One Foot in the Grave (Carly Moore #3) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,102
would’ve had him thrown out, and maybe it was even true, but something about the way she glanced at the door told me she was still afraid of him. Marco must have picked up on it too.
“Did he ever raise his hand to you?” he asked.
She cringed and embarrassment washed over her face.
“I’m going to take that as a yes,” I said. “No need for you to relive any traumatic experiences.”
Nodding her thanks, she kept her gaze on the counter.
“Does he still bother you?” I asked.
She hesitated, then said, “From time to time. When he’s drunk.”
“Do you think Paul’s capable of murder?” Marco asked.
Her eyes lifted and locked on Marco’s face. “Why would you ask that?” Then her eyes lit up with understanding. “You think he killed that Heather girl?”
“We didn’t say that,” Marco said in an even tone. “I’m just wonderin’ how much of a danger he is to the public.”
“He’s got a temper, and I suppose if he was mad enough… yeah. He could kill someone.”
Marco pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Tammy, I’m Deputy Sheriff Marco Roland.” When fear filled her eyes, he lifted his hands and gently said, “Although we don’t work together, I know your ex-husband, and I’ve never much cared for him. I detest men who abuse their strength and power. If you ever run into any trouble with him, please contact me using my personal number. I’ll help you as best I can.”
Taking the card, she looked it over before lifting her glare to him. “Everyone knows the sheriff’s department in this county is a boys’ club. I find it hard to believe you’re still there if you’re not playin’ the game.”
“You’d be surprised how many more there are like me,” he said. “We’re slowly building in numbers and strength.” He pointed to the card. “Call me. If I can’t get to you, I have a few friends who can.”
She glanced at the card again, then back up to Marco. Something in her gave way, and the distrust leached from her gaze.
“Thank you,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“And please call me if you think of anything else that can help us,” Marco said.
She nodded.
“One more thing,” Marco said. “Can you keep this on the down-low? We try not to publicize that there’s a group of us who aren’t following the boys’ club rules.”
Tammy clutched the card to her chest. “Your secret is safe with me, and so is your name.”
“Thank you,” Marco said with a nod, then turned and glanced at me before we headed out the door.
We didn’t speak until we got in the car.
“Are you sure you can trust her, Marco?” I asked, struck by the full realization of what he’d told her.
“There’s no way of knowing for sure, but she was scared, and I had to take a chance.”
I was silent for a moment. “You’re working to bring the good ol’ boys club down—you and your friends.”
“We’ve been workin’ on it for a while,” he said, rubbing between his eyebrows as if he had a headache. Then he rushed to add, “I didn’t keep it a secret from you. I’ve mentioned things before.”
He’d made no secret of the fact that he didn’t see eye to eye with a good portion of the department. I knew he’d been held back from promotions because of it. But I’d had no idea that he was actively trying to change things.
“Don’t be mad, Carly,” he pleaded. “And please don’t take this as a sign that you can’t trust me.”
I turned to him, shaking my head. “You’re like me.”
A soft smile filled his eyes. “Tryin’ to right injustices, big and small?”
“My injustices are really big, Marco,” I whispered, getting teary-eyed.
“I know, and we’re workin’ our way up to it, remember?”
Wyatt had said the very same thing to me, not so long ago, and I couldn’t help but think about how that had turned out. “I want to believe you, Marco, and I do, but…”
“You’ve been burned,” he said softly. “I know, and you have no idea how much I want to beat the shit out of every man who has hurt you, Wyatt included. But that won’t prove anything other than I have a temper and know how to use my fists. The only way I know how to prove that you can trust me is to be a man of my word.” He took a breath. “I know that’s gonna take time, but I’m a patient