The time has almost come, but will everything work out all right? Will they catch Jordan and put him away where he can't harm anyone ever again? Find out in this week's chapter of The Sheriff. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
The evening threatened to last forever, at least from Roy’s
point of view. For the past few hours, customers had come and gone in decent,
not overwhelming, numbers. From his vantage point, Roy could see them all. He
had a bird’s eye view of both the front and back lots. He’d almost gone
barreling into the store when he saw Jordan appear out of nowhere and swagger
cockily toward the front door. He clenched his fists and forced himself to take
a breath. Too soon. If he went in now, he’d most likely ruin everything. The
bastard was just probably trying to rattle Dustin’s cage. If Roy found out that
was the case, he’d make the little asshole pay for his behavior.
Why hadn’t he thought to get Dustin’s phone number? He could
kick himself for his oversight. As soon as he could, though, he’d rectify his
mistake. After only a few minutes, he watched as Jordan stormed out of the
store, looking less than pleased. Dustin must have said or done something to
piss him off. Good for Dustin. Roy relaxed a little when he saw Jordan get into
his car and peel angrily off the lot and out of sight.
He wondered what time Denver got off. What if he worked
until closing too? Would that change anything? He hadn’t thought to ask Dustin
about possible co-workers, and now it was a moot point. Roy shifted in the
truck seat. He knew Harlan was somewhere in the vicinity, lying low and out of
sight until Roy gave him the signal. He’d have a deputy with him, too. Between
the three of them, they should be more than able to handle a punk like Jordan.
Closing time was fast approaching, and still no sign that
Denver intended to leave. He watched as Dustin drew the sign on the front door
around to read Closed. A few minutes
later, a car drew up. A tall thin man got out, approached the door and began to
pound on it. Roy tensed automatically.
What the fuck?
This wasn’t Jordan, and this wasn’t the back door. What was going on? Roy set
his hand on the gun at his hip, growling deep in his throat as Dustin opened the
door and stuck his head out. The two men exchanged a few words that Roy couldn’t
hear, before Dustin closed the door once more and the stranger returned to his
vehicle. But he didn’t leave. Instead, he drove around to the back of the
building.
This must be it.
He watched the car as it parked near the back door and two
men got out, the skinny one from earlier, and a heavier guy. Neither of them
was Jordan, though. Where was he?
Denver opened the back door. Something flashed in the skinny
man’s hand, just before he pushed Denver back and muscled his way inside,
followed by his cohort. The door closed behind them with a bang.
Why the gun? They had a guy on the inside, so why bother
with a weapon? Was that to make it look good in case someone else was with Dustin?
Make the robbery appear legitimate? Roy didn’t think Jordan would be that
considerate.
He wasn’t going to wait and find out, either. He eased
quietly out of the truck and pulled out his phone, even as he cautiously
approached the back of the store, crossing the darkened back lot.
“Harlan, it’s
me,” he said. “Two men just went inside the store from the back, and one has a
gun. We need to get in there. Now.”
“Copy that,” Harlan said. “On my way. Hang tight until I get
there.”
Keeping to the shadows, Roy skirted the robbers’ car and
drew his weapon, waiting against the silent building. As soon as they started
hefting the merchandise out the door, he’d take them unawares. Harland would be
there by then.
A shot rang out, breaking the stillness of the night.
Without hesitation, Roy reached for the door, but it was locked. He shot into
the lock and kicked it open before he burst inside.
to be continued
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