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rationally in this situation, no matter that Troy's blatant disrespect made Ray want to kick him square in the ass.

    "Yes, I did," Ray confirmed. "Clint Austin has served his time. He's a free man and he has every right to return to his home if he wishes. I represent all the citizens of this town, Troy, not just a chosen few. I intend to see that Austin is
    treated fairly and that he doesn't do anything to violate his parole. You'd be doing the whole town a favor if you settled down and tried to act like the Christian son I know your mama and daddy raised."

    The words did not have the desired effect. "You go right ahead and do your duty," Troy threatened, "but don't think for a second I'll ignore mine. She was my sister, damn you, and I won't let her killer roam the streets a free man without trying to make his life the living hell it should be. That's my duty."

    The challenge was on the table, but Ray wasn't going there with all Troy's buddies chomping at the bit for a fight.

    "This public spectacle was not only uncalled for; it was conducted without a permit." Ray made eye contact with each man in turn. "You'd all be well advised to remember that Austin has rights the same as you. We may not always agree with the law, but we all have an innate responsibility to abide by that law. I don't want to hear of any of you letting emotion cause you to cross that line."

    "That line," Troy butted in with a dramatic slam of his fist against Ray's desk, "has already been crossed."

    Troy Baker did an about-face and exited with the same arrogant fury with which he'd entered. His supporters filed out right behind him.

    "Damn, Ray," Mike said with a shake of his head. "They aren't going to make this easy. I don't think there's a man in the department who would want to be in your shoes right now."

    Ray doubted there was a soul on earth who'd willingly take his place just now. But the truly disturbing part was that this was only the beginning. "We'll just have to do what we have to do." Certainly none of the players, Clint and Troy in particular, seemed inclined to play nice. That left the full burden of acting as mediator and keeping down the risk of unnecessary trouble squarely on Ray's back.

    Mike hitched a thumb toward the door. "I'll make sure they go on home."

    Ray nodded. "Don't forget to drive by the Austin place."

    "Will do," his deputy and friend called on his way out.

    Technically the Austin place was just outside Pine Bluff city limits and fell under the county's jurisdiction. But Ray had briefed the sheriff on the situation and they had worked out an agreement on how any trouble would be handled. Ray and his deputies would take care of whatever came up unless they needed backup, and then the sheriff's department would step in. This was the city of Pine Bluff's mess, and Ray wanted to handle it personally. He knew these folks; they knew him. The last thing he wanted was for someone who wasn't familiar with the situation to make a rash decision.

    If Troy had a lick of sense he would stay away from Clint. The man Ray brought home today gave the subtle but undeniable impression of danger. Clint Austin had paid his debt to society in one of the harshest prisons in the country. No one walked away without scars. Some thought the killers and rapists behind those bars deserved no better. Ray didn't exactly disagree. Unless they were ...

    He stopped himself. Why the hell was he going down that road? There was no changing the past, no righting old wrongs or chances for doing over stupid mistakes. There was only here and now and the choices to be made from this moment forward. Everything else was pretty much a waste of time. That was the point he needed to get across to everyone, including Clint.

    As hard as life in prison had been, what Clint was about to face might be worse. Running interference on his behalf was imperative. Ray owed him that.

    Truth was, Ray owed him a hell of a lot more. But the truth was something that