Page 47 of Homicide in Water Creek

Grasping her hand, he squeezed it. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she said with a wink.

When King turned back to the men, both had raised their brows. “You might as well get used to it. I love her.”

Jackson snorted and eyed Keene for a moment. “Son, I’ve known that since the day we moved onto this property and you showed up to welcome us. You damn well better take care of her better than I have.”

Keene reached out and took Jackson’s hand. “You did the best you could, Jack.”

King pointed at him. “He’s right. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Look at her. She’s absolutely her own woman. That’s because of you.”

“That’s not true. Things have happened to her that were my fault. I’ve sent her out to do things no woman should have to do, and she’s paid for it. Every time she’s done it since has been to prove she wasn’t afraid. I don’t know where she gets the strength. Here it is, Thursday night again, and you know where she’s going.”

“I do, but she’s not going tonight. You two are.”

“What?” Jackson asked, leaning forward. “We can’t show up there. They’ll know we’re checking up on them.”

“That’s what we want. Chinos needs to know you’re there, not here.”

Keene’s mouth opened on a breath. “Why?”

“We want to see if Chinos leaves the bar and heads back here.”

“Won’t he just think Jackie is here?” Jackson asked.

“Not once he hears you say we’re at the station all night, which is where my truck and Little Suzie will be parked. We’ll double back here, so if Chinos leaves the bar, you’ll text me immediately.”

“It’s fair to say we’re confused,” Keene said, glancing at Jackson, who nodded. “You'd better start at the beginning, Sheriff.”

King smiled. “Well, you see, I heard about your little stunt today at the office,” he said as Jacks walked into the room.

“Yes, I told him,” Jacks said, sitting beside him. “I don’t like you playing games with this guy. He’s dangerous.”

“And if he’s not, it’s likely the guy he’s working for is,” King added.

“Do you know who that is?” Jackson asked.

King kept his face expressionless as he lied straight to their faces. He wasn’t telling them yet who he suspected was paying Chinos’s salary. He needed proof that Parenti was behind this before these two went off half-cocked and did something that would blow everything. “Not yet. He’s good at covering his tracks, but I’m better at uncovering them. Now that Vonita is mostly off my desk, I can figure out who he is and who he’s working for. The state lab is running his prints as we speak, so if we’re lucky, I’ll have his identity by morning.”

“How are you going to get prints when he doesn’t have any fingertips?” Keene astutely asked. “Wouldn’t they be gone?”

King sighed but nodded. “Yes, but he has thumbs, so we have to hope we get a clear print from one of them. I’m also running his face through facial recognition.”

“We can handle him,” Keene said, his chest puffed out.

King held up his hand. “I don’t doubt it, but I actually need him alive if I want to get answers.”

Jackson snorted and rolled his eyes so hard that King swore it must have hurt. “He’s all talk. He’s not going to shoot anyone.”

“I truly hope not. It would suck to have to arrest my own granddaddy.”

Jacks rested her head on his arm. “I don’t want you shooting anyone either,” she said, pointing at Jackson.

He put his hands up, but noticed his gaze travel to the shotgun in the corner. “Don’t worry, it’s just birdshot.”

It was King’s turn to roll his eyes. “Listen, your job is to be in that bar and pay attention at all times. The restrooms are by the back door. If you think he’s just using the facilities, make sure he isn’t working his way back here.”

“What do you think he’s going to do?” Jackson asked, his tone curious.