Justice Inked (Cowboy Justice Association 7) Read Online Free PDF Page B

talking to someone in a low voice.
    “Caffeine.”
    Dare leaned down closer to Rayne, not sure he heard her correctly. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
    Rayne stood resolutely, her lips a mutinous line. “I said we’re going to need some caffeine. Lots of it. This will probably take most of the night and I’m hardly dressed for it. I think I have a change of clothes in the closet by the restroom.”
    “I’ll make a coffee run,” Jared offered as he hung up the phone. “Royce is on his way and everything is set for Lizzie. She’ll be fine. Now what does everyone want?”
    The sound of shuffling feet and the clearing of a throat pulled Dare’s attention from Rayne.
    “Uh…Sheriff.” Deputy Billy stood uncertainly in the doorway between the front and back rooms. “I have a situation here.”
    “What is it?” Dare had sent Billy outside to check the perimeter. The thief might have dropped a piece of evidence as they made their getaway. This strip of shops backed up to a wooded area that went all the way to the main road. A nice, easy drive away from Valley Station.
    Billy’s eyes were wide and he was fidgeting on his feet. “I kind of found something.”
    “Then kind of bag the evidence.”
    The deputy didn’t move from his place in the doorway.
    “Do you have a problem with that?”
    Billy had been a deputy when Dare had been hired and he was a good kid but a tad green. Little things tended to shake him up that wouldn’t faze a more seasoned officer.
    “It’s just…” Billy trailed off, staring at the floor before trying again, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “It’s just that I can’t bag it up. I don’t think I should touch it, Sheriff.”
    Dare didn’t need this shit. It was okay to feel empathy for a victim, but Billy was taking it too far. Rayne hadn’t been attacked or anything. She’d been robbed of material things. They could be replaced.
    “Fine. Then tell me what and where it is and I’ll do it.”
    Billy pointed over his shoulder. “Outside just about twenty feet inside the woods. It’s–it’s a body, Sheriff. He’s dead. Or at least I think he is. I called for an ambulance.”
    Rayne gasped and fell back down into the chair and Misty’s hand had flown to her mouth in shock. Dare exchanged a glance with Jared, who had immediately put himself between the women and the door.
    Suddenly things looked a whole hell of a lot different than they had a few minutes ago.

Chapter Five

    R ayne’s earlier numbness was beginning to wear off, and now she was fighting an overwhelming wave of emotion that was part rage, part horror, and a big dose of helplessness. The events of the evening had quickly spiraled out of control, and she was being forced to stay in her shop while Dare and his deputies made sure there wasn’t a killer roaming around outside waiting to pounce on her or any other citizen of Valley Station.
    There was a dead man outside her shop. She could only hope that he didn’t have anything to do with her robbery but it was probably a long shot. It seemed too much of a coincidence.
    “They’ve finished dusting for prints. We can start cleaning up this mess.” Jared placed his hand on her shoulder and she reached up to pat it, grateful for the support he and Misty had shown this evening. “Do you want to do the front room first?”
    She wanted to curl up in the fetal position and cry until morning. She was tired of the universe kicking her ass whenever things were getting too good. She’d been happy, and apparently that simply wasn’t acceptable.
    Of course, things were going better for her than the guy lying in the woods. His day really sucked.
    “Yes,” Rayne sighed, standing and starting to sift through a pile of rubble. She’d already changed into an old pair of jeans and t-shirt that she’d left at the shop for those just in case moments. She hadn’t thought she’d be using them to clean up a robbery. And murder. “I need to see how much of this