina knocked on the window, and Cedes realized the guy had been aware of the the kids after all. He rolled the glass down without turning his head, but he'd been watching them in his side mirror.
"Yeah?"
"We were told you had illegal drugs for sale."
Cedes almost lost it laughing. Her daughter definitely did not have a future as an undercover operative.
Ricky helped her out. "We want some mescaline. The good stuff, not anything cut with something. You got any?"
Cedes went from being amused to a little concerned. Ricky was a little bit too convincing in his role of drug buyer.
The man laughed at both of them. "You two have come to the wrong place. Who told you some shit like that?"
"My friend Big Red," he said.
"Well, your friend Big Red is lying to you." He motioned them closer. "Haven't you heard that drugs are bad? And you should just say no."
"Do you think we are the cops or something," Ricky said, not giving up. "We just want to try it."
"You know what you need to try?"
"What?" Gina asked.
"You need to try to getting the hell out of my sight, because if I see your skinny underaged asses trying to buy drugs again, I am going to tear you apart. Both of you at the same time."
Ricky not the least bit scared said something in Spanish. "Vete a la mierda, hombre, hijo de puta.
In a move that happened so fast even Cedes was shocked, the guy opened his door and had Ricky by the collar and thrown against the truck.
While Gina's hands shot to cover her mouth, Ricky signaled that he was okay, waving his hand by his side in negation, letting them know not to come in just yet.
The guy leaned in close.
Ricky stared him down, refusing to break eye contact.
"You know what they do to pretty boys like you in prison?"
"Stop!" Gina yelled, and Cedes' adrenaline skyrocketed.
"That's it," Cedes said. "This is over."
Gina literally turned around to her—or to her position, as it was doubtful the girl could see her mother past the shrubs—and scowled at her, lifting her hands and shrugging, every ounce of her demeanor screaming, "What the hell?"
She was acting? Seriously? Maybe she did have the chops for undercover police work. Not that she would wish that on her worst enemy.
Cedes canceled her orders and said, "Sorry, bug. Carry on."
She shrugged again and shook her head, then went back to her promising career as a soap star. Or a hardened criminal. Either way.
"Stop it! Let him go!" She ran up to the man and tried to pull him off her potential boyfriend—her descriptor—and Cedes cringed. All he'd have to do was swing his elbow back and she'd have a broken jaw.
Instead, he confirmed Cedes' suspicions. He let go of Ricky and wrapped an arm around Gina to restrain her, to try to calm her down.
"Stop, sweetheart. Lo siento mucho. I won't hurt him, I promise."
"That's what I needed," Cedes said. "Let's go."
Hunter turned on his siren and lights and stormed the beach, so to speak, as Jay, Cedes, and Stevie emerged from their hiding places.
The guy threw his hands up in anger and hit his palm against the truck. Not hard enough to do any damage, however. Then he saw the rifle that had been aimed at his head and paled.
Jay opened the bed of his truck, rested her secured rifle there, then rushed forward to handcuff him.
He didn't fight her, but he wasn't happy. "Man, this is some bullshit. I didn't even do anything."
"You assaulted a teen," Cedes said. "For starters."
He laid his head back as Jay got the cuffs around his wrists. "This is such bullshit."
"Yeah, you said that."
Stevie's face was one solid smile. "Yeah, you said that, dirt-bag."
"That's it," she said to him. "No more cop show reruns for you."
Back at the sheriff's department, Cedes sent the kids to Lima Bean for drinks in celebration of their successful sting.
"Can we come back?" Gina asked her. "You know, for the interview?"
Cedes nodded, then went in search of a wanted fugitive.
She stepped into the interview room and sat across from a very upset man. Opening the file she'd been studying, she said, "You have quite the record, Martinez."
He played with the chain that held him cuffed to the table, metal scraping against metal.
"You did well while you were inside. You got a bachelor's in criminal justice in under three years. I'm impressed."
Nothing. He refused to even look at her.
"Just one thing—you did it all using your name and inmate number. But to go to school, you have to use your social. And that social doesn't match your name or your inmate number."
When he finally met her gaze, his was cold and full of distrust. "Not every Latino sells drugs, you know."
"Really?" She called out the open door to her half-Latino BFF. "Clarington, do you sell drugs?"
"Every chance I get."
"What about you, Sonato?"
Dani giggled, then said, "Only on weekends. I don't want it interfering with my law enforcement gig."
Martinez nodded. "You're funny."
"Really? Like funny hmm or funny ha-ha? 'Cause I've been thinking about trying stand-up."
A knock on the door, and Gina peeked inside the interrogation room while Ricky parked himself against it, cradling a cup of coffee.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"Of course."
She walked in with two cups and sat one on the table. "We brought you a hot chocolate. I didn't know what you liked, but most people like hot chocolate, right?"
He spared her a quick glance, seemingly surprised she was talking to him, then returned to sulking.
Gina giggled, pushed the cup closer to the interviewee, and left the room.
Cedes' prisoner ignored the drink and kept his razor-sharp gaze averted, but she had a feeling he didn't miss much.
The grin she felt spread across her face as she leaned forward and whispered, "Try the hot chocolate."
He scalded her with a heated glare, but couldn't help himself. He looked at the cup. Gina had written his name on it in thick black marker.
His name.
Not his brother's.
David Martinez looked back at Mercedes, his poker face gone.
He'd have to work on that.
"What is this?"
"I know who you are."
"You have no idea who I am."
"Maybe, but I know who you're not, and you are not Ramon Martinez."
He held on to his scowling face for dear life, but she could see it starting to give.
"Because he was picked up a couple of days ago when he fell asleep in his getaway car after robbing that store just outside of Eureka which I'm fairly certain he did it on purpose."
His gaze dropped to the picture she slid across the table.
"The latest mug shot."
An involuntary parting of the lips told Cedes that his brother being arrested was about the last thing he'd expected to hear that day.
"It's nice to meet you, David."
From what she could uncover between her research—which she stayed up half the night doing—and Andy Collins's investigation, Roz Washington used to babysit them when he and his twin brother were growing up in McKinleyville. She'd lived next door. And she was about the only family they had after their parents died, but because she wasn't actually related and she didn't meet the criteria to become a foster parent, they went into the system and she never saw them again.
Until a few weeks ago.
David leaned on his elbows and pressed the palms of his hands to his eyes.
She leaned over and unlocked the cuffs.
He removed them and then covered his eyes again.
"I'm sorry about your brother."
Overcome with emotion, he only shook his head.
"I just have one question for you. How the hell did you do it?"
He cleared his throat and said, "Sorry for the act."
"The tough-guy act? I'm sure it came in handy in prison."
He raised a brow. "You could say that."
"But really, how the hell did you pull this off? Your fingerprints wouldn't match your brother's, and yet you went to prison for him? For three years? Why? Did he have something on you?"
"You said you just had one question."
"I'm sorry." Cedes had to admit, this was the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen during her entire career in law enforcement.
He showed her his hands. More to the point, his fingerprints. They were covered in scars. "I chew them. You know, to hide my prints. The COs used to laugh at me. They'd remind me I was already in prison. I was already convicted. No use in trying to hide my identity now."
"I'm beyond stunned that you were able to pull this off."
"They don't care, you know? It's not like they compare your fingerprints once they have you. You could be the king of England, as long as they have someone in that bed come lights-out."
"But how did you even end up in your brother's place?"
"He was out on bail. He skipped. I was mistaken for him and hauled in right before the trial."
"So, you let them believe you were your brother? That you'd committed armed robbery?"
"I owed him."
"You spent three years in prison for something you didn't do for your brother."
"What was I going to do? Snitch on him? I got caught. They thought I was him. I just let them."
"I am intrigued."
"Don't be."
"I hope your brother knows how lucky he is."
"He's not that lucky; he still has to go to prison."
"He did the crime David, so he has to do the time."
"How did you figure it out?" he asked her, seeming impressed himself.
"The footage from the transport van and the mug shot."
"What about them?"
She slid some screenshots to him. "You guys did a good job keeping your tats identical, but you must've gotten a new one in prison." She pointed behind her ear, indicating the cross he had that ran from behind his down the side of this neck.
"You caught that?"
"Well, that and you've clearly eaten better than he has. He's skinny compared to you."
He looked at the mug shot again. "He doesn't look well."
"Maybe prison will do him good? Get him clean?"
"Prison doesn't do anyone any good." He took a drink of the hot chocolate. "Your kid is pretty awesome."
"Yes, she is."
"So, is that why you dragged me in here?"
"No. Would you like to see your brother? I can arrange it under one condition."
"What?"
"I have a job opening. I need a new deputy."
He looked at her like she had lost her mind. Why were people always doing that?
She began to list his qualifications: "You have the instincts. You clearly have the guts. You have a bachelor's in criminal justice. You're like the poster child for entry-level law enforcement."
"Right, only you forgot a couple of things. I'm a convicted felon. And I just spent three years in prison."
"No. Your brother is a convicted felon. You haven't spent a single day inside. You've never even been arrested. I checked."
He took another drink of the hot chocolate and shook his head. "Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'm not your guy."
"The most important qualification is that you risked your life to save that little girl's life."
His surprise shone through. "That wasn't—I didn't mean—that wasn't what it looked like."
"You didn't jump off a cliff onto a frozen lake to save a little girl's life?"
"Yeah, but it's not like I gave it a lot of thought. It just happened."
She held out her hand. "Welcome to the Lima County Sheriff's Department, Deputy Martinez. I'm your boss Sheriff Mercedes Porter."
He offered her the barest hint of an astonished smile and shook her hand. "I don't believe this."
"I know. Aren't they soft? I use the best lotion money can buy. A girl can't be caught being ashy these days."
He laughed as though unable to wrap his head around the events of the day.
Hunter entered the room at that moment. "I know what you're thinking," he said to Martinez. "That you're the only identical twin on the force. Nope. You are the second. Me and Jay are the first. It'll be hard to tell us apart, but you'll soon be able to." He left as soon as he got that off of his chest.
"Hey, isn't Jay the one with the rifle?"
"Yes."
"So, they're not really—"
"No, they don't even share a birthday or birth year. He is five years older than her."
"Will I have to wear a uniform?"
"Most definitely."
The service that was happening now was one that was sombre and bleak. Everybody there was dressed in black. And a mother and her two small children were in tears.
Cedes nodded to her dispatch.
Dani pressed the button on the mic. "Dispatch to two-seven-two."
The room went completely silent. Moments passed as people waited with a solemn respect.
Dani tried again. "Dispatch to unit two-seven-two."
The woman in black buried her face in Hunter's arms and cried even harder if that was possible. He picked up her youngest child, then hugged her to him, fighting back tears himself.
Dani's fingers curled around the mic, her knuckles white. "Final call for unit two-seven-two, Undersheriff Bifford Chance McIntosh." She didn't wait as long this time. Her emotions barely contained, her voice cracked when she came on one last time. "Two-seven-two is ten-seven. Badge number eighteen-eleven is at end of his watch. Rest in peace, Undersheriff. You will be missed."
The deputies gathered around Mrs. McIntosh to offer her their condolences. Cedes took Gina's other hand, the hand Ricky was not currently holding.
Jay walked up just as Gina and Ricky stole away to a corner, to check their phones.
"Mrs. Dalloway brought us donuts," Jay said, gesturing toward the lobby.
Cedes looked over at the giant basket of the cursed sweets, wondering what could possibly be next.
"According to the donut count, the world is going to end sometime in the next week."
"Just great," Cedes said.
Jay gave her a quick hug before heading toward the widow.
A woman spoke beside her. "This was quite beautiful."
Cedes turned to see Mayor Berry standing next to her. "Mayor Berry. Thanks for coming."
"Of course. Have you thought any more about my offer?"
"Offer?" she asked, confused. "Oh, you mean ultimatum? Find out who the mythical Dangerous Damsels are or else you'll expose my sordid past?" I think some high school kids have already done that."
"Oh, I am sure there's so much more. Something you don't want getting out. I just hope you find the Damsels. You know, for Gina's sake."
"Did you just threaten my daughter?"
"Why would I do that?" she asked, then turned to walk away.
She went to stop the woman and let her know that she had crossed a line by mentioning her daughter, when a shadow slid over her. She looked up and into Sam Menkins' handsome face.
"You are pretty brave, Menkins showing up here since we never finished processing your arrest."
"McIntosh was a friend."
He was clean-shaven, possibly for the first time in years and she couldn't stop staring at him. "I'm sorry for your loss," she continued. "You left in a hurry the other night."
"I had places to be and people to see. Are you going to charge me for Uncle Sandy's murder or not?"
"We're still investigating."
"Well, let me know."
"You'll be the first." Her focus kept wandering to the hand wrapped around a coffee cup from Lima Bean, his long fingers. Before he could leave, she said, "I didn't get a chance to thank you. For the other night. You went above and beyond, and I'm not sure how to repay you."
He turned her face to get a better look at the thin line across her neck. His touch sent a shock wave of electricity shooting through her.
His green eyes glistened as he studied the wound. "I was almost too late."
"Almost is okay. I'm good with almost. I saw your truck parked at Burt's this morning." Burt was an amazing mechanic. "I hope everything is okay."
"Routine inspection."
"I would offer you a ride home, but I don't think you'd want your family seeing me drop you off."
The look he gave her sent a warmth spiraling through her entire body until it pooled deep in her belly. He leaned closer and asked, "What have I ever done that would make you believe I give a single, solitary hell what the Menkins family thinks, Em?"
Gina's voice wafted toward them, breaking the spell he'd temporarily placed her under. "Hi, Sam."
He tore his gaze away and offered her daughter his complete attention. "Hey, Gee."
"You clean up very well," she said, and Cedes almost snorted.
He smiled at her and pulled her into a hug. "So do you, kid, so do you."
Gina glowed as she smiled at him, and Cedes saw something there. Something pure and unconditional. Her daughter loved him. Possibly as much as Cedes did, though in a very different and appropriate way.
Jay walked up then and gestured a greeting to Gina with a nod before giving Cedes her attention. "Sheriff, can we talk in your office?"
Cedes turned to Gina. "I'll be back in a little bit."
Her daughter sighed. "The demands of being a sheriff."
Sam grinned at Gina, the affection in his eyes genuine, and Cedes could hardly believe he'd been a part of her life for years. He was obviously a positive part of her daughter's life that she had to accept.
She gave Sam a quick nod, then led Jay and Hunter into her office. After closing the door behind them, she sat at her desk.
Jay didn't sit down. She handed Cedes a report. "It seems a kid was injured years ago. He went into the urgent care center and was treated for stab wounds."
"Okay," she said, scanning the document.
"The guy's blood was AB negative. Same as the blood on Sander Menkins' clothes."
Cedes' eyes shot to her face, then back to the report. "Who was it?"
"That's just it. They don't know." She pointed to the chart that showed where the stab wounds were. Three lacerations clustered just underneath his left rib cage. "The kid gave the urgent care a false name. They had no choice but to take him into surgery immediately. Then the minute he woke up from surgery, he ran away."
"Security footage?" Cedes asked.
Jay shook her head. "Not back then."
Small towns. And Lima Springs was smaller than most. "How did you get this chart?"
"Well, see, this is where things get a little interesting."
Hunter sat across from Cedes and whistled. "Do, tell, sis?"
She reluctantly admitted, "I may know a guy."
"Like, carnally?" he asked.
"Hunter," Cedes said, her tone exasperated, "I am going to rip out your throat."
"Right. My bad."
The woman was clearly having a difficult time coming to terms with what she'd done. Hunter was not helping the situation. "Go ahead, Jay."
"So, yeah, I kind of asked him to look up people in the area with AB negative blood. Without a warrant."
"Thinking outside the box. And?"
"There are only three, barring Gina, and two of them could never have fought with a man the size of Sandy Menkins and lived to see another day."
"Why?"
"He couldn't give me their names, of course, but I told him the circumstances, and he said one was a ninety-year-old female who'd had two hip replacements and the other would have been no more than six at the time of Sandy Menkins' death."
"Oh yeah. That does narrow it down. So, we're left with this kid?"
"Yes. Look at the date," Jay said softly.
She looked at the admittance date which was the same day, over fifteen years ago, that an unidentified male dropped Cedes off at an emergency room in Eureka.
Hunter rounded the desk and stood reading over her shoulder. "The question we need to be asking ourselves is, was this kid a part of the kidnapping scheme or not?"
"Exactly," Jay agreed. "Did he endanger your life, Sheriff, or save it?"
That night, Mercedes Porter made sure her daughter was fast asleep before going to the closet in her master bedroom. She pushed her clothes aside to reveal the corkboard she'd been using for the last couple of years. Ever since she'd decided to find the man who'd assaulted her and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, she'd used the board more as motivation than anything else.
Her suspects were displayed in a random order, because she couldn't connect any one of them to the crime. Yet each of them either had motive or opportunity, and until now, that was all she'd had to go on.
Pinned to the top of the board was a generic silhouette representing the unknown assailant. The one who'd abducted her. The one who'd assaulted her. The one she would hunt down if it was the last thing she ever did on this earth.
With fingers trembling, she took down the silhouette and pinned a picture of her number-one suspect. Only one question remained: Was Samuel Evan Menkins her assailant, her savior, or a little of both?