Page 21 of Dead Evil
Shackleton raised his hand as if he was going to strike Tennyson.
Ronan stepped in quickly and grabbed Shackleton’s arm, twisting it behind his back. “Touch him and you’re going to jail for assault. Since it’s Saturday, you’ll rot in county lockup until Monday. It would be awful ifsomeonewere to let the guards and other prisoners know that you’re a raging racist. This is just a guess, but I think the black officers who work at the jail might wait a bit before coming to your rescue.”
“Is there a problem here, Ronan?” Fitzgibbon asked, pulling his suit jacket back to reveal his gold captain’s shield.
“Pastor Shackleton was just renewing his acquaintance with my husband. Unfortunately, he left his manners at home along with his white robe, hood, and burning cross.” Ronan’s eyes didn’t leave Shackleton’s as he spoke.
“Please come with me, pastor.” Fitzgibbon yanked him away from Ronan’s steel grip.
“I’d like to make a report against that man. He assaulted me!” Shackleton shouted. “You saw him grab me!”
“Didn’t see a thing friend. The exit is this way.” Fitzgibbon ushered the sputtering pastor away.
“Are you okay?” Ronan asked on a laugh. “I wished I’d had my phone out to record that bullshit.”
Ten laughed along with him. “Boy, did that feel good.”
“Which part, revealing the pastor’s sins or watching Fitz lead him away?”
“Both, actually, but naming off the women he cheated with was extra special.” Ten snickered.
“Was that all of them or were there more?”
“Somany more!” Ten laughed. “Turns out the man of God so happy to call people out on their sins is a serial cheater, oh, and he has a love child with one of his former mistresses. He pays child support under the table so his wife won’t find out.”
“What an asshole!” Ronan shook his head. “We’ll talk more about this later, I think your next client is here.”
“Thanks for coming to my rescue.”
“You didn’t need me. You were handling Shackleton all on your own.” Ronan headed for the young woman who was waiting to see Tennyson.
Ronan was right. Ten did have things under control with Shackleton. That wasn’t going to be the case the next time the pastor came into contact with Tennyson. He couldn’t wait for the fireworks to start.
10
Ronan
Ronan sat at the food court in the convention center with Everly and Wolf while Ten was in the bathroom. Jude and Cope were on their way back to the table with dinner. Chicken fingers and fries all around. It was easier than trying to order from three different booths, although Ronan could really go for Chinese food. Pork fried rice and crab Rangoon were calling to him with a Siren’s song. Maybe he’d grab some to go after the Dallas Demonologists demonstration.
“Here we go, kiddos!” Jude set the tray on the table and started passing out the food. “Barbeque sauce for Wonder Wolf and honey mustard for my favorite honey, Everly.”
“Man, I’m starving!” Wolf dug in with gusto. “I can’t wait to meet Agatha Louise after we eat!”
“Whose meeting the doll after we eat?” Ten asked, taking a seat at the table.
“Dad said we could go meet her if I eat all my dinner, right, Dad?” Wolf asked, narrowing his eyes on Jude.
“That’s right, but remember what I said about the line waiting to see her. If it’s too long, we’re not going to be able to meet her tonight because we have tickets to the demonologist demonstration.” Jude grabbed a chicken finger and dunked it in ketchup.
“I want to meet her, Daddy.” Everly’s eyes were on Ronan. “Maybe I’ll be able to figure out who number nine is if I can talk to her.”
Ten’s eyes widened as Everly spoke. Ronan knew that was the reason Everly had asked his permission rather than Tennyson’s.
“What is number nine?” Jude asked.
“Agatha Louise is going to hurt someone. It will be the ninth person, who-” Everly stopped speaking and tilted her head toward Wolf, obviously not wanting him to know the doll was going to take another victim.
“No! Absolutely not!” Ten half-shouted. “I refuse to serve my daughter up on a silver platter to this doll.”
