Not even a little bit. Especially after it was clear that Clint wanted more than his freedom—he wanted the truth and that was the one thing he could not have.
Ray stared past the buildup of new dust and old pollen on the cabin window, some part of him appreciating the gorgeous view he’d taken for granted so many times. There wasn’t a better view to be found than from this cabin resting on the shoulders of the Cumberland Mountains, overlooking the verdant valley and the small, farming town of Pine Bluff. He and his family should take the time to enjoy it more often.
If he and Sarah got past this standoff.
His wife thought he was getting too involved in Clint’s problems. She didn’t understand. There were things she didn’t know. If Ray had his way, she would never know.
“Well, isn’t this just like old times?”
Ray wheeled around to faceher, fury instantly clenching in his gut.
“I’ve questioned Troy.” He went straight to the point, ignored her stupid question. “He denies having anything to do with the fire.”
She flicked him her usual why-would-I-give-a-shit glance. “And you would be telling me this for what reason?”
The move was so fast ... so unexpected that it startled even him. He was in her face, glaring down at her feigned look of wide-eyed innocence. “Don’t even fucking act like you don’t know why.”
“Are you threatening me,chief?”
He wanted to kill her. The realization hit him so hard and furiously that he shook with the impact of it. It was the first time he’d allowed the thought to fully form in his brain. The devil himself couldn’t possibly be more evil than this woman. She should have been the one to get murdered instead of Keith.
“Yes,” Ray said frankly, with all the menace he had harbored for more than a decade. “I am threatening you.”
She smiled, a purr of pure satisfaction passing over those vile red lips. “That’s what I thought.”
She had the nerve to flatten her palms against his chest and glide them up to his shoulders. He stiffened with revulsion. “You know how excited I get when you act rough with me.”
Narrowly suppressing the impulse to turn thought into action, he encircled her wrists and wrenched her hands away.
“You were my first mistake, my biggest mistake,” he said bluntly. “I should have recognized you for what you were before someone died.”
Her smile was patient, so sweet it made him want to vomit up the acid churning in his gut. “I’m certain you don’t mean that, Ray. I remember how you loved to have me and one of your buddies ...” Her smile turned poisonous. “... at the same time.”
She inclined her perfectly coiffed head, totally unaware that he barely,barelyheld on to a semblance of calm. Or maybe she did know and that was part of the thrill for her. The urge to end this now was almost overwhelming.
“Tell me, Ray, was it more fun to have me on my knees in front of you or did you prefer one of your buddies like Caruthers? I’m sure there are people who would love to see that. We can call itCops Out of Uniform.”
His fingers were around her throat, squeezing, before he could stop the instinct. “That was your doing,” he growled, his voice echoing in the room like a wild animal’s.
She didn’t fight him, just relaxed in his hold as if she welcomed his brutality.
Whore. . . she probably did.
He released her. She swayed ... caught her breath.
“Do you know what happened to Keith?” The words raged out of Ray. The reality of what he had allowed to go on ... to happen ... ripped like a bullet through his heart.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Of course I don’t know what happened to him! Don’t you have any evidence? Any suspects? Good God, Ray, what’re you doing about this?”
Lies. Shift the focus to someone else. He didn’t know why he even bothered to question her. “Are you responsible for what happened at Clint Austin’s home?”
Every single muscle in Ray’s body was rigid with the wrath he’d suppressed for far too long. That she could still, despite the circumstances, arouse him made him want to tear that traitorous organ from his body.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She sniffed. “Your accusations are becoming tedious, Ray.”
His mouth twisted so tautly for one instant that speech proved impossible. Finally the words spewed from him. “You fooled me once. It won’t happen again.”
She rested her hands on her silk-clad hips. “You act as if I’m one of your suspects. I won’t put up with that again.”
