Page 67 of Diamonds in the Mud

Rayne

There was little that I liked to do less on my day off than babysit a bunch of criminals. I had started staking out every place I knew Declan could be shortly after they’d driven Evelyn’s body away.

A knock on the man’s trailer door had turned into me obtaining an early morning warrant. I did a quick search of the small and extremely dirty place and found a handful of party drugs, a lot of alcohol, and a few firearms with their serial numbers filed off.

The man’s car had been in the barn and we had towed it in. But after a glance, I could tell it wasn’t the vehicle that had plowed into Evelyn in the alleyway. It didn’t even have an engine in it and wasn’t running.

Since the only other vehicle registered to the man was a motorcycle, which I assumed he was currently riding around somewhere just out of reach.

One thing was sure—it wasn’t a damned hog that had done that to the woman. More like a large truck or something bigger.

I hadn’t been the one to knock on Mrs. Hart’s door and tell her that her daughter was dead. I hadn’t been there to see the woman’s son, Tristan, cry when he was told his mother would never return. That wasn’t my job.

My job was to find the SOB that killed her.

Hit-and-runs happened all the time but this one felt personal. If Declan hadn’t been released, I was positive Evelyn would still be alive.

After I found the man and hauled him down to jail again, my next step would be to find out exactly why he had been released.

I watched the man’s home and workplace all day. I knew the rest of the Reapers were at the bar, so I sat waiting. When Declan didn’t show, I followed Ben. Everyone in town knew Declan followed the man around like a shadow.

Watching Jameson and Ben disappear on their bikes together shortly after sundown, I knew that whatever was happening, I’d get an update from Jameson when possible. So I held back and returned to my place to eat dinner, shower, and change before heading back out to sit at a smoky bar for the rest of the night, waiting for Declan to show.

Randy had hired a company to come in and replace my front window and remove everything that had been damaged. Gone was my comfortable sofa, replaced with an old one that had sat in my parents’ den for years. The lamp and end tables would have to be replaced when I had time.

At least for now things were as normal as they could be. While I downed a cold turkey sandwich, chips, and sweet tea, I watched the local news.

The report on Evelyn was brief and to the point. They’d left out a few major details at my request.

When my doorbell rang, I glanced at my security system and groaned. I debated whether to open the door to Sabrina. When she started hitting the button repeatedly, I sighed and walked over and yanked the door open.

“It’s not a slot machine,” I said as she smiled at me.

“Have a moment?” she asked with a bright smile.

“No,” I said, starting to shut the door in her face. I should have seen the old stick-a-foot-in-the-door routine and planned accordingly. But I had yet to sleep and was extremely tired. “Go away,” I groaned.

Sabrina easily pushed open my door and stepped inside.

“Hey sister, that’s called breaking and—” I started, but she held her hand up for me to stop.

“I have something you will want to hear,” she said firmly.

I took a few deep breaths and then motioned to my new sofa. “Five minutes,” I warned.

She nodded and moved over to sit down. “Can I have some of that?” she asked, motioning towards my tea.

“This isn’t a diner,” I warned, but when she tilted her head and just looked at me, I rolled my eyes and poured her a glass. Since I didn’t have a coffee table any longer, I handed her the glass. “Talk.”

“I have information that Declan O’Malley is not in Gemsville,” she said after taking a sip.

“Where is he?” I asked as I sat across from her.

She shrugged. “Felix disappeared with him shortly after you found Evelyn.”

My eyes narrowed. “Felix himself?” She nodded. I had seen Felix at the bar before following Jameson and Ben out of town. If he was back in town without Declan, then he was the man I had to talk to.

She pulled a picture out of her purse and held it out for me. “I also have information that this guy is not who he says he is.”