Page 170 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

Chapter Fifty-Six

Jerry

“I’m gonna go have ashower then jump into bed.” Liv yawns.

I kiss her temple and pinch her behind as she shuffles towards the bathroom. “I’ll wash up and be there shortly. Don’t be fallin’ asleep yet, sugar.”

Her giggles echo in the hallway as I collect our dinner plates to wash up.I’m gonna have to reno this old kitchen one day and make room for a dishwasher.

The pipes groan, alerting me that Liv has turned on the shower. The poor girl could barely keep her eyes open. It’s been a long week, and with her friend Nat finishing up, I’m sure Liv’s eager to do the same. If I had my way, she’d be finishing up work now, but as she keeps telling me, she has a responsibility to her kids, to be consistent with their teaching. It seems to take so much of her energy being on her feet all day. She doesn’t complain though. Not about the swollen ankles or the heartburn she suffers from time to time.

As I drain the last of the soap suds, Pirate barks and scampers towards the front door. I snatch up a tea towel and dry my hands, flicking it over my shoulder as I follow him. He whines at the drone of a car.

Who the hell’s coming around at this hour?

I flick on the porch light and step outside. A pair of bright lights weave up the driveway. My heart pounds in protest at the familiar squeal of the four-wheel drive. The lights fizzle out and Len emerges from the vehicle before ambling towards the porch.

I meet him at the top step. “Bit late for droppin’ by, don’t you think?”

Len huffs. “You’ll be glad I did.”

Why exactly?“Yeah?”

“Two things. Firstly, the charges against you have been dropped.”

“W-what the fuck? How?”Am I imagining this?

The muscles in his jaw ticks. “Mr Clayton’s got bigger problems.”

Seriously?“Like what?”

Len worries at his lower lip. “Probably shouldn’t say anything, but you should probably know what kinda guy you were messin’ with.”

Heat claws up my throat. “What the fuck did he do?”

“Slipped somethin’ in a young lass’s drink at the Royal.”

“Jesus, is she okay?”

Please let her just have ended up with a headache the next morning and nothing else...

The old man shakes his head. “Stevo was working, had an inkling something was off. Young woman seemed a little under the weather for only having a couple of drinks. The two of them moved outside. By the time Stevo got a chance to leave the bar to check out back, she was in a compromising position in the back of his car.”

My hands ball into tight fists at my side, nails digging into my palms. “Fuck, he didn’t, did he?”If he raped her, I’ll track him down and finish what I started. I’ll keep breaking bones until he doesn’t get up.

He nods. “’Fraid so. She was out to it. Barely eighteen. Poor girl is messed up.”

“Fuck!” The roar leaves my mouth before I can check myself.

“So, like I said, he has bigger problems. This time, you’re off the hook.”

How can I be happy under these circumstances?

“Jesus, I should be stoked, right?”

“You should. Anyway, there’s somethin’ else we need to discuss.”

“Yeah?”

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