Page 173 of Rags's Awakening
“It’s okay. I’m here now.”
“How did you know?”
“You didn’t answer your phone.”
Sirens wailed in the distance.
Casey closed her eyes briefly. “Someone called the cops,” she murmured.
Rags glanced toward the window. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “They did.”
Devin groaned on the floor.
She glanced at him. “I shot him.”
“Youdefendedyourself,” Rags corrected.
“I still shot him,” she whispered. “He’s the killer. Devin, who I thought was my friend.”
“I thought you would be my forever princess,” Devin groaned.
“Shut the fuck up or I’ll finish you off,” Rags said, taking a step toward him.
“The cops. Don’t complicate this,” Casey said, tugging him back to her.
“I didn’t know my woman packed a weapon.” His arm wrapped around her, drawing her closer against him. “I find it sexy as hell, babe.” He kissed the top of her head.
She pulled away at the sound of footsteps rushing up the stairs. “You should leave. You know how they are with you and your club.”
“There’s no fuckin’ way I’m slithering outta here like a damned pussy. I’ve got you.”
Before she could respond, several officers rushed in with guns drawn.
“What’s going on here?” one of the cops asked, his gaze locked on Rags.
Casey pointed at Devin. “He tried to kill me. I defended myself.”
“You?” one of the policemen said. He stared at Rags. “Are you sure you didn’t have a hand in this?”
“He just came in. He had nothing to do with this.” Casey tilted her head toward the killer. “He’s the one who’s been strangling all the women. He wanted me to be his next victim.”
The wail of more sirens echoed in the night.
“The paramedics are on their way,” said one of the deputies.
“You should check the backyard or basement at his house for the bodies of his mother and sister. Based on what he was saying, you’ll probably find them there.”
“Did you know him?” the deputy whose badge readOfficer Hughesasked.
“I thought I did,” Casey said. “He works at the Frontier Museum. I can’t believe Devin did all those horrible things.”
“Casey, why are you lying to the cops?” Devin said.
Casey felt Rags stiffen against her, and she dug her nails into his skin so he wouldn’t do something that would make this disaster any worse than it already was.
Then the paramedics rushed in with a stretcher, hoisted Devin on it, and rolled him away as Sheriff Bridges entered the townhouse. He glanced at Rags, then at the large pool of blood on the floor.
“You involved in this?” he asked.
