Page 87 of Paging Dr. Breakup
“You’re going to regret this,” Randy yelled over the grumbles of the angry crowd.
“I regret talking with you in the first place. Look, I made a mistake in thinking there could be some scenario where everyone benefits from working together. You’ve made it clear that’s not possible.”
“The contract! It’s right here!” Randy yelled.
Mom put her hands over her mouth. Pop glared holes into both Randy and Cal. The crowd waited.
Deirdre’s sharp gasp next to him scared him more than all of the other reactions combined.
Calmer than he had ever been in his life, Cal said, “See, here’s the problem, friend. I can’t sign over something that isn’t mine to give. Even if you have something with my signature on it, the paper is worthless.”
Randy’s face turned beet red. “What?” The envelope crumpled in his fist. “You said your folks weren’t making decisions anymore, that you were the legal power of attorney.”
“Did I give you that impression? Huh, guess I made a mistake there, too.”
Pop kept his eyes on Randy as he strode ten paces to where Cal stood. “As you can see, I have no problems making decisions here. Aggie, honey, how about you?”
Mom joined them, mad as a hornet, nearly vibrating, and whipped around to face Randy, whose red face turned white. For a second, Cal worried about Randy’s wellbeing. Pop snaked an arm around her waist, ostensibly affectionate but more keeping her from killing the speculator.
“Decisions are no problem for me. I feel completely clearheaded. Too clear, in fact,” she said.
“But our meeting today.” Randy whipped his head around. “You made me come out here to finalize the deal.”
Deirdre pressed her shoulder more firmly to Cal’s side. His heart swelled at her lifted chin and blue glint as she glared lasers at Randy.
“I got tired of you insulting and hurting people and the town I care about,” Cal said. “You had gone to ground, and the only thing that would flush you out was your greed.”
“But—”
“Lieutenant Kate? Are you here?” Cal shouted.
“I’m on it,” the trooper said with a tip of her navy-blue hat as she stepped through the back of the crowd.
The lieutenant and three troopers—the sum total of Yukon Valley’s Alaska state trooper detachment—emerged from their positions behind the warming tent and from the next booth over. With big, friendly Yukon Valley smiles, the troopers rescued Randy and his friends from the swarming mad spectators that had trapped them.
Kate was all business. “I don’t get to do this very much in our ‘one-horse town,’ but today I’m going to read your rights, sir. You are being arrested for attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, intent to defraud, and criminal trespass.”
“Murder? No.” Randy’s face turned red as he pointed. “Hey, I didn’t hit him. Jacob did.”
Kate’s expression could generously be described as unimpressed. “You planned it. But sure, maybe Jacob will testify that this was all his idea and get you off the hook.”
Jacob, now in cuffs, sputtered and denied that accusation.
The lieutenant’s tight smile would make the most crooked criminal walk a straight line. “You’re done terrorizing the fine people of this town.” She paused and the click of his handcuffs echoed loud in the dead silence. “Take them away.” Then she high-fived a nearby teenager whose mouth gaped open and eyes were huge. “I always wanted to say that.”
Randy, his friends, and the three troopers left.
Lieutenant Kate turned to the kids gathered around her. With a wry expression and a shrug, she started answering their chattered, rapid-fire questions about being an Alaska state trooper.
Mom and Pop faced Cal.
Maverick and Lee walked over to him.
He loved his family and Deirdre’s, but he truly cared about the woman in his arms and wanted to get her warmed up and clear the air between them.
“Calvin?” Deirdre looked up at him. If he could memorize that beautiful awestruck expression, he’d be a lucky man. “What did you do?”
“I wanted to be a good enough man for you.”
