when Brenner started screaming.
'Take these handcuffs off me. You can’t hold me. I haven’t done anything illegal. I own that house, and if I want to put a camera inside, you can’t stop me. I signed the papers two weeks ago. It’s my house, and I’ve got the right to know what goes on in there.'
Joe had used up all his patience. 'What you’ve got is the right to remain silent. Now shut the hell up.'
Justin’s mouth dropped open. 'He put a camera in your house?'
'Where’d he put it?' Willie asked.
She didn’t answer. She sagged against Nick’s side. Her eyes were fixed on Brenner. He turned, saw her watching him, and sneered.
There was dried blood caked on his perfectly capped teeth and more smeared on his lips. He was a reptile.
Brenner couldn’t control his fury. He blamed everyone but himself for getting caught. If the bitch hadn’t brought the FBI boyfriend home, he wouldn’t be in this predicament. Most of all he blamed Laurant. Joe grabbed him when he lunged toward her. Brenner tried to shove himself free while he shouted profanities at her. All his plans were ruined. Damn her.
'You bitch,' he shouted. 'This is my house now. I paid that old lady a lot of money and you know what? There isn’t a damned thing you can do about it. When I’m finished suing everybody, I’m going to own the FBI. I have rights,' he added in a roar. And then, hoping to humiliate her, he added, 'I’ve been watching you undress almost every night. I’ve seen everything you’ve got to offer.'
She saw the evil radiating like hot coals in his eyes, and she didn’t have any doubt at all that he had killed those women. Brenner was clearly demented.
'Joe, put a gag in his mouth,' Nick shouted.'
Get her away from here,' Wesson ordered.
The profanities Brenner hurled at her didn’t shake her as Nick led her back to the car. Some of the women in the crowd weren’t so indifferent, however. One mother cupped her hands over her son’s ears. Her neighbors might be shocked by Brenner’s conduct now, but when they learned the truth about the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde living in their midst, they were going to be sickened.
Nick got her inside the car, then backed into the street and parked it behind Feinberg’s vehicle.
'Listen to me. I want you to stay in the car with the windows up and the doors locked.' He flipped on the air conditioner so she wouldn’t swelter.
'I want to get out of here. Could we please leave now?' She sounded close to tears.
'In just a minute,' he promised. 'Okay? I’ve got to talk to Wesson.'
She watched him sprint across the yard, then she turned to look at the house. The fire seemed to have been contained, and she thought it was odd that she didn’t feel much emotion at all while she surveyed the destruction. It had been her home, but now that Brenner owned it, she never wanted to go inside again.
The flashing lights, the noise of the crowd, Brenner’s screams-it was all too much. She put her hand to her forehead and slumped down in her seat. And then she began to cry for the two women Brenner had murdered.
They could rest in peace now. The monster couldn’t hurt anyone else.
Chapter 27
The sheriff was the last to arrive at the scene. His Ford Explorer rounded the corner on two wheels. Swerving to avoid hitting Little Lorna, the car skidded to a stop.
Lloyd left his SUV in the middle of the street. Grunting as he eased his bulk out from under the steering wheel, he got out of the car and stood there with his hands on his hips, surveying the crowd. He tried to look important. Frowning so that anyone who might be watching him would know he considered this situation a serious matter, he hiked his pants up with his belt, straightened his shoulders, and strutted into Laurant’s front yard. 'What’s going on here?' he shouted.
'What do you think is going on?' Joe asked. 'The house is on fire.'
Lloyd scowled at Joe to let him know he didn’t appreciate his sarcasm. Then he noticed Brenner’s hands were behind his back and there was blood all over his face. Leaning to the side, he saw the handcuffs.
'Hey, now, what’s Steve wearing those cuffs for?'
'Breaking the law,' Joe replied.
'Bullshit,' Brenner ranted. 'Lloyd, I didn’t do anything illegal. Make them take these damn cuffs off me. They’re chafing my wrists.'
'In due course,' Lloyd assured him. Then his eagle-eyed gaze homed in on Joe, and he took a threatening step toward him 'Aren’t you that fella who was fixing Lauren’s sink? What are you doing here? Did you strike this citizen? His nose looks to be broken. Now I’m asking you straight out, boy, and I want a straight answer. Did you hit him?'
'I hit him,' Nick said. 'I should have shot him.'
'Don’t you be a smart mouth, boy. This here is a serious matter.'
'Yes, it is,' Nick agreed. 'And if you call me boy one more time, I’m going to handcuff you. Got that, Lloyd?'
Lloyd nervously took a step back to put some distance between him and Nick, and acted like he was contemplating the situation. In reality, the sheriff was getting the feeling that he was in over his head, but he knew that Brenner would kill him if he didn’t get him out of this mess. He warily looked up at Nick. The FBI agent reminded him of a mountain lion, relaxed one second, and sinking his teeth into his prey the next.
'Lloyd, do something,' Brenner demanded. 'He broke my nose. I want him arrested.'
Lloyd nodded and forced himself to look Nick in the eyes. The frost there gave him a chill. He was proud of himself for resisting the urge to look away. 'That’s battery, hitting a citizen,' he said. 'You don’t think I can arrest an FBI agent?'
Nick’s answer was immediate. 'No, I don’t think you can.'
'Shit,' Brenner muttered.
'We’ll just see about that,' Lloyd blustered. 'Steve’s got to get to the hospital and get that nose fixed, and I’m going to take him there. I’m in charge, ‘cause this here is my jurisdiction.'
Joe looked at Nick before answering. 'This here is my prisoner, and you aren’t touching him.'
Nick moved to stand beside Joe, a show of unity against the sheriff, but also he wanted to he able to keep his eye on Laurant.
'Say now, what are you wearing a gun for?' Lloyd asked Joe, seeing for the first time the weapon and holster attached to his belt. 'You got yourself a permit for that thing?'
Joe smiled. 'I sure do. I’ve got a badge too. Want to see it? I’ll bet it’s bigger than yours.'
'You being a smart-ass, boy?'
'He’s FBI,' Nick said.
Lloyd was losing ground fast and needed to find at least one area over which he could take control.
'Are you responsible for this here fire?' he asked Nick.
Nick didn’t think the question merited an answer. He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep himself from grabbing the sheriff by the neck.
Lorna was standing about five feet away from the two men, taking furious notes on a Big Chief tablet. She took a tentative step toward Nick, saw the look in his eyes, and backed away.
Joe motioned for Wesson to join them.
'What do you think you’re going to arrest Steve for?' the sheriff demanded. 'Burning down his own house?'
'He’s already been arrested,' Joe informed him.
'On what charges?' Lloyd asked.
'Is there a problem here?' Wesson called out as he came running over.
'Who the hell are you?' Lloyd asked.
'Senior officer in charge,' Wesson responded.
