Page 90 of Honey Be Mine
Wes glared at the phone but kept his mouth shut.
“Answer me, Wes.” Dennis Hobart was on the verge of screaming.
“The whole damn county can hear you,” Wes muttered. “Calm down, old man.”
Everett took a deep breath. “How about you open up the trunk, Wes?”
“How about you mind your own business?” Wes fired back, his chin thrust out defiantly.
“That’s fine.” He glanced at his phone. “A state patrol officer will be here shortly. I’m sure he’ll have no problem opening it.”
“You called the cops?” The boy in the back seat of the car slid out the window, his braces flashing in Everett’s headlights. “Wes, this is... This...” The kid took off into the trees.
“One of them just took off running, Dennis. Kid with braces.” Everett didn’t bother running after the boy. “Interestingly enough, they’re all wearing matching outfits. Black shoes, black pants, black hoodies. I bet, when the trunk gets opened up, we’re going to see some black masks and paintball guns.”
“You think? Great work, Detective.” Wes leaned against the car. “You going to make a citizen’s arrest?”
Everett didn’t answer. There was no need. A black-and-white state trooper’s car passed them by, then looped back around.
“Police are here, Dennis.” Everett figured the least he could do was keep the man informed.
“What were you thinking, Wes?” For the first time, there was no bite to Dennis Hobart’s words. “You know what’s going to happen now?”
“You’re the mayor.” Wes snorted. “You’re so important you can get me out of this.”
The police car pulled up, parked, and two officers got out.
“No, son, I can’t,” Dennis mumbled. “I’ll meet you at the county jail.” And he hung up.
“Dad?” Wes called out. “Dad?” He pushed off the car. “What the hell?”
From there, things went pretty quickly. Everett wasn’t surprised to see five paintball guns in the trunk as well as containers of green, pink, yellow, and orange paintballs. If anything, it was a relief. Maybe not for Dennis Hobart—but for the rest of Lewis County. Once the boys called the third kid back, they were all loaded into the police car and headed back into town, with Everett following.
It was a long night. Long and miserable. He’d never been a fan of Dennis Hobart, but the man’s shattered disappointment affected him nonetheless. It didn’t help that Wes remained defiant and unapologetic through it all.
By the time he got home, he managed a couple of hours of sleep before showering and heading back into town. As tempted as he was to call in to work, he figured he needed to be there to do as much damage control as possible—all things considered. First things first, food.
He walked into Delaney’s and sat at a booth, waving at Leif and Kerrielynn, Benji and Halley at the booth across the way. He accepted a cup of coffee with a nod of thanks.
“Everett.” Libby stood beside the booth. “I heard you had quite a night last night.” She slid into the booth opposite him. “You’re a hero.”
He sure as hell didn’t feel like one. “Word travels fast.” He sipped his coffee.
“Um, you know where we live, don’t you?” She smiled. “This sort of stuff spreads faster than wildfire.”
He shook his head. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t help fan the flames.”
“Of course.” She cocked her head to one side. “I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. You... Well, you’re one in a million, Everett. You know that?”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I might have heard my Gramma Dot say so a time or two.”
“Smart woman.” Libby leaned forward. “You know, Everett.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve never had to work this hard for attention before.”
Everett took a sip of his coffee and frowned. “Come again?”
“You.” She sighed. “I’ve been trying to get you to see me. As Libby. As someone who would like to be more than your secretary.” She licked her lower lip. “A lot more.”
He set his coffee cup down. “I’m flattered—”
