Protector - Laurel Dewey [196]
“I’m staying right here,” Kathy defiantly replied.
Jane let out an exhausted sigh and faced Sheriff George. “Fine. You know I’m not her mother—”
“And I know your name is not Anne Calver. Your real name is Michelle Mason.”
“Michelle Mason? What?”
“You were arrested earlier this year for methamphetamine production. Your vehicle was impounded by the Denver Police Department but somehow you managed to get it back—”
Jane realized the sheriff did a license plate check on her Subaru and the data still showed the previous felon who owned the car. “Shit! PD didn’t change the plates!”
“How’s that?”
“The plates! They didn’t change the plates before they gave me the car!”
“Is that right?” Sheriff George rolled his eyes in contempt.
“My name is Jane Perry. Detective Jane Perry. I work homicide at the Denver Police Department.”
“Sure you do,” the sheriff replied in a dubious tone.
Jane was outraged. “That kid in there is Emily Lawrence. In case you were paying attention to Denver news, six weeks ago her mother and father were murdered in their Washington Park house. Certainly you heard about it! It was the top story for weeks! If you don’t believe me, get on the goddamn phone, call DH and ask for Sergeant Weyler!”
“Sure. I imagine he’ll be in his office on a Sunday, not to mention July fourth!”
“For God’s sake! I’m telling you the truth! I was hired to protect her!”
“Is assaulting her part of that protection?”
“Jesus!” Jane reached into her back pocket to pull out her badge but before she could touch it, the sheriff grabbed her arm and swung her over a nearby desk.
“That’ll do, Ms. Mason!” Sheriff George said as he forcefully held Jane’s left arm across her back and used his other hand to keep her chest flat against the desk. “You’re giving me no choice! You’re looking at kidnapping, false imprisonment, impersonation, assault—”
“I was reaching for my badge! It’s in my back pocket!”
The deputy exited the back room, closing the door behind him. “Hand me my cuffs, Travis!” Sheriff George yelled to the deputy.
The deputy walked over to the sheriff, cuffs in hand, and muttered loud enough so Jane could hear what he was saying. “Man, the guy from Social Services was dead on about how she was gonna react.”
“What guy from Social Services?” Jane demanded.
Sheriff George flipped open the cuffs. “The fellow who got here in the nick of time and alerted us about you! He’s in the back talking with the child.”
Jane’s heart began to race. “Oh my God! Chris! No!” The sheriff was just about to slam the cuff across Jane’s wrist when she quickly slipped her freed right hand into her jacket and pulled out her Glock. In a high-voltage adrenaline rush, she kicked the sheriff’s leg, throwing him off balance. He let go of her left wrist just long enough for Jane to peel herself off the desk, spin around, grab him around the neck in a chokehold and shove her pistol against his temple. Kathy shrieked, backing up against the wall. “Shut up!” Jane yelled at Kathy. “I am not fucking around!” Jane turned to the deputy. “You! Slide your gun across the floor!” The deputy complied. Jane turned to Kathy. “Don’t you try anything stupid or I’ll fucking shoot you!” Turning back to the deputy, Jane yelled, “Get over here! Reach into my right back pocket and pull out my badge.”
The deputy hesitated.
“Do what she says!” Sheriff George bellowed.
The deputy carefully approached Jane and pulled out her badge. He took a look at it and held it up to the sheriff. “It looks real, Sheriff.”
“You’re goddamn right it’s real!” Jane said. Keeping a tight chokehold on the sheriff, Jane spoke in a quieter, yet forceful manner. “That guy in the back room is not from Social Services. His name is Chris Crawley and he’s responsible for murdering six people. Emily is next on his list. Now, are you gonna help me or not? Because either way, I’m busting through that door!”
“Alright!” Sheriff George quickly agreed. “Let’s do it!” Jane let go of the sheriff