Page 121 of Cougar Point

“It’s not a perfect cover but it’s good enough to buy me some time. You’ll be dead and no one will be the wiser. You two could have taken the money and disappeared, never to be heard from again. And youwillnever be heard from again.”

“Okay, Lucas. You win. But I have one question that’s bugging the crap out of me.”

Now he rolls a finger in the air. “Time’s a wastin’.”

“How did your daughter die? For real.”

He opens his mouth to tell me to shut up and then something changes his mind. He gives us a shrug and awhat the hellexpression.

“Joyce, my wife, was cheating on me with another cop. I thought it was Larry. Those two were thick as thieves. He dated her first but I married her. I caught her coming in before daylight and she smelled like she’d just taken a shower. Our eight-year-old daughter was in the house all night by herself while my slut wife was out screwing someone. I killed her. I was angry. More than angry. I watched the life go out of her eyes when I knelt on her throat. Then I took my backup gun from the lockbox, put the gun in her hand and shot her. Maisy saw me do it. She was hysterical and tried to run to a neighbor’s but I stopped her.”

His lip quivers but he straightens his shoulders and shakes it off. “It felt good to tell someone. Especially since you’ll never have a chance to repeat it.”

Ronnie says, “Move in, Sheriff.”

Lucas grins at her. “Nice bluff. You sound almost convincing, for a woman with a gun to her head.”

“She’s not bluffing, Lucas,” Sheriff Longbow says from beside the cabin. He’s holding a rifle pointed at Lucas.

The color drains from Lucas’s face as he realizes we set him up before he set us up. He lowers his gun from Ronnie’s head and takes a step away from her. She bends and picks up her own gun from the ground.

It had been Ronnie’s idea. She called Sitzman and Longbow and gave him the coordinates, telling them to show up quietly, there might be something they’d be interested in hearing. I was starting to worry they were never going to appear.

“You won’t shoot an old friend, will you?” Lucas says, pleading with Longbow.

“I will.” Lieutenant Sitzman has come around the other side of the cabin with a shotgun pointed at Lucas’s chest. “Drop the gun and put your hands on your head. You’re under arrest for…for all kinds of shit.”

Sheriff Longbow looks at Sitzman and rubs a hand down his face. “You’re under arrest, Lucas. We’ll read you the charges when we get to lockup. Put the gun down, my friend.”

“I can’t, Sheriff. Remember the times we fished out here? Those were good days. Before your Lisa died and my family died. We saw a lot of each other. We still can. These two don’t matter to anyone. Don’t you see? I have ten million dollars. We can retired on that.” He turns his face to Sitzman. “You too. I’ll cut you in. This job will kill you, son. You should be shooting these meddling bitches.”

Longbow and Sitzman don’t answer, and Lucas’s shoulders drop. The gun lowers a few inches.

Sheriff Longbow says, “It’s over, Lucas. Put the gun down and I’ll try to get you some help. You’ve been through a lot. Don’t do something stupid.”

“I can’t go to jail. You know that,” Lucas says to the sheriff in a way that means some bad shit is about to happen. I train my weapon on him and see Ronnie is doing likewise. He’s not walking away from this.

Sitzman is leaning forward in a shooter’s stance and looks like he means business. Longbow’s features are set and hardened. He’s facing what every lawman fears and that’s taking the life of one of our own. If he can’t do it, I will.

Lucas hangs his head and his arm lowers, but before Sitzman can move in to disarm him, Lucas opens his mouth wide, the gun comes up, and he fires.

EPILOGUE

Vincenzo Anastagio Lombardi’s funeral was a quiet affair, with the only outsiders being Sheriff Longbow, Lieutenant Sitzman, and Annie and Hattie from the Word of the Lamb Shelter. And of course, me, but I’m like family now. Even Jack says so. Asshole. But maybe I’m being too hard on him. Ronnie told me Jack is buying a new van and making a generous donation to the mission in Vinnie’s name.

Victoria spent eight days in the hospital and needed more time. Rebecca had packed her hand in ice, but when Crime Scene took it they hadn’t kept it cold enough. There was no chance it could be reattached. There are all kinds of new medical gadgets that will help her recover the use of a new hand. She only let the hospital keep her so long because of her broken ribs and nose that would need a minor surgery to repair. I know that unless she’s tougher than I am, she’ll carry the scars the rest of her life. Even with all the trauma and drama, she’s come home as hardheaded as her husband. I think his controlling days are over.

Ronnie had stayed but I had returned to Jefferson County until the funeral.

The hardest part was over. The burial and service was hard on the family, and especially on Hattie who had not quite secretly been in love with Vinnie. Jack had sprung for several new outfits so she would have something nice for the service. She had surprised us all when she grabbed Jack’s face outside of the church and planted a wet kiss on his lips. He took it calmly but during the graveside service I saw him wiping his lips with a kerchief and wrinkling his nose.

The family all stood with heads bent while the minister did his bit at the head of the grave when Sheriff Longbow put a meaty hand on my shoulder and led me away under the cottonwoods.

“I owe Tony one for recommending you and Ronnie as deputies. And I owe you and Ronnie one too. You have friends here now if you need anything.”

We stand quietly, easy with each other’s company, until he says, “That damn fool couldn’t do that one thing right. Goddamn Lucas.”

I understand what he means. Victoria lost a hand, but Lucas lost part of his face. He was a terrible shot and only managed to blow part of his upper jaw and cheek off and a piece sheared off going through his brain and lodging against the top of his skull. The gunshot wound to his side was determined to be self-inflicted. His wounds wouldn’t keep him from going to prison. But that will be a long time. He has to heal enough to be seen by a psychiatrist who will then certify he’s sane enough to stand trial, or should be kept in a box. After that there will be a trial and Ronnie and I will have to testify. I hope I don’t snicker when I describe Lucas’s injury. It’s bad form in front of a jury.

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