Sucker Punch (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #27) - Laurell K. Hamilton Page 0,54

our legal authority?

The doors opened, and Sheriff Leduc came through like he owned the place. Whatever had been wrong, he’d stuffed it back into its box. He was Duke Leduc again as he said, “Troy found your warrant on the computer, Marshal Newman. Time to take you back to town so you can do your duty.”

“Having the warrant just makes it legal to kill the prisoner. It doesn’t mean I have to do it as soon as I get the paper in my hands,” Newman said.

“Troy says the date on the warrant is the night of the murder. So your original seventy-two hours is down to less than sixty according to the information on the warrant. You have to finish the warrant before the deadline’s up. You’re running out of time to do your duty, Win.”

“Don’t you mean Bobby’s running out of time?” Newman said.

“I’m beginning to think you’re a coward, Win.”

“And I’m beginning to think you’re an asshole,” I said, “but let’s not go calling each other names.” I used my phone to take a picture of the gun. If it was loaded with silver bullets, then it just pointed more guilt at Bobby, because it meant that his uncle had been afraid of him.

“What are you taking a picture of?”

“A gun,” I said.

“Ray always had a loaded gun for protection in his desk.”

“Nice of you to share that,” I said.

“Well, us assholes aren’t big on sharing.”

“I’m sorry I called you a name, but compassion isn’t the same thing as cowardice.”

“No, he’s right, Blake,” Newman said. “I don’t know if I’m brave enough to kill Bobby.”

“That doesn’t make you a coward, Newman.”

“What does it make me?” he asked.

“Human.”

17

THE ONLY GOOD thing about the time on the warrant starting the night of the murder was that it convinced Kaitlin and Livingston to help us. They would meet us at the jail after Kaitlin made an impression or copy of the bloody footprints at the house. If they matched, Bobby was a lying bastard and almost certainly guilty, but if they didn’t, then at least our little group would have reasonable doubt. It would take longer to get the judge on the warrant to be on board, but you have to start somewhere.

Duke was still in his vehicle as Newman and I pulled up. Because of the overhead light, we could see him talking on his phone. The driver’s-side door was open already, as if the phone call had caught him in the middle of exiting his car. We parked and walked toward him.

He hit MUTE on the phone and said, “It’s my wife. You two go ahead. Tell Troy that you need your warrant. He said he’d printed it out for you.”

We both nodded and started toward the building, but not before we heard him say, “I’ll be home as soon as I can, honey. I know she’s in pain, but she doesn’t want hospice-level meds yet.”

Newman and I both hurried just a little, as if we’d eavesdropped on something too personal, and I guess we had. I didn’t have kids, but I couldn’t imagine having to watch someone I loved die like that.

Newman paused at the door of the tiny police station. “Jesus, hospice-level meds.”

“I’m not sure what that means,” I said.

He put his hand on the doorknob but didn’t turn it. “It’s when they give them so many pain meds they just sleep pain free until the end. When doctors offer you hospice care, then it’s over. You’re just waiting for the body to give out.”

It sounded like Newman had experienced it personally in some way. I debated whether I should pry or keep to the guy code of never asking about personal stuff. I was still debating when we heard the gunshot. It sounded like it had come from inside the building. Our guns appeared in our hands like magic, and we went through the door toward the gunfire.

18

I WOULD HAVE checked the room as we entered to make sure nothing was hiding behind a desk or something, but Newman ran straight toward the far door and the cells. I stayed at his six because I was his backup, but it was careless, and careless could get us both killed. We had seconds to see that the office area was empty, and then we both went for the door to the cells. Newman didn’t even check if it was locked; he just reared back and kicked the door right next to the doorknob and lock. The door