Page 84 of Trace of Doubt
“You caused me to get fired.”
Anger fueled my mouth and restraint slipped away. “Randy, I had nothing to do with your losing—”
“You owe me.”
The distant whine of a law enforcement siren sounded. “Officers are on their way. Why not sit on the porch? Once they’re here, I’ll brew coffee to sober you up.”
He swore and kicked the door. Although it was thick and sturdy, it had a breaking point, just like everything and everyone else.
Randy punched his fist through the window nearest the door. Glass shattered. Blood dripped from his knuckles. My home should be my sanctuary, not another prison. More glass cracked and fell to the floor. I hurried to the back door and flung it open. Safety lay ahead in the woods and bought me time.
I found refuge behind an oak tree and studied the front of my cabin. Randy had disappeared, and I assumed he was inside. How long should I hide here before moving deeper into the woods? Two police cruisers slid up next to Randy’s truck. Four men exited with their weapons drawn, including Sheriff Wendall. Two of them jogged to the rear of the cabin.
“Randy, come on out with your hands up,” Sheriff Wendall’s voice blared above the sounds of nature. “No reason to stay in there.”
No answer.
“Have you hurt Shelby?”
“She took off.”
An officer shouted they had Randy. Breathing my thanks, I walked toward Sheriff Wendall.
I was safe. For now.
50
Randy fought the cuffs and swore at everyone around him. “I only wanted to talk, and you’re takin’ the side of a killer and a thief.”
“Shut up,” Sheriff Wendall said, “or you’ll be facin’ more charges than a DWI, breaking and entering, and attempted assault.” The sheriff turned to me. “Shelby, are you all right?”
“Yes, sir.” Anger, more like rage, burned in my stomach. “At least one of my windows is broken.”
“We’ll look at the damages in a few minutes. Do you want to contact Edie? She’s worried sick.”
“Sure.”
“Edie won’t press any charges against me,” Randy sneered. “And she’ll bail me out of jail.”
“Don’t count on it.” Sheriff Wendall huffed. “Why were you here when you’d been ordered to stay away?”
“No law against having a conversation.”
Sheriff Wendall stepped to Randy, nose to nose. “Looks likeyou’ve broken enough laws to spend several weeks in jail. Maybe you’ll dry out.”
I trembled, the unfairness of it all pounding in my heart. “I don’t think you’re the one who’s been targeting me, but I think someone hired you. Who?”
Randy spat at my feet. “I never murdered anyone.”
I swallowed my pride, took a deep breath. “That’s right. Just like I faced charges, a judge, and paid my debt, you will do the same. Know what? For a moment, I nearly stooped to your level.” I faced the sheriff and the other three officers. “Thank you. I’ll assess my home for damages.”
The sight of shattered glass brought hot tears. Thankfully my belongings and Edie’s cabin and furnishings had stood the test of Randy’s drunken violence.
He reminded me of a male guard who used to corner me with threats if I didn’t give in to his advances. He made life behind bars even more frightening, but I was stubborn and never relented.
Valleysburg was my home now, and I intended to stay.
I talked to Edie and assured her Sheriff Wendall and his officers had Randy under control.
