Page 78 of The Breakdown

Allen stalked toward the door.

“Where are you going, Mr. Beaufort?”

“I’m seeing you out.” He yanked open the door and waited. The detectives slowly stood and walked toward him. Marks handed him the warrant.

“We’ll start here, at the office, while another team searches your home.”

“Where am I supposed to go?”

“I’m sure you’ll find someplace, Mr. Beaufort. A man of your means.”

Allen fished his car keys out of his pants pocket and walked out of the office. He didn’t bother to stop when his secretary asked him what was going on. He just kept walking, making his way to the elevator, wondering what in the hell he was going to do next.

Chapter Thirty-four

“You had better do something, Theo,” June said as she rose from the table to walk him to the kitchen door. “Because this time around someone got hurt and could’ve been killed.”

Theo opened the door and placed his hat on his head. He motioned at the other officer who stood out by the cruiser that it was time to go.

“I always do my best, Mrs. Ruger. You know that.”

“I don’t know that, Theo. Not anymore.”

He pressed his lips together in a frown. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

“Well, go and change my mind then. Punish these boys for what they done.”

“They’ll be punished, Mrs. Ruger.”

“Right. You’ve just got to find them first.” She shooed him out and closed the door behind him. The police had been there for a good hour or so, filling out a report and going out with Vaughn to inspect the tire contraption and to look at Marv’s truck and trailer. EMS came for Marv, though he protested, and took him to the hospital to check his head. The whole afternoon into evening had been shot and she had to quickly rustle up something for supper.

She opened the fridge and grabbed a container of pork chops, glad she’d thought to thaw them. She retrieved the barbecue sauce and brought it all to the counter. She was washing her hands in the sink as she spoke to Vaughn, who was sitting behind her at the kitchen table with her head in her hands.

“I don’t know why those boys are targeting us so badly,” June said, checking the oven. She’d already set it to preheat. “You’d think with the law looking for them that they’d be hiding, not still coming around here making trouble.”

“They’re not the brightest bulbs in the bunch, Gram. And Ricky, he’s vengeful. I gathered that much just from hearing things about him around town. And I reckon they’ve got it in for me because of my threats and because now the law is after them. Since I’m the one that set that in motion.”

“Well, they’d be smart to steer clear of here.”

“They would be. But like I said, they aren’t exactly smart.”

June sighed, wishing Ricky and Pedro would grow a brain, but realizing that would probably never happen. Not in this lifetime anyway. “You should go shower. It’ll make you feel better,” she said to Vaughn.

“I’m not sure anything will make me feel better right now, Gram.”

June looked out the window. “Well, how about Natalie? Will she make you feel better? Because she’s coming.”

June turned from the sink to dry her hands as Natalie lightly knocked and stepped inside.

“Hey,” she said, looking from June to Vaughn. “Saw the cops leave. Just wanted to make sure all is well.”

“It’s the best it can be, I suppose,” June said stripping open the package of pork chops.

Natalie slowly approached Vaughn and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Anything I can do? I already fed and watered Midnight and Em took care of Miracle.”

“Thank you,” Vaughn said, dropping her hands. She gave Natalie a tired-looking smile.

“No problem.” She looked to June. “Want some help with dinner?”

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