Dead by Midnight - Beverly Barton [176]
“Miss Lorie needs us,” M.J. told his father. “We want to tell all these people how she saved our lives. They need to know that she’s a hero.”
“I’ll tell them,” Mike promised. “I’m going to make an official statement as the sheriff and then another one as your father. Now, you two do as I told you and go with Grams. I’ll see y’all at home in a little while.”
Hannah reached up and pulled Lorie down to give her a kiss before going to her grandmother. M.J. stood straight and tall in front of Lorie, then quickly hugged her before following his sister.
“Are you up for this?” Mike asked her.
“There’s not much more anyone can do to me,” she told him. “If the good people of Dunmore want to tar and feather me, then l say let ’em bring it on. I’ll face every last one of them. Hell, I’ll face the devil if I have to.”
“I think you did that last night,” Mike said as he escorted her to the top of the steps.
A roar of shouts rose up from the crowd. Mike cleared his throat and said in a loud, clear voice, “Late yesterday afternoon, Paul Babcock, a lifelong resident of Dunmore, assaulted Lorie Hammonds and took her and my children hostage inside Treasures of the Past. In order to save my daughter’s life, Ms. Hammonds fought Mr. Babcock, and during the fight, she stabbed him in the neck.”
The reporters bombarded Mike with questions, which he did not answer. Instead he said, “This morning, Ms. Hammonds and my children gave sworn statements concerning the events that led up to Paul Babcock’s death. Ms. Hammonds killed Mr. Babcock in self-defense and in order to save my children.” Mike turned to his chief deputy. “Chief Deputy McCorkle will take over now and try to answer any other questions you have.”
“I have a question,” a female reporter called out as she waved one hand in the air to gain Mike’s attention. “I’m Alice Kendall, the editor of the WCM’s weekly newsletter.”
Mike took Lorie’s arm and started to walk away.
“What sort of example do you think you’re setting as the sheriff of this county by having an affair with a woman like Lorie Hammonds? Do you think your constituents will reelect a man involved with a woman of such inferior moral character?”
Silence fell over the crowd.
Mike turned and looked the woman in the eye. “Lorie Hammonds is a kind, caring, loving woman who made some mistakes years ago. Mistakes she’s atoned for many times over.” Mike slid his arm around Lorie’s waist and held her against his side. She knew he could feel her trembling. “I’d like to think that my constituents are good people who believe in the Bible—‘judge not that ye be not judged.’ But if they choose not to reelect me because of my wife’s past, then I’ll just have to find me another job, won’t I?”
“Your wife?” Lorie gasped.
Mike looked at her and smiled. “This wasn’t quite how I’d planned to ask you to marry me, but—”
“You’re going to marry her?” Alice Kendall asked. “Won’t it bother you knowing that any man with the price of a DVD can see your future wife not only completely nude, but having sexual intercourse with other men?”
Lorie stiffened. God, if only a hole would open up and swallow her.
“The way I see it, the men who watch that movie will envy me,” Mike said loud and clear for everyone to hear. “They’ll know how lucky I am to have such a beautiful sexy woman giving herself to me and only me for the rest of our lives.”
Lorie looked at Mike with teary eyes.
“I love you, Lorie. Will you marry me?” Mike dropped to one knee.
The crowd went wild with applause and shouts of congratulations. “Way to go, Mike.” “You’re sure as hell one lucky SOB.” “We’ll dance at your wedding.”
“You’re out of your mind,” Lorie told him. “You know that, don’t you? You’re crazy and brave and wonderful and—and yes, I’ll marry you.”
Mike grabbed her and kissed her, there in front of God Almighty and half the town of Dunmore, Alabama.
Griffin Powell took the call at 3:17 that afternoon. He listened carefully, made a few necessary comments, and ended the brief conversation. If there had been any doubt in his mind before now, the news he had just received