The Devil's Right Hand - J. D. Rhoades [77]
She didn’t answer, but turned on her heel abruptly and walked into the house. Keller followed. “Look,” he said. I’m sorry for running out...” he stopped as he reached the living room.
Detective Barnes was standing by the bookshelf. His face had its accustomed weary, resigned look. His partner Stacy lounged on the couch, his legs crossed. He was grinning at Keller.
Keller looked at Marie. “What...” he stopped when he saw the look on her face. Her jaw was set and her eyes were like cold iron. “You called them,” he said.
Barnes stopped forward. “Jackson Keller?” Keller made no answer. He continued to look at Marie. “You called them,” he said again.
She raised her chin slightly. Her voice was steady as she said, “No. They called me. They told me about the warrant. You should have told me, Keller.”
“Jackson Keller, you’re under arrest for the murder of John Lee Oxendine.” He turned to Marie. “Your collar, officer Jones. You brought him in. Cuff him.”
They know I won’t fight her, Keller thought bitterly. Marie unsnapped the cuffs from her belt and advanced on him. “Turn around, Keller. Hands behind your back.” He just looked at her. “Jack,” she said. “Don’t make this any harder than it already is.”
“Isn’t that his line?” Stacy chortled.
Barnes sighed. “Shut up, Stace.”
Stacy went on as Keller turned his back and placed his hands behind him. “We never knew you had such a talent for the undercover work, Jones.”
Keller felt the cold steel circlet fasten around his wrist. “Hurry up and get the cuffs locked,” Keller said, “before I break that asshole’s jaw.”
Stacy’s face reddened. He jumped to his feet, his fists clenched. “Stace,” Barnes said. “Check on Puryear in the car Keller was driving. If he’s still tied up, you drive that car. Jones and I will take Keller to the station in mine.”
Stacy walked towards the door. As he passed Marie, he gave her a little pat on the buttocks, his hand lingering for just a second. Marie whirled on him. “Don’t you ever do that again, you son of a bitch,” she hissed.
The grin never left his face. “C’mon, Marie,” he said. “You might get used to it. And if you do, I might not ask too many questions about your, ah, relationship with this suspect.” He turned and smirked at Keller.
Keller felt his muscles tighten. The blood throbbed in his temples, but he stared straight ahead.
“Detective Stacy,” Barnes said, “if you don’t get a move on and do what I said, I’ll write you up myself.” Stacy’s control slipped for just a moment. He glanced uncertainly at Barnes before plastering the smirk back on his face. He sauntered past Keller, still leering at Marie. “We’ll see if you’re still a tough guy when we get your ass to the station, Keller,” he whispered.
As he left, Barnes turned to Marie. “Read him his rights, Jones,” he said. “I’ll go start the car.” He left behind Stacy.
“You have the right to remain silent,” Marie said. “Anything you say--”
“Marie,” Keller said.
“Anything you say,” her voice rode over his, “can and will be used against you in a court of law...” he let her finish the litany. When she was finished, she asked, “Do you understand these rights that I’ve just explained to you?”
“Yeah,” he said. They stood looking at one another. “Marie,” Keller finally said. “I’m sorry.”
For the first time, her mask of control cracked. Tears glistened in her eyes and her voice shook. “Damn it, Keller,” she said. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out there was a warrant out for you?”
“I wasn’t thinking about any of that,” he said. “I was only thinking about being with you.”
She wiped a tear away with the back of her hand. “The worst part is that I’m going to be back on the force. Barnes says I might even get a promotion. But there’ll always be these whispers. I’ll be lucky if I don’t turn into a laughingstock. And that animal Stacy, grinning at me, thinking he can put his hands on me...damn you, Keller!”
“I’m sorry,” he said again.
She shook her head savagely, wiped the last tear away,