CHAPTER 13
SNAKE STOOD UNDER the cover of a tree that shielded him from the snow as he kept an eye on the cabin. The lights went out and he snickered. So, the bastard Sheriff is getting him a little. Hell, Snake couldn’t blame the man. The blind girl was hot. Too bad she’d be dead soon.
Thanks to the cop using his dick and not his brain, he’d made a mistake by allowing the friend, some lawyer chick, to come to the place today. She’d been easy—too easy—to tail. If he had his way, he would have eliminated the blind bitch already, but the Sheriff was going to be an issue. Killing some massage therapist was one thing, but taking out a man with a badge was going to be a different matter. Boss specifically said he didn’t want things to get messy. Offing a lawman would have this case on every headline in every newspaper all over the country.
He swiped the back of his hand across his eyes and cursed. He hated the snow.
Turning around, he made his way down the slippery hill, sliding part of the way. “Fuck this shit!” he muttered through clenched teeth.
Once he was back to his car, hidden by the brush and trees in the woods, he reached for his cell, seeing that he missed a call. Hitting a button, the phone rang.
Boss answered. “Why the fuck are you calling me? I’m in the middle of something.”
“You called me. Thought you’d like to know I found the blind bitch,” Snake said.
There was a long hesitation. “So, then why haven’t I received news that she’s dead?”
“Problem here. She’s with the Sheriff and he’s sticking to her like stink on a pig. You said you don’t want messy.”
“You’ve already made this messy enough.”
“You want me to take care of them both? I’ll do that tonight. I can pretend I’m stuck out here in this bum-fucked-snowy-shithole. Blast them both.”
“Don’t be stupid,” the man’s growl rattled the phone. “We’re not talking about some man who wears the star for looks. If he suspects anything he’ll blow your head off before you can blink an eye. Your stupid-ass will be six feet under and although that might help me some, I’ll give you a chance to rectify yourself.”
Anger coursed through Snake. He hated the other man and fantasized up ways to make the bastard pay. “We’ve wasted enough time. I’m not some bitch who’s going to stand out here and wait for the go ahead. I have better things to do. She can’t see and she has no clue who I am. The Sheriff has no idea who you are. What the fuck are we doing?” He swiped an orange from the open bag and brought it to his nose, inhaling the citrus scent that instantly calmed his nerves—some.
“We have more of a problem than just the woman and Sheriff. I hear Cade is looking for some girl that was living with the slut, Leandra. She might be the bigger threat right now. If Cade finds her, this whole castle could fall. Another loose thread you’ve allowed to unravel.”
Snake snickered. “You mean the castle might fall down around you. I’ve been in prison, but you…ever be someone’s bitch?”
“Without me you’re nothing, shithead. Don’t forget you’re the one who killed Cox and the whore. I can talk myself out of the hole if I must, but you, well, they’ll see you for what you are. A piece of trash who has been in and out of prison more times than he can count. Let’s see how that brother of yours manages behind bars.”
Snakes squeezed the orange so tight that it burst and juice squirted everywhere. “Listen, I don’t take lightly to threats.”
“And neither do I. If you don’t start cleaning up your messes, I’m going to do you a real big favor and take care of you so that you aren’t around to see how crazy shit’s going to get. Now, go indulge in some good, cheap pussy. That always makes a man happy. Then tomorrow, pull your dick out of the whore and get to work. Find that little shit so she can’t sing. Understood?”
“Loud and clear.” Snake ended the call and threw his phone onto the passenger seat. One way or another he’d see that the blind bitch would pay for all the trouble she’d caused him. He tossed the flattened orange out the window and grabbed another.
~~~**~~~
“Why are we coming all the way out here?” the girl asked.
Deputy Gelder looked across the seat. “Privacy.”
“Don’t try anything funny.”
“This might be the time I tell you that someone will be joining us.”
She tilted her chin. “Only if you’re willing to pay double.” As they came up on the parked Sheriff’s truck, she moaned. “What the hell? Is this a set up?”
“He only wants to talk to you.”
Phoenix pushed off the front of his truck as he saw the headlights on the narrow lane. The undercover car parked and the driver’s side door opened. Connor stepped out. “She’s in there, Cade, but she ain’t happy.”
“Thanks, Connor. Hang tight and give me a minute with her.”
The Deputy nodded and Phoenix slid behind the driver’s seat of the vehicle. He looked into the startled face of the girl sitting in the passenger seat. Her arms were crossed and if looks could kill, he’d be speared to death. “Hi, Tammy. You’re a hard girl to get in touch with.”
“Sheriff, thank God you’re here. That man lured me out here.”
“Cut the bull. You set up the meeting and he picked you up on your own free will.”
“I’m leaving.” She started for the door handle, but Phoenix caught her.
“I just want to talk.”
“Are you sure, Sheriff? Talk is a waste of my time, but if you have the money…”
“For a bus ticket to any of the other forty-nine.”
“What?”
“To get you out of dodge. For your safety.”
She laughed, but it was raw. “Before I crossed the county line, I’d probably be laying in a puddle of my own blood, Sheriff.”
“Not on my watch you won’t.”
“Your gun is long, but it ain’t that long.” She sniffed loudly.
“Tammy, your mom has been worried about you.”
She lowered her gaze to her hands clasped tightly in her lap and it was the first sign of vulnerability. “Yeah, well, she’ll get over it.” The harshness was back.
“My deputies and I have been looking for you for some time. Thanks to a friend we found you. I know you’re probably scared, so why are you still prostituting?”
“I need to eat, don’t I?” she muttered.
“True, but you have other options.”
“Are you here to give me a lecture?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out two pictures, one of Leandra and the other of Cox. “You recognize them?”
She lifted a shoulder and let it drop. “I charge for my time.” He grabbed a twenty from his wallet and handed it over. She laughed. “When was the last time you paid for entertainment, Sheriff?”
“Never.” He pulled out another twenty. “I’m sure that’ll cover fifteen minutes. Now, tell me what you know. And before you decide to fabricate a story, I know you were living with Leandra.”
“If you know, then why are you asking if I know her?”
“Because I need to connect the dots.”
“Connecting the dots are for kids,” she huffed.
“We have one of two choices here. You can tell me everything you know and I’ll purchase that ticket or I’ll take you back to the station and you can spend quality time behind bars. It’s up to you.”
“For what, Sheriff?”
“Prostitution is a crime.”
She was quiet for a good five seconds. “Leandra warned me to keep my nose to the grind.”
“Why?”
“There are some people you don’t want to cross around here. We do our business, never ask any questions. We forget him.”
“Who?”
“Whoever HE is at the time.”
“I’ve known you since you were little. You know I can be trusted. I need to know everything.”
Lifting her chin, she didn’t show any emotion. “You’re the Sheriff.”
“Yeah, but I’m also your friend.”
Something flashed over her expression, but it didn’t last long. She gave her head a shake, sending the strands of hair from her ponytail smacking her cheeks.
“Did you know they were both murdered?”
Her bottom lip trembled. “I-I knew. Word travels fast.”
“Why were you living with Leandra? Were you working for her?”
“No. She was my friend and she knew how much I hated this town. How much I wanted out. Through her I was able to make some money toward my dream of getting out.”
He scratched his temple. “Working as an escort?”
“Don’t judge me.”
“I’m not. I’m only asking. Did Leandra and Cox make enemies with someone?”
“I-I don’t know.”
“You do know and that’s why you took off so fast from Leandra’s apartment. If we found you, they can find you too. Let me help you.” He pulled her diary from his pocket and laid it on the dashboard. “Recognize that?”
Her breath came out in a hiss. “Did you read it?” Her brows scrunched.
“Yes. Two of the names you have written in your diary are names on a list we found connected to the murders.”
She jumped for the diary so fast the car shook. “So, you’re not my friend after all.” She reached for a cigarette from a pack in her purse and lit one.
“Yes I am. I’m worried about your safety. Someone out there has a lot at stake in getting rid of people who are associated with the list. I’m worried that you might be one of them. I think you’re worried too and that’s why you’ve been going from place to place, staying away from home. If there’s something you know, tell me. I promise, we will keep you safe, but unless you talk to me, these bad men will continue until you’re dead.”
She stared out the window. “I don’t know anything.”
“Why are the names of two political figures written in your book?” Phoenix couldn’t give up.
“For no reason at all.”
He rubbed his forehead. “Think of your mom.”
She looked around. “Is she unsafe?”
“Talk to me, Tammy. Tell me what you know. Have you heard anything? Has someone threatened you? Do you know a man who is calling himself Snake?”
She dropped back on the seat and stared into space. “If I say anything, they will kill me.”
“Helping me catch them is the only way to stay safe.”
“I don’t think I will be much help. I don’t know names. Everything is secretive in this game.”
“You cared for Leandra, didn’t you?”
“Like a sister. She understood me…knew how drugs destroy families.”
“She was murdered in cold blood, Tammy. If the situation was turned and she knew something, wouldn’t you want her to help in catching the bad guys?”
“Leandra had been doing this work for a while, working her way through med school and planned to give it up. She gave me some pointers and guidelines, took me under her wing. At first, it wasn’t so bad, and the money was great. I never could have made that much money waitressing at my old job. And then…” She took a long drag of her cigarette.
“Tammy?”
“I don’t know all the details, but Leandra met Mason and she didn’t want to do this job anymore. He filled her head with dreams of leaving everything behind and running off to some place new to start over again after she got her degree. He had a plan and Leandra fell for it, but things got out of hand fast. One night, we’d been drinking. I had too much and she told me to go lie down. I fell asleep but woke up later and overheard Leandra talking to someone. It was Mason and their voices were hushed, but they got louder. I was still a little buzzed, but I can remember him saying that the big guys would pay whatever to keep their names from being linked with prostitution.”
“Mason Cox was blackmailing the men Leandra was providing entertainment for?”
Tammy nodded and tossed her cigarette through the crack in the window. “At first Leandra wanted no part of it. She knew it was wrong on so many different levels, and dangerous, but Mason said he’d done something like this before…telling her she wouldn’t have to do anything but make a list of the men she’d slept with for money and allow Mason to take some pictures, you know…” She shrugged. “Eventually, the dude got his way and she agreed.”
“Did any of the men pay?”
“A couple, but then something happened. Maybe they stepped on the wrong toes. Some big shot had threatened Mason. Leandra wasn’t herself and I kept asking her what was wrong, and finally she told me these men were after Mason and her, they were threatening to kill them. She was scared they’d find out her real name, where she worked, lived. Mason used the list as leverage though. He warned that if anything happened to him or Leandra, the evidence, with the pictures, would go public. When I heard what happened at the massage studio I knew the men had caught up to Leandra and Mason so they couldn’t talk. I was scared. I thought they’d connect me with her and I’d die too, so I ran.”
He patted her shoulder, seeing the fear in her eyes. “Where are the pictures?”
“I have no clue.”
“This is important.”
“I told you. I don’t know.”
“Do you know who wanted Leandra and Mason dead? Did they ever say his name while they were talking?”
She rubbed her forehead with a shaky hand. “They never said his name, but whoever he is, he can’t be touched. Leandra said he was protected.”
“How?”
“I have no clue. I told you, I never met him. I don’t want to either.”
“By chance, did you see the list Leandra had made?”
“No, but I knew who she was sleeping with. She always told me to keep a list of the men we meet, just for safe keeping. A girl never knows when she’ll need to protect herself.”
“Do you have a list, Tammy?”
“Sheriff…”
“Tammy, do you want me to catch the bad guys?”
Reaching into her purse, she drew out a sheet of folded notebook paper, but she didn’t hand it over right away. “Why do you need my list?”
“To find any connection. There might not be, but we won’t know until we check everyone out.”
Once he had the list, he opened it and read the five names. Number three he knew well and forth on the list made his throat constrict. “The doctor. He was a client?”
“I guess you could call him that. It turned out to be more like a G rated movie than a porn.”
He stuffed the paper into his front pocket. “You’re not safe out here on the streets. We’ll get you set up in a motel tonight and tomorrow we’ll get you away from this town until the murderer is caught.” He got out and motioned for Connor, explaining the plans.
“You’ve done the right thing,” Phoenix said to Tammy. “Not only have you saved yourself, but you’ve probably saved others. I need one more favor.”
“The gifts keep coming,” she snorted.
“Call your mom and let her know you’re okay.”