Page 28 of Lord of Punishment

See? I’d almost spoken my real name out loud for the first time in as long as I could remember. One slip, one mistake could cost me everything. How was I simply going to walk in casually and ask questions? Wouldn’t they question why I’d taken my time to come to the sheriff’s office?

Well, I was here. I’d think of something.

I climbed out, holding my breath. This was the right thing to do. If I could help Sabatino figure out who he was, then I’d have done something useful. Who was I kidding? I was trying to figure out if the man was as dangerous as I suspected.

As I headed toward the door, I continued to give myself a pep talk that I was doing the right thing. Once inside, I rubbed my hands on my jeans, more anxious than before. I wasn’t able to pretend by keeping a plastic smile on my face.

I had to wait for a few seconds before a deputy noticed my arrival.

“Can I help you, miss?”

“Is Justin here?”

“I’m sorry. He’s out on patrol. Can I do something for you?”

“Maybe. I’m curious about some recent activity I heard happened on the lake.”

The female deputy eyed me carefully. “In what regards?”

“I heard some gunshots and that disturbed me greatly, especially since my son saw something odd on the water.” Great. Now I was lying to a member of law enforcement.

She seemed more interested than before. “What exactly did your son see?”

“He said something about a boat coming close to the shore, a man with a gun. I also heard from a friend of mine, and you know how people talk around here, that a boat with bodies was found somewhere in the middle of the lake.”

Almost immediately she started typing in her computer. “What’s your son’s name?”

Shit. The rumor was correct.

I laughed, trying to make light of it. “He’s only three and a half. For all I know he could have been seeing little green men in the water. If I hadn’t heard the shots, I wouldn’t be so concerned. He was scared, didn’t sleep well last night, so I thought I’d do my motherly duties and ensure that there was nothing for him to be frightened of.”

Her demeanor shifted, a slight smile creeping up on her face. “I have a four-year-old and he’s constantly seeing things in the water, so I understand. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you much as we’re investigating a possible incident on the water. Yes, there was an abandoned boat and we’re trying to locate the owners.”

“Please don’t tell me someone was killed.”

The slight twitch on the corner of her mouth was a powerful statement. “Again given the ongoing investigation, I can’t provide any details. I’ll just say you and your son aren’t in any danger.”

“Oh, a gang-related thing.” The early fall before, there had been a gang of kids who’d broken into houses that had been closed up for the winter season so it wasn’t a far stretch.

“Possibly.”

“Kids will be kids.”

Another twitch meant the events that had occurred had nothing to do with teenagers.

“I understand your concern, but I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Just let your son know that we’re here to protect you both from any and every criminal element. Okay?”

I offered the fake smile I didn’t think I had in me, nodding twice. “I appreciate all you do in keeping our community safe.” After she acknowledged my statement, I couldn’t get out of the building fast enough.

Something terrible had occurred on the lake including deaths.

And Sabatino or whatever his name was had been embroiled in the horror.

Or he’d caused it.

CHAPTER 10

“The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose.”—James A. Baldwin

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