Cowboy Truth: Cowboy Justice Association #3 (35 page)

“You don’t want to hear shit,” Wade growled. “You don’t understand. Dad and George deserved to die. So did all those other people. I did it to help you. I did it for you, Logan.”

Logan’s eyes had gone dead and cold. Whatever they’d shared years ago was dead and buried. It would make this easier. Much easier.

“No, Wade. You did it for yourself.”

*   *   *   *

“I did it for you,” Wade insisted. “I got criminals the justice system couldn’t hold onto. I made things right.”

Logan’s gut churned with disgust as he listened to Wade’s excuses.

“Is that why you killed your father?” Logan asked. Wade’s face turned a reddish-purple at the question.

“Our father. Bill Bryson was evil personified. He beat and killed my mother and the justice system did nothing. He lied, cheated, and stole from his competitors. Still nothing was done. The night of the wedding I heard him talking to George about you. He wanted to tell you he was your father. I hadn’t known that. He’d wanted to for a long time but felt guilty because he’d killed your mother by accident.” Logan’s heart plummeted to his stomach. Bill Bryson had indeed murdered Jackie Wright. “He got away with everything his entire life. I couldn’t let it go on. So I got justice, Logan. For you. For me. For all of us. He needed to answer for his crimes.”

“In a court of law,” Logan replied, his voice cold. “Everyone, even Bill, deserves their day in court.”

“Courts were useless for him. He would have bought off the judge or the jury. He never would have seen the inside of a jail cell. There are two systems of justice, Logan. One for the poor and one for the rich. Denying it makes you look foolish.”

“Is that what you plan to do?” asked Logan, twisting the chain on the handcuffs as quietly as he could. He wouldn’t be able to keep Wade talking forever. “Lawyer up and pay off the right people? You’ve killed dozens, Wade. I don’t think it will work.”

“Dozens of scum,” scoffed Wade. “There isn’t a jury in the world that will convict me. They’ll see what I did. It was justifiable homicide. I managed to do what the system couldn’t. I’ll never go to jail. They can arrest me but I’ll be out before nightfall.”

“Are you sure? If you had stopped killing after the child molester a few months ago? Maybe you would have. Or even after Bill, perhaps. But you killed George, Wade. You got a taste for it, didn’t you? You liked it. Enjoyed it. No jury will believe George was a righteous kill.”

Wade’s cool facade slipped for a moment, and his face twisted into an ugly mask before regaining his composure. Logan was getting to him. “George had to die just as the others did.”

“Why? What had he ever done? You shot him because you like killing people. It makes you feel powerful. That’s why you did it. Not to help me or anyone else. You did it for you. Are you going to kill me next? I’ve never committed any crimes.”

Beads of perspiration popped out on Wade’s forehead. “You’re not listening to me.”

“I’ve heard it all before,” Logan jeered, playing for every moment he could get. “Every criminal says he’s innocent. You’re no different than anyone else. You shot George in cold blood.”

“I am,” Wade insisted. “I am different. I’m a hero. Just like you.”

His voice had gone thin and desperate but Logan didn’t budge. “You’re a scared little man who feels bigger with a gun and a cause.”

Wade stood up, a half smile on his lips, his eyes lifeless in his pale face.

“Actually I am different. Everyone in this town thinks you’re invincible. I used to think that too. But you’re human. You bleed red just like everyone else.”

Wade went over to the island and pulled out a large knife from the butcher block.

“I’m a student of crime, Logan. I read all about those drug murders not long ago. That’s what this will look like when I’m done with you.”

Logan’s heart accelerated and sweat pooled at the back of his neck. If he couldn’t get out of these cuffs in time he was going to be cut open and gutted like a fish. Not a pretty way to go. He’d never feared death but he sure as hell had a lot to live for now with Ava.

“Don’t you want the world to know you did it, Wade? This just makes you look guiltier. You know this isn’t justified. You’re killing me because you want to. Plain and simple. It makes you feel powerful.”

“I am powerful,” Wade hissed. “I fight evil and make things right. I won’t let you stop me.”

Wade stood right in front of Logan’s chair, his face contorted with anger and something evil that Logan had only seen a few times in his life. Wade lifted up the knife and brought it down in a wide arc, the blade slicing through Logan’s shirt and the flesh of his upper arm.

Logan hissed and gritted his teeth, not wanting to let Wade know how the pain bloomed and burned. A red stain had formed and was growing larger on the fabric of Logan’s uniform shirt.

“Only about fifty or so more of these to go, Logan. A tough son of a bitch like you is going to take a long time to die.”

Logan could feel the blood dripping down his arm, the cool liquid a contrast to his sweat-covered skin. He rotated his right wrist one last time and felt the chain lock tightly. Knowing this was the moment, Logan pressed the metal bracelets together tightly, feeling the links in the chain give way with a snap. The rings were still wrapped around him but his hands were no longer tethered together.

He would have to thank Frank Jesse for sending him into the military. Otherwise he never would have known how to do that. He took a deep breath and waited for the right moment.

*   *   *   *

Ava fumed as she pulled into Logan’s long driveway. Her sister was a complete and total bitch and Ava didn’t care if she ever spoke to her again. Mary clearly blamed Ava for anything and everything, and she was tired of being Mary’s whipping bitch. She’d finally cut her sister off and stomped out of the Bryson estate. She wanted to talk to Logan and hear what he’d found. Happily his truck was in front of the house.

Bounding up the steps, she pushed open the front door and headed straight for the kitchen. Logan was probably sitting at the island working on whatever he’d found today.

She went through the foyer and stopped dead in her tracks. Fear kept her from moving, her limbs frozen and her breath shallow. Logan was sitting in a chair with a couple of large bloodstains on his shirt. Wade was brandishing a horrific knife, his own clothes splattered with a few blood drops.

She must have gasped or maybe even screamed because Wade whirled around, the knife still in his hand. He roared and started heading straight for her, his teeth bared in some kind of animal rage. Finally able to move, she turned to run but before she could make it to the front door she heard a crash. Logan had tackled Wade to the floor.

Wade growled in frustration as the two men rolled around, each trying to subdue the other. Logan threw a punch to Wade’s jaw, just as he brought his knee up into Logan’s gut. The two men grappled until Wade was sitting on top of Logan. Wade tried to bring the knife down into Logan’s chest but it was a battle of strength at this point. Normally Logan would win easily but injured was another story.

Giving an eardrum rattling battle cry, Logan managed to dislodge Wade, sending him sprawling onto the area rug. Ava watched as Wade’s features twisted, his chest heaving with his exertion. He awkwardly tried to stand but his legs didn’t appear to have the strength to hold him.

Logan levered up onto his knees and grabbed Wade’s wrist, knocking the knife to the floor. It skittered across the hardwood and came to rest several feet away. Still holding Wade’s arm, Logan pulled back his right hand and punched his foe in the nose, blood spurting everywhere, the crunching of bones making Ava shudder.

Whatever fight Wade had in him was now gone. All the rage that had been driving him seemed to leak out at that point. His body went limp and he whimpered in pain, curling up in a ball.

Ava hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath but she finally sucked in a lungful of air, her head spinning from lack of oxygen. Relief and disbelief warred inside of her.

Wade was the killer.

Logan sat back on his heels, his breathing ragged, and finally turned to her.

“Call 911. Then go into the bedroom and get my spare cuffs from the bedside table.”

That snapped her to attention. She quickly dialed 911, giving them the particulars then ran to get the handcuffs. He also had a handgun, a set of brass knuckles, and a Taser nestled right next to his supply of condoms. They really needed to have a talk.

Logan slapped them on Wade who was still lying on the floor with tears streaming down his cheeks. Ava found some dishtowels and wrapped them around Logan’s arms where he’d been cut hoping to stem the flow. They didn’t look deep but he would probably need some stitches.

She and Logan sat back against the wall in exhaustion as they listened to the sirens growing louder. Tires squealed on the concrete driveway and Deputy Drake came in the door taking in the scene.

“Put him in the car,” Logan directed. “Read him his rights.”

“Looks like we need to get you handled first, Logan.”

Logan shook his head. “Deal with him. I’ll be fine.”

EMTs suddenly filled the doorway. “Wherever you go, I go,” Ava said, determined she would stay with Logan even if they took him to the hospital.

“Honey, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Statements were made. Wade was carted off to jail, and Logan was stitched up by the paramedics. It seemed like hours before the last person pulled out of the driveway and Logan and Ava were alone once again.

Ava carefully wrapped her arms around Logan. She didn’t want to hurt him but she needed to be close to him right now. She was trembling as the adrenaline drained from her body.

“You scared the hell out of me.” She was smiling and crying at the same time. She’d been terrified walking in on that scene. She should have known better. Wade was no match for Sheriff Logan Wright.

She ran her hands up and down his chest, loving this man more than anything in the world. “When I walked in here I swear my heart stopped beating for a few seconds.”

He leaned down to kiss her gently and the events of the day fell away. “So did mine, good girl. I still had some hope, even as I came home today, that he wouldn’t be guilty.” Logan shook his head sadly. “He is. And delusional by the sound of it. He thought he was doing the world a service.”

“He wanted to be just like you.” Ava laid her hand on Logan’s jaw feeling the roughness of his beard. She’d heard Logan’s statement about why Wade became a vigilante. “I can’t say as I blame him. You’re my hero, that’s for sure.”

A dull red stained his cheeks. “I’m just a cop.” He looked up and seemed to notice the house was empty. “I need to call my sheriff friends. They’ll be wanting to hear all about this.”

“Ten minutes. Then I’m putting you to bed with a pain pill.”

Logan chuckled but didn’t object. Whether he admitted it or not, he needed more than scrambled eggs and a shoulder rub. He needed her to care for him. He’d fight her all the way but this was one argument she was determined to win.

“Fifteen and I’ll obey your every command.”

She knew better than to believe him. He was ornery and stubborn, and he was going to make her crazy. She’d love every minute of it.

When he was feeling better, she’d tell him her decision. As she’d watched for a few horrible seconds while Wade try to stab Logan, she’d known she could never be without this man. There and then, she’d decided to sell her condo and move to Corville. She wanted every single day and then some.

“Make your call. I’ll be right here waiting. Always.”

*   *   *   *

“We have to be at the wedding in an hour,” Ava scolded. “We can’t be late.”

“The church is ten minutes away,” Logan smiled. “We have plenty of time.”

Ava draped his blue silk tie over his shoulder. “Stop playing with your treehouse drawings and finish getting dressed. It’s a sad day when I get ready faster than you do.”

For the last six months, Logan had been poring over the plans for a new treehouse. The ranch had sold quickly and they’d purchased this lovely two-story home in a newer neighborhood with large three acre lots. The property they’d chosen had several trees that were good candidates for the elaborate structure that Logan had been dreaming up with his sheriff buddies. It would be a palace in the clouds.

Ava’s condo was also sold and they’d gone back to Portland for a short trip to pack her belongings and say goodbye to her friends. None of them had blamed her for marrying Logan and moving back home. If anything, they’d been in awe of what one of them called “sex on legs”.

“I’ve been busy. Besides, weddings are for women. Honeymoons are for men,” Logan teased. “At least our honeymoon was.”

Logan slipped the tie around his neck and began executing a perfect Windsor knot. He really was a Renaissance man.

“I think we both enjoyed the honeymoon.” Ava hopped on one foot while she pulled on a black high-heeled pump. “We tolerated the wedding.”

“Are you sure?” Logan paused, a scowl on his face. “Do you regret not having a big wedding like Christina and Jack? Did I cheat you out of that rushing you to the altar?”

He
had
rushed her to the altar. Indecently so. Her mother had even delicately questioned her if perhaps a bundle of joy was on the way. Her father hadn’t said a word about the haste but he was now able to look her in the eye when he spoke. It was progress.

Of course Mary hadn’t attended the small wedding. She wasn’t speaking to Ava and her parents were firmly caught in the middle of this emotional tug of war. Mary was determined to play the victim and in her mind Ava was a terrible, no good sister for helping uncover Wade’s crimes.

Wade’s attorney had him pleading insanity and he was currently awaiting trial. The state had already announced its plan to seek the death penalty due to the sheer number of victims, some of them very probably innocent of what they’d been accused of.

“Not in the least.” Ava shuddered delicately. “I’ve never dreamed about a big white wedding. It was nice just having a few friends and family at the church and then a little dinner party at my parents’ afterwards.”