AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As she headed to the office, a call came in about a disturbance at the local church. She followed Walters out to his cruiser and slipped inside. As they sped through town, she glanced at him. “What, did somebody take off with the poor box?”
“Not sure.” He pulled up in front of the church. “Father Derry just said to get down here fast. I could hear shouting, so something’s going down.”
Jenna slid out the seat of the cruiser and headed for the church. A woman ran out screaming, her face bruised and blood dripping from a split lip. She held out an arm to slow the woman. “Hey, what’s happening?”
“My ex-husband found me.” She glanced over one shoulder and turned a panicked expression to Jenna. “He’s set to kill me. I was hiding in the church.” She waved a hand frantically toward the door. “Father Derry—”
“I’ll speak to him when you’re safe.” Keeping her voice calm, Jenna led the woman to the cruiser and beckoned Walters over. “What’s your name?”
“Carol, Carol Dean.” The woman was shaking like a leaf.
Jenna took her by the arm. “You’ll be safe with us. We’ll deal with your ex. What’s his name?”
“Errol… Errol Dean.” Her eyes flashed with terror. “There he is now. Oh my God, he’s coming.” She cringed away.
The fact Jenna had never been a regular cop and had agents to back her up on busts all through her DEA career meant that facing a crazy man practically alone was going to be a new experience. Shooting him wasn’t an option and in Black Rock Falls he could very well be loaded for bear. She had to prove she could do the job and pushed away the impending rush of inadequacy. This could be a make-or-break moment to prove herself. Taking a deep breath, she turned as a man in his thirties, wearing a T-shirt with a local football team’s logo on the front, blue jeans, and a ballcap came hurtling toward them.
“He sure looks mad.” Deputy Walters would be no match for a stronger younger man.
Jenna moved toward the running man and held up a hand in an effort to stop him. “Get her away from here. I’ll deal with him. He’s not carrying a weapon.”
“Sure thing.” Deputy Walters took hold of the woman’s arm and led her away.
Fingers itching to pull her Glock, Jenna calmly drew her nightstick from her belt and shook it out to full length. At her time in rehab, she’d learned a few tricks, and kept her voice calm. “Okay, Errol. What’s your story?”
“Get out of my way.” Errol slid to a halt as mad as a bull and snorting through his nose. “I said get out of my way, lady.”
After taking abuse from Michael and having to stand there and do nothing, she had firsthand knowledge of what his ex-wife had suffered. Yeah, she understood just fine that men like this didn’t expect women to stand up to them. They enjoyed the power over a weaker person but most of them were cowards. “Sorry, I can’t do that. Now how about you cool down some and we’ll talk?”
The slap came so fast and hard Jenna’s vision blurred. She tasted blood on her tongue but lifted her chin and glared at him. She’d never allow a man to hurt her again. “You might figure you can get away with a small fine or a day or so in jail for hitting your wife, but I’m a law enforcement officer.” She took a breath watching him shape up to hit her again. “Bad mistake, Errol.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” He grinned. “I could break you in half like a twig.”
Using her nightstick, Jenna swung it low an
d took out his legs. He howled like a wolf and cursed as he tumbled to the floor clutching at his shins. Dropping to her knees, she spun him onto his back and had him cuffed in seconds. Bending down close to his ear, she lowered her voice to a whisper. “That’s how it feels when women fight back. I’m in town now. And I’ll prosecute you to the full extent of the law.” She helped him up and, taking a firm grip on the powerful man, she led him to the cruiser.
“If I can’t have you, nobody can, Carol.” Errol’s face contorted into a mask of hate. “Think about that before I come see you again.”
The taut muscles under Jenna’s hand displayed a strength she wouldn’t be able to control for long, and juiced up on adrenalin, this guy was dangerous. She had to get control and turned to Errol. “Get in the vehicle, you sack of shit.” She sat him down, one hand on his head, and was about to close the door when it flew open. He barreled out, head down, and charged at her. “Hey.”
The two-hundred-pound man clipped her with his shoulder as he ran past, tossing her to one side. Jenna rolled and grabbed Errol by the ankle, holding on tight, but he was intent on getting to the woman. Dragged along behind him, she watched in horror as Deputy Walters, his back turned, had missed the attempted escape. The next second, in a flash of denim, another man hit Errol with a shoulder charge and slammed him to the ground. The young man had his knee in Errol’s back and had him pinned to the floor. He looked up at Jenna and blushed. “Ah… are you okay, Deputy?”
After dusting herself off, Jenna took charge of her prisoner. She read him his rights and this time, with the other man standing close by, Errol went into the back of the cruiser all the while screaming “police brutality.” She closed the door and turned to the tall man with curly brown hair. “Thank you. He’s a slippery one. I’m glad you came along. You’re very fast. Are you in law enforcement?”
“Not yet.” He picked up his Stetson, dusted it on his leg, and then held out his hand. “Jake Rowley. I’m back home from college and was looking to join the sheriff’s department.” He turned to Deputy Walters. “I was coming by to speak to you and saw you parked here. I wanted to discuss the position of deputy you advertised.” He glanced at Jenna. “Seems I’m too late.”
Jenna looked him over. She needed a strong deputy as a partner. Walters was obviously having trouble getting around and didn’t hear too well. “Maybe not. Can you hang around for a time? I need to call the paramedics for Mrs. Dean.”
“You’ll need to go check on Father Derry.” Mrs. Dean pointed to the church. “Errol knocked him down.”
“I’ll call the paramedics.” Jake Rowley pulled out his phone. “And I’ll be happy to wait here with Mrs. Dean.”
“My name is Carol.” She patted her cut lip with a tissue and looked at Jenna. “Thanks for your help.” She moved her gaze to Rowley. “I hope you make it as a deputy. We need some muscle around town.”
“I’ll wait here with the prisoner, Jenna. Go see Father Derry.” Walters leaned against the cruiser. “Give me a yell if you need any help.”
Fourteen
