The Devil's Right Hand - J. D. Rhoades [76]
“Shut up,” Keller said. Crystal turned and fled back into the house.
Keller heard a low moaning sound, like an animal in pain. He looked over. The skinny blonde had recovered somewhat. She sat at the edge of the parking lot, in the gravel, her knees drawn up to her chest. She had her arms wrapped around her legs. She rocked back and forth, keening like a banshee. Tears spilled down her face, mingling with the blood that oozed from the scratches on her face and flowed from the laceration in her temple. A stocky red-haired woman in a white nurse’s uniform ran to the blonde and knelt by her side. After taking a moment to examine the wound, she put her arm around the girl’s shoulder and helped her to her feet, shooting a glare of pure disgust at Keller.
“You can’t take him from me,” the girl sobbed brokenly. “He needs me.” The nurse led her off towards the house.
Keller felt another quick flash of shame until he looked down at the gnawed webbing between his right thumb and forefinger. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed at his own wound, wincing with pain.
“Who’s that?” Berry said. He had arrived with a roll of thick nylon rope and a clasp knife.
“Damned if I know,” said Keller. He handed the gun to Berry. “Hold this,” he said. “If this guy moves...” he almost said, “shoot him,” until he saw the stony look cross Berry’s face, “...just give it back to me, quick.” He deftly bound DeWayne’s hands behind his back and hobbled his feet by tying a short length of rope between them. He gave a last tug on the rope to check it. “Back to the trunk, DeWayne,” he said. “Don’t worry, it won’t be far.”
All of the fight seemed to have gone out of DeWayne. He meekly allowed himself to be led to the back of Keller’s borrowed car and bundled in. As Keller slammed the trunk shut, Berry said, “You better let me look at that before it gets infected, son.”
“Later,” Keller said. “I’ve got to make a delivery.”
“Jack,” Berry said. “We need to talk about what just happened.”
“I’m kind of busy now, Lucas,” Keller said.
“You almost lost it there, son,” he said. “You came close to killing this boy. And you liked it. I could see it in your eyes. I’m, ah, I’m kind of worried about that.”
“I’ll come right back,” Keller said. “I promise.” He pulled his cell phone off his belt and dialed Marie’s number. “C’mon,” he muttered as the phone rang. “Be there...”
She picked up on the fourth ring. “Hello?”
“Marie,” he said. “It’s Jack Keller.” There was a brief silence. “Hey,” she said finally. Her voice sounded strained.
“I know, we need to talk,” he said. “But first, I’ve got DeWayne Puryear. He’s in my trunk right now. I’m going to bring him to you.”
Another brief pause. “Gee, Keller, most guys would just bring flowers to say they were sorry.” Her laugh sounded tinny, artificial.
“I’m serious. You can have the collar. That may get you back in with the department.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll come with you. I…have some business of my own to take care of.” he debated telling her about the warrant out for him, decided against it. He’d tell her when they got there. He needed her thinking about taking in Puryear.
“Okay.”
“Im bringing him to your house. Get ready. All I’ve got is rope. You’ll need cuffs.”
“Okay.” More silence. Keller thought of asking her what was wrong, but he thought he knew. He’d straighten everything out when this job was done. He hung up.
Traffic was light; it took Keller twenty minutes to drive to her house. On the way there, he listened carefully for sounds from the trunk to see if DeWayne was going to try anything. There was nothing. The man seemed to have accepted defeat, but Keller knew better than to rely on that.
The door opened immediately to his knock, but only as far as the security chain. Marie peeked through the crack for a moment, then closed the door. There was the brief rattle of the chain being drawn aside, then the door swung open.
She was dressed in full uniform. Her cuffs hung at her belt with her baton and service pistol. “Hey,” she said. She didn’t meet his eyes.
“Hey,” Keller said. “Puryear