Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

W e were all silent for a moment before I said, "We need to call Joe."

The car erupted into chaos as all three of the people shut in with me protested.

"Look," I said, holding up my hands to get their attention. "Joe will find a way to protect him." This boy knew too much for him to do otherwise.

"So can I," Dermot said, his jaw tight.

"Joe needs to know anyway," I said insistently. "He has to find out who murdered that man and bring them to justice."

Austin shook his head, and defiance filled his eyes. "I ain't talkin' to no sheriff. That's why I came to you." He reached for the door handle.

"Okay, wait," I said in a rush. "I told you I'd help you, and lettin' you run off isn't helpin' you."

"I ain't talkin' to the sheriff," he repeated, tears filling his eyes.

"How many warrants you got out for you, kid?" Dermot asked.

He blinked. "How'd you…" His shoulders sank. "Two."

"What for?" Dermot asked.

"Domestic violence."

"Was the domestic violence with your stepdad?" I asked.

"He's not my stepdad!" he protested.

"Okay," I said softly. "Your mom's boyfriend."

"He was hitting my little sister." His eyes hardened. "So I made him stop."

"Surely the sheriff's deputy who responded to the call took that into account," I said.

He released a bitter laugh. "Not when the guy you hit is King Major Comfort."

"The mattress guy?" Neely Kate asked in disbelief. "The King of Comfort beats up little kids?"

Austin gestured to Neely Kate with a dry look. "See?"

"He lives in Pickle Junction ?" Neely Kate asked. "His mattress store is in Magnolia."

The boy shrugged. "Sure, but his family lives in Pickle Junction, and he won't leave his precious mommy ."

Neely Kate's mouth dropped open. " He lives with his mom? "

"No, he lives with my mom. But his mom doesn't live very far away." He made a face. "But he's famous, so the sheriff won't do anything to him."

"Famous," Dermot scoffed under his breath. "That's not even his real name. It's George Major White."

I wondered how Dermot knew his legal name, and what that implied.

"It should be Major Asshole," Austin said.

"Listen," I said to the teen, "I'll talk to Joe. I'm sure if he knows the circumstances, then?—"

"The kid's got a point," Dermot said. "The deputies are biased against pretty much anyone in Pickle Junction. And the kid shouldn't need a special favor to get the sheriff's department to treat him fairly."

My cheeks burned because he had a point. "You're right."

"No sheriff," Austin said to me, pleading with his eyes.

"Okay," I said softly, already wondering how I could approach Joe about the deputies' behavior with Pickle Junction citizens. "No sheriff." But it didn't mean I couldn't find a way to bring this to Joe's attention.

"Do you know anything about this package they were asking about?" Dermot asked. "You said they were shouting. What were they saying?"

Austin swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I think he took something. They were asking him where it was."

"Did they say what it was?" Dermot asked.

The boy shook his head.

"You're sure?"

"Yes, sir."

"And they took your wallet?" Dermot asked.

The boy's face flushed, and his gaze dropped to his lap. "Yes, sir."

"What address will they see on your license?"

"My mom's house."

"And you say Major Asshole lives there?" Dermot asked.

Austin cracked a smile, then sobered. "Yes, sir."

Dermot nodded, then pulled out his phone and started tapping on it. "What's your address, kid?"

His mouth dropped open, but he quickly closed it. "I ain't tellin' you that."

"You want those guys to show up and kidnap your little sister to make you turn yourself in?"

His face flushed as his jaw hardened. "So I let your guys take her instead?"

"I don't take kids," Dermot spat. "I have principles."

Austin's eyes filled with distrust. "You can't have too many if my daddy worked for you."

Dermot's anger faded. "You're right about your daddy. He was a piece of shit, and I kicked his ass to the curb years ago. I don't know what the asshole's doin' now, but it sure as hell ain't workin' for me."

Austin started to say something, then stopped.

"You've got two options, kid," Dermot said matter-of-factly. "You either come with me and let me protect you, or you do this on your own."

Austin's eyes widened. "I came to Lady."

"Lady's retired," Dermot said. "I'm your only option."

The boy turned to me with a pleading look.

"He's right," I said, feeling guilty for passing him off to Dermot, but there was no way I could bring him home and risk the safety of my kids. "I'm retired, but you can trust Dermot. He's protected me more times than I can count. He'll protect you too. Or you can talk to my husband." By now, I knew there was no way he'd willingly talk to Joe, but my loyalty to him was strong.

"And I'll protect your mom and sister too," Dermot said, ignoring my suggestion. "Once you give me the address, I'll send someone to watch the house and make sure no one hurts them."

And try to intercept them to find out what they were up to , but I kept that part to myself.

Austin lifted his chin and gave Dermot a hard stare. "Why would you help me?"

Dermot didn't say anything for a second, then said, "I've got my reasons."

"Like killin' me?" the teen asked. His shaking hands belied his bravado.

"I ain't gonna kill you, kid," Dermot said with a snort. He paused, and his tone softened. "You remind me of someone, and I wished I'd helped him. Maybe I consider this a do-over."

Austin's eyes widened, and Neely Kate snuck a look of surprise at me. I had no idea who he was talking about, but it was obvious he meant it.

"We can protect your sister from Major Asshole too," Dermot said. "But only if you cooperate."

I hoped he was bluffing about only helping his sister if the kid cooperated, but looking at Dermot's dark expression, I wasn't sure.

Austin reached for the door handle. "I'm out of here."

Turning toward me with a grim look, Dermot said, "I wonder what will happen to the kid if we don't help him."

I knew what he was asking. He wanted me to have a vision, and I had to admit it wasn't a bad idea.

Turning in my seat, I placed my hand on the boy's arm and asked, What will happen to Austin when he leaves this car? I plunged into darkness and heard heavy breathing— my heavy breathing—because in the vision, I was Austin. My eyes adjusted, and I realized I was running through trees while someone chased me.

"Give it up, kid," a man called out behind me. "You've got nowhere to go."

"I didn't see nothin'!" I said with a sob in Austin's voice. "I'll be quiet! I swear!"

"We know you met with the Lady in Black," the man shouted at me. "We want to know what you told her."

"I didn't tell her nothin'!" I shouted, then stumbled over a rut, falling face down. I put my hands out in front of me to break my fall, and a sharp pain shot through my left palm. Panicked, I started crawling, trying to get up on my feet, but something slammed into my back, sending me face down in the dirt.

"Just tell us what we want to know, and you'll be free to go," the man growled, his foot firmly planted on my back.

I tried to get up, but he put his weight on his foot, pushing me down hard enough that rocks and sticks jabbed me in the stomach and cheek.

"What did you tell her?" the man growled.

"Nothin'! I thought she'd be more badass, so I didn't tell her nothin'. I left."

"We have ways of making you talk, kid, so save yourself the trouble."

Terror swamped my head. "I told her you shot someone."

"Did you tell her who we are?"

"I don't know who you are!" I shouted through my tears.

"Good." Then there was a loud bang, a sharp pain in my back, and I was plunged into gray mist.

I burst out of the vision, panting as I said, "You don't know who they are."

Neely Kate stared into my face with terror in her eyes, while Austin grumbled, "I already told you I didn't know."

I turned to Dermot, and he gave me a slight nod. He and Neely Kate didn't know what I'd seen, but they'd been around for enough of my visions and their aftermath to understand I'd seen something bad.

"Let me see your phone," Dermot said, reaching his hand out to the kid.

"I ain't givin' you my phone," he snapped.

"Then get out and face those guys on your own," Dermot said.

Austin turned to me. "I came to you for help! Not him!"

"I already told you I can't help you, Austin," I said quietly. There was no way I was bringing him anywhere near my kids after what I'd just seen. "Dermot will protect you, I swear, but I need to know something before you go with him."

"What?" he spat.

"Who did you call this morning? Who told you to come to me?"

He shook his head. "I can't tell you."

"Then we can't help you," I bluffed, not surprised when Neely Kate gasped in surprise.

"What?" Austin screeched.

"Give me a name, and you and Dermot can head to whatever safe house he has lined up."

He slowly shook his head.

In the past, I might have accepted his answer in the hope that he'd tell me more once I'd proven he could trust me. But I wasn't the only one in danger now, and I'd do whatever I needed to do to protect my kids. Even if it meant sending Austin to his death. It made me nauseous to admit that, but I had no choice. I only hoped he wouldn't be stubborn enough to run.

"It's the only way we'll help you," I said. "I need a name."

Tears flooded his eyes. "I ain't no snitch."

"The person who told you might be in trouble too," I said insistently. "Dermot and his men can make sure your friend is okay." I shot Dermot a pointed stare, and he nodded.

"You think they might go after him?" the kid asked in alarm.

"Did you tell anyone else you were comin' to see me?"

"No, just Justin." His eyes widened when he realized he'd just blurted his friend's name.

"Justin who?" Dermot asked in a neutral tone.

"Don't hurt ‘im," Austin pleaded.

"Let's get one thing straight, kid," Dermot said, his voice tight. "I'm not a bullshitter. My word is my bond. I won't hurt a kid. We just need to talk to him."

"Justin Purcell. He lives down the street from me."

Dermot nodded. "He at school today?"

"I guess so."

"Good," he said gruffly.

If Justin was at school, he was probably safe from whoever was after Austin.

"Need anything else, Lady?" Dermot asked, his gaze boring into mine.

I tried not to cringe at the title. "No, but I need a moment alone with Austin."

He turned to face Austin. "You better be minding your manners." Then he opened the door and got out, Neely Kate following suit.

Once they'd closed their doors, I gave Austin a reassuring smile. "You can trust Dermot. I promise."

His eyes turned glassy. "I'm scared. What if they go after my sister?"

"Dermot will protect her." I paused. "I would trust him to protect my own children and actually have. He's your—and your sister's—safest option."

"Okay," he choked out.

He'd looked so tough when I'd found him sitting in the grass, but now he looked like a scared kid. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him into a hug. His body went stiff, then softened.

"I'm glad you came to me. I may not be personally watching over you, but I'll be checking up on you," I whispered into his ear.

Then I released him and got out. I had him and his sister taken care of; now I had to take care of my own children.