Page 73 of Sheltering His Second Chance

“The bomb? The one that hurt Dean Ryder?” She took another unnoticed step.

“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. How would I know that he’d be there?” He lifted his chin, and she saw that his face was covered in tears.

“Why were you there?”Just keep him talking.

“Jackson Mellough,” he mumbled.

“I don’t know who that is.” She lied because Farrah had told Parker about her uncle, but she had to keep him talking. She shrugged and took another backward step.

“He was the sheriff before the Ryders killed him off. Mellough was the only one who understood me and gave me a shot.” Jamie lowered the knife another notch and the tip slid against his jeans, slicing them. He didn’t seem to even notice or care.

“You seem to have a loving sister. What about her?”

Some of the pain left his features. “I love O and Camp, but we’re different. I’m different. They don’t get me. She told me Mellough wasn’t a healthy influence, that he brainwashed me. What happened to him was wrong and unfair.”

“I don’t know the story, but it sounds like you miss him.” While she spoke calmly, inside Parker searched for a way out of this situation.

“I’m going to prison now.” He shook as if he tried to prevent himself form breaking down into sobs.

“You don’t know that.” Realizing he’d done a lot of things to hurt others, she felt compassion for him. He was a kid that seemed to have painted himself in a corner without knowing how to get out.

“I do know. They won’t understand. Look what they did to Mellough.” His mouth twisted again. “That’s why I need the money. I’m getting out of this town like I should have a long time ago.”

“Jamie, you seem like a good kid. You don’t want to take Bonnie’s money. I have money though. I have cash. How much do you need?” She had managed to walk backward far enough to reach the table of arrangements. But what good would that do?

“You’d give me your money?”

“Of course.” Subtly, she turned her cheek, scanning the table. There were a pair of scissors nearby but what good would they serve against the knife he held?

“Where’s the money?”

“In the house. I can go and get it.”

“And you’ll call the Ryders.” He lifted the knife again and stabbed the air. “You think I’m stupid. They all think I’m stupid. Just like Casp didn’t come through. He screwed up the bomb. Both bombs.”

“I think you’re very smart. I believe, like you said, you didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

His gaze met hers and he sobered up some. “I swear I didn’t mean to hurt those women. They looked at me like I was beneath them. I just wanted to teach them a lesson.”

“You scared them, Jamie.”

“Shelby…I liked her. Really liked her. And then she started looking at me like everyone else does. Like I’m a stain on their fancy rugs. I could see the suspicion and hatred in her eyes.”

“What about Farrah?”

“She’s a bitch who sleeps with every man who comes along.” He was no longer crying and harsh lines appeared around his eyes and mouth.

Then Parker spotted the shovel leaning in the corner. She needed to get to it.

He must have realized her thoughts. “Don’t move! I swear I’ll use this.”

“Okay.” She lifted her hands. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.”

“You need to turn yourself in.”

“No.”

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