Page 55 of Trouble Comes in Threes

“I know Joe would want to protect him, but there’s not much in the budget for him to do more than have a deputy do drive-bys of his house.”

“And he says he doesn’t have a home,” Neely Kate added.

“I know. Not to mention, if we bring Joe in without Austin’s permission, there’s a chance Austin’ll clam up.” I ran a hand over my head again. “I really want to call Joe, but we need to find out what’s going on. I’m terrified Hardshaw’s back, and Dermot’s in a better position to confirm or deny it.”

Neely Kate frowned. “Unfortunately, I think you’re right.”

Dermot arrived in ten minutes instead of fifteen, parking his shiny black pickup behind my Suburban.

Bruce Wayne was standing next to Austin, and while the boy looked nervous to see someone else show up—an imposing man to boot—he didn’t look ready to bolt. Yet.

Dermot walked over to me and Neely Kate. He was tall and broad shouldered, and a scruff covered his lower face. He had a swagger that suggested he would match any bullshit tossed at him and raise the ante. I had to admit that if I hadn’t known him, I would have been intimidated.

His mouth lifted into a grim smile. “Sorry to be seeing you again under these conditions.”

“And I’m sorry to drag you into this, but when he mentioned Lady?—”

“Don’t apologize,” he said. “If he invoked Lady, there might be something goin’ on I’m not aware of, and I like to know everything that’s goin’ on in the county.” He glanced over at the kid. “I take it that’s him?”

“Yeah.”

“Why’s he scared?”

“He claims he saw a murder out at Adkins last night. He says he took a photo of them burying the body, but his flash went off. He took off, and now he’s worried they’re after him.”

“His flash went off?” he asked, his voice heavy with a thick layer of skepticism.

“Yeah,” I said. “Like I mentioned, some of his story doesn’t make sense.”

Dermot kept his gaze on the boy. “I’m gonna talk to him.”

“Here?” Bruce Wayne asked in surprise. “In the open?”

Dermot glanced at me, brow raised. “Up to you.”

The other alternative was for him to take the boy somewhere for a chat—not that he’d likely agree to go. Even if he did, I wasn’t sure Dermot would want me tagging along. Shoot, I wasn’t sure I wanted to tag along. But this was my mess, and I didn’t think I should be passing it off to Dermot.

At least not yet.

“Let’s try it here first.” I held his gaze. “He came to me, which means I’m well and truly part of it. You’ll question him with me present.” As I finished my statement, I was surprised by my own directness.

The corner of his mouth ticked up. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, Lady.”

I cringed at the name, but I’d fully embraced her at one point. I couldn’t be all that surprised that she was still a part of me all these years later.

The four of us walked over together, and Austin stared at Dermot with fear in his eyes. He got to his feet, his hands shaking at his sides.

“I’m Tim Dermot,” Dermot said with a slight nod. “I hear you’re in need of Lady’s protection.”

Austin’s face reddened with fury. “Why’d you call him?”

His anger didn’t faze me. “Because I’ve been out of this world too long, and if you really need help, then Dermot’s the one who’s going to provide it.”

“What?” Austin said in a sneer. “I told you my daddy was part of his crew.”

“Your father works for me?” Dermot said in surprise, then shot me a scowl.

“I didn’t think it was pertinent for you to know,” I said. “At least he didn’t defect to Carmichael.”

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