Page 40 of True Valor
“Mr.D’Onofrio.”Raines eyed Nic as he spoke.“Are you injured?”The sheriff’s grip tightened.
Nic refused to give him the satisfaction.“No.Why?”
The man smiled.“No reason.Glad it’snothing.”
This guy was smooth.On the surface he wasall concern, but his eyes held a sinister darkness.He watched Nicwith the wariness of an enemy.He certainly seemed to have Brogankissing his ass.The man nearly tripped over his own feet makingway for a sheriff from another county.
Brogan’s words broke into Nic’s thoughts.
“Speaking of injuries, sir, how did you hurtyour leg?”Brogan opened the door into the interrogation room, thenstepped back to allow the sheriff to enter first.
Raines looked appalled at the question.“Oldwar wound,” he answered and swept past Brogan.
“Oh, I guess I never noticed before,” Broganmuttered as Nic, too, pushed past him to go stand beside Julie.Shemust have been pacing before they came in.Her report lay neatly onthe table and her chair was pushed in.
“This is...”Brogan started.
“I know who this is.”Raines beamed at Julie.“Julie, I am so very glad that you’re safe.You have my condolenceson the deaths in your family.I just wish we’d seen how distraughtpoor Patrick was when Jess died.Maybe we could have prevented...Well, enough of that.I’m so relieved that you are fine.”
The man was gushing.Nic expected him toburst into a chorus ofJesus Loves the Little Children.
“I do hope you’ll allow me to help you sortthrough all this.You’re welcome to ride back to town with me aswell.”He turned to Brogan.“Sheisfree to go, isn’t she,Brogan?”
That’s when it all came together.Raines’questions about Nic’s injury, his limp, the way he schmoozed Julie.What had Davis said before shooting himself?That Julie had nearlybroken the murderer’s knee with a kick?Yeah, Raines had beenlooking for Julie.No doubt about that.But it wasn’t so he couldhelp her in her time of need.No, Nic knew without question whatRaines wanted.
Julie…dead.
Chapter Fourteen
“Undersheriff Brogan, I need to change mytestimony.”Nic purposely raised his voice as if he were a bitpanicked.He turned to Julie.“Julie, sweetie, I just can’t do it.I know we agreed, but I’m really not a very good liar.”
Julie looked at him like he’d just beenbeamed from another planet.
Nic turned back to the men.“I can’t lieanymore.I need to tell you the truth about what happened at thecabin.”
Back to Julie.“I’m so sorry.I just don’tknow you well enough to risk my life or career like this.”
The color fled Julie’s face.
“Sir, I’m sure Julie thought she was doingthe right thing.Maybe she even felt threatened by that Doug guy.But he didn’t shoot himself, sir.She shot him.Then she got me tohelp her make it look like suicide.”
Brogan was positively salivating as Nicspoke.But, if Julie’s face was pale, then Raines’ was ghostly.
“Nic.”Julie’s voice came out in a whisper.“Why are you saying this?”
Raines cleared his throat and puffed up hischest.“Yes,Nic, whyareyou saying this.”
“Because it’s the truth, Sheriff.”
Brogan tried to take over.“And why did youlie before?”
Nic lowered his gaze to the floor and stuffedhis hands in his jeans pockets, shifting from one foot to theother.
“Well...”
“Go on, Mr.D’Onofrio.”
Nic hesitated, then, as if just blurting itout, he said, “The sex was good.”
