Page 84 of The Secrets We Hide
Leroy “Bubba” Rawley got out of the passenger side of the vehicle. Emmy should’ve been worried, but she was struck bythe fact that she was finally, after forty-two years of hearing stories, seeing him in person for the first time.
He was older, closer to Tommy’s age, but with a younger man’s athleticism. His legs were muscled under his jeans. His quarter zip was tight across his broad shoulders. It was only because she was looking for it that she noticed his right arm hung awkwardly at his side. Emmy had heard a long-ago altercation had caused nerve damage. Still, with his rugged features and streaks of gray in his wavy dark hair, he seemed more like a dad out on a leisurely Sunday drive than someone who’d spent ten years in federal prison for trying to cut off another man’s face with a broken piece of glass.
Then he got closer, and his proximity stirred a primal fear that permeated every molecule of her body. Leroy Rawley wasn’t a dad on a Sunday drive.
He was wanted for questioning in four different homicides.
He sold heroin and fentanyl to schoolkids.
He trafficked women.
He blackmailed cops and politicians.
He was at the house of a possible witness who might identify his grandson as being the new man in Mandy Vickery’s life.
Emmy parted her lips. Took in a deep breath. She welcomed the return of a familiar, eerie calm that usually accompanied danger. Her hand rested on the butt of her Glock. She could see one of the Rawley thugs was stationed behind the wheel of the BMW. Woody was in the back seat. She squared her shoulders, widened her gait as she walked across the yard.
None of it mattered, because Jude went ahead of her.
She met him on the sidewalk. She’d squared herself, too, like she was better equipped against one of the most dangerous drug dealers on the eastern seaboard than a sheriff with sixteen rounds at her disposal.
Emmy stopped behind Jude, stationing herself to the left in case the thug and Woody decided to come out shooting.
“Mr. Rawley,” Emmy said. “Nice to finally meet you.”
He didn’t look at her. He stared at Jude. Jude stared back.
Then his mouth split into a crooked grin. He gave a booming laugh. Ran his fingers through his wavy hair. He was agood-looking man if you were into risking your life every time you blinked.
He said, “Martha Judean Clifton!”
Emmy tried not to flinch at the loud sound of his voice. Sunlight bounced off the piercing blue of his eyes as he took in every inch of Jude’s body.
“Goddamn, you’re still a fine-looking woman.”
“Thanks.” Jude kept her boots planted on the sidewalk, but she’d leaned away from him the way you’d tense yourself in the presence of a dangerous animal. “What can I do for you, Lee?”
“No, darling, it’s what I can do foryou.” He nodded back toward the BMW. “Heard you been asking around about my boy.”
“Woody is your son?” Jude sounded like she didn’t already know the answer.
“My grandson. Tanya helped raise him. She OD’d a while back. It was either go out with heroin or go out with cancer.” He shrugged, like those were common choices. “Anyway, he’s a good kid. I like having him around.”
“Sure.” Jude turned to Emmy. “Let’s go.”
“Hold on, honey.” Rawley laughed. “I’m here to talk to you.” Emmy realized he was referring to her. She felt momentarily pinned by his sudden attention, but she quickly shook herself out of it. “Sheriff Clifton.”
“Pleasure to finally meet you, Sheriff Clifton.” He extended his left hand.
Emmy let his hand hang for a moment. She could’ve told herself it was a power play, but the thought of touching him was grotesque. Still, she made herself shake his hand. She expected his skin to feel cold, like a snake’s, but it was warm and surprisingly soft. Almost normal. He held on a moment longer than necessary before letting go.
He said, “Been following your career, young lady. Very impressive. You’ve got my vote.”
Emmy steeled her spine. “You’re a convicted felon, Mr. Rawley. You’re not allowed to vote in the state of Georgia.”
“Do tell?” He laughed his fake laugh. “Thanks for the legal advice, honey. You sure are prettier than the rest of my lawyers.”
Emmy opened her mouth to correct him, but Jude jumped back in.
