Page 18 of Peril in Piney Woods

Renewed fury twisted his face. “You think that makes me feel any better? You.” He took a step toward her. “Killed.” Another step disappeared between them. “My.” One more step closer. “Son.”

She held his gaze, gave a single nod. “I did. And I guess I’m going to have to kill you too.”

While the shock of her daring words startled him, she sack-tapped him with enough force to send him doubling over. The howl of pain that erupted from his mouth echoed through the lobby. She grabbed the vintage cash register—the one thing that remained on the counter—and crashed it against the back of his head. The register hit the floor, and using all of her weight, she shoved the addled man backward.

Skinny Guy jumped astraddle of his downed friend—maybe to protect him, maybe because he was just reckless like that—and waved his weapon. Aiming sideways again. “You are dead, bitch.”

Apparently regaining his bearing, Big Guy suddenly lurched upward.

Meg dove for the floor.

Skinny Guy flew forward, and his weapon discharged.

Meg scrambled around to the front of the counter. She grabbed the abandoned bat and shot to her feet just as Big Guy turned toward her. She swung the bat at his head with all her might.

The impact of the hard wood against his skull vibrated up her arms.

He stared at her a moment, his nose gushing blood, his eyes unfocused, then he dropped onto his back. The floor shook with the impact.

A scream rent the air and Skinny Guy threw himself at her.

They tumbled to the floor.

Where was his weapon? Her frantic gaze zoomed from his right hand to his left.

No weapon.

She rolled. Got on top of him.

His hands went to her throat and squeezed.

She punched him in the throat.

His hands dropped immediately to his neck as he gagged and fought for breath.

Rubbing her hand, Meg got up and backed away from the guy now curled into the fetal position.

The sound of sirens in the distance had her breathing a sigh of relief. She went to where the nine millimeter laid on the floor. She picked it up and removed the magazine. Once she confirmed the chamber was clear, she placed the weapon on the counter. One by one, she removed the rounds from the magazine and tossed them over the counter. When she was done, she hurried back to the kennels to ensure Raymond and Pepper were okay. Both stared up at her with worried eyes.

“Good dogs,” she murmured, reassuring them before rushing back to the lobby.

The sheriff’s department SUV squealed to a rocking stop outside her shop. Two deputies, including Ernie Battles, barreled through the door, weapons drawn. Both surveyed the damage and the wounded.

Battles turned to Meg. “You okay?”

She nodded. Shook her right hand. “I’m good.”

The Big Guy roused and scrambled to his hands and knees. Then he puked.

Battles nudged the man with his weapon. “Mr. Jones, you are under arrest...”

The rest of what the deputy said was lost on Meg. Her attention had zeroed in on the reporter with her face pressed to the glass. Worse, her cameraman stood in the open entrance, filming the whole thing.

Holy...

“Back off,” the other deputy warned as he moved toward the doorway. “This is a crime scene. I need you back on the street.”

The reporter shouted Meg’s name.

---