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  Lilah picked up her cell phone and hit record.

  “What are you doing there?” J.D. barked.

  “Recording you. Just to keep everything on the up-and-up.”

  “Turn it off.”

  Lilah wasn’t sure if she was within her rights to record the search, so she didn’t argue. But the minute he turned his back to her, she again hit record and turned the cell phone face down on the couch. If she was lucky, maybe she’d at least have an audio recording if something crazy went down.

  She watched him, clasping her shaking hands together. So, he and Lavon worked together. No wonder the police never found anything on a drug raid. J.D. made damn sure they were tipped-off. And now he wanted to set Harlan up to be arrested just to get him out of the way?

  Her body shook violently, but this time with anger. And what would they do to her? Claim she was a drug dealer, too? Her gut churned as if a gallon of icy slush rolled inside. What could that mean for her baby if she was arrested? They might not let her keep the child.

  Oh, hell no. She would fight them every step of the way.

  J.D. lumbered toward the desk.

  “Already sure you did a thorough search in this room?”

  He swung around. “We can come back later with the narcotics dogs.”

  “No need. You already know exactly where to search.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” J.D.’s eyes narrowed and his angry energy filled the room.

  “It means you’re about to be disappointed.” Probably wasn’t the smartest idea challenging J.D., yet she couldn’t keep the words bottled. “But go on, search the desk. That’s where you’ve been heading all along.”

  “How—” He snapped his mouth shut and glowered, face flushed.

  Alvin hustled over from the kitchen. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means J.D. is one hundred percent positive there are drugs in that top right drawer of the desk.”

  Alvin glanced back and forth between them. “What am I missing here?”

  J.D. swiveled, yanking out all the desk drawers, and then slowly turned to face her. “Go check the back of the house,” he ordered Alvin, keeping his eyes trained on Lilah.

  Alvin hesitated but obeyed.

  “Looks like it’s just you and me now,” J.D. said darkly. He took a menacing step forward.

  Lilah scrambled to her feet. “Alvin! Come help me.”

  J.D. froze.

  Alvin rushed back to the den. “Now what?”

  “The woman’s getting hysterical, that’s all. Find anything?”

  “I just got started.”

  “Let’s go. We’ll deal with this another time.”

  Alvin’s mouth dropped open. If she wasn’t so furious, she might have found it comical. “Why? We haven’t even begun a proper search.”

  Instead of bothering to answer, J.D. strode for the door. Lilah followed the men out, watching as they drove off into the night.

  She might have won the battle, but this was far from over.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Finally, Harlan pulled in the driveway. No Lilah at the door welcoming him home, but at least J.D. wasn’t there, either. He’d half-expected to find three or four sheriff’s cars at the house with blue lights blazing.

  “Lilah?” he called out, stepping through the front door. A small piece of paper was lying on the floor and he picked it up. A subpoena notice to search his premises for illegal substances. Harlan crumpled it in his hands and tossed it on the coffee table.

  She emerged from the kitchen, clutching a giant bag of potato chips and a glass of soda. “Present and accounted for. I’ve been stress eating since they left,” she added with a wan smile.

  He sat on the sofa and patted the empty space beside him. “How about sharing those with me while you fill me in on everything.”

  She plopped down beside him. “I was outside weeding the garden until it grew dark. When I started back in the house, I saw Lavon through the window. He was rummaging inside, by the desk. I ran for the woods and waited for him to leave.”

  Bastard. His scalp prickled, imagining what Lavon might have done if Lilah hadn’t spotted him and had walked into the house. “He didn’t give chase?”

  “No. He ran out the front door and then I heard him start his car down the road. I came back in and found bags of marijuana and cocaine, and a few rolled joints. J.D. arrived and pounded on the door for me to let him in.” She gave a dispirited laugh. “So I did what any guilty druggie would do. I flushed it all down the toilet before opening the door. Did I do the right thing?”

  “Absolutely. If you hadn’t, I’d be in handcuffs right now, waiting for someone to set bail.”

  “You should have seen J.D.’s face when he searched the desk and nothing was there. At least, in the end, even Alvin looked at J.D. with suspicion.”

  “The little runt was with him. Shouldn’t be surprised, I guess.”

  She shrugged and took a swallow from her glass. “I suspect Alvin’s not totally corrupt. He acted as if he still had a conscience. What are you going to do now? They won’t stop. Not until they have you—or me—behind bars.”

  “Not going to happen.” He reached in the chip bag and started munching. “I spilled my guts out today with Lewis Slidell—laid out everything and my suspicions about J.D.’s involvement. He’s putting together an emergency law enforcement raid. First thing in the morning, Lavender Mountain will be crawling with state troopers, GBI and FBI agents, and anyone else he can get together. They’ve wanted a break in this drug ring operation for years.”

  “It’s bigger than that,” Lilah said, slapping her hands on her thighs. “I don’t care about the drug ring. I want to know who killed Dad and Darla, and why they’re coming after me.”

  “Of course, that’s my number one priority.” He moved the bag of chips to the coffee table and took her hand. “I believe J.D. knows who the killer is, and he’s being paid to keep his mouth shut. He’s hindered the investigation of the old Hilltop Strangler cases, as well as your family’s recent murders.”

  Harlan felt a tremor run through her small hand. He ran a finger along the throbbing vein in her wrist, painfully aware of how fragile and precious Lilah’s life was. And his baby’s, too. Whatever it took, they would solve these crimes and catch the killer.

  “Is it possible J.D. is the killer?” she asked.

  “I wouldn’t rule it out.”

  “If Alvin hadn’t been with him tonight... The way J.D. looked at me when I challenged him... I believe he might have hurt me.”

  Anger pulsed in his temples, a solar flare of energy and heat that radiated down his spine and pooled in his gut.

  “Oh, I almost forgot.” She rose, went to the desk and returned with her cell phone. “Not sure this can help you, but I have audio of what went down tonight. J.D. had a conniption fit when I tried to video the search, but I managed to record sound.”

  He took the phone and transferred the video to his email account. “I’ll listen to it tomorrow with Lewis and everyone else. Every bit helps.”

  “Wish I could see J.D.’s face tomorrow when he comes in to work.”

  “I’m looking forward to it. Crooked cops are scum. When we get through this investigation, Elmore County will have the cleanest law enforcement staff in Georgia.”

  Lilah cocked her head to the side, studying him. He couldn’t quite fathom the play of emotions in her gray eyes.

  “I’m glad. You’re going to be the best sheriff we’ve ever had.”

  “Lavender Mountain will be safe—a good area to live and raise kids. Our kids.”

  She moved to leave, but he gently tugged her arm, pulling her small body onto his lap. “I promise, it will be—and soon.”

  There was a gulf between them; the ugly words from yesterday hung in the air. Li
lah had distanced herself from him—a lonely abyss he was desperate to bridge. He kissed her full lips, still salty from their shared snack.

  Lilah moaned and their tongues met. He couldn’t fathom how or why, but Lilah was so sweet and so damn sexy at the same time. He moved his hands under her T-shirt and glided them up the smooth contour of her hips and then the arch of her back.

  “Stop.”

  Lilah scrabbled to her feet and ran a hand through her hair. “Not a good idea,” she said in a shaky voice. “Nothing’s changed.”

  “Everything’s about to change,” he argued.

  “I’m still who I am.”

  “I’ve never asked you to be anything different.” What was she after? He scratched his head. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”

  Pewter-gray eyes nailed him. “Do you love me?”

  Did he? His heart quickened at the same moment his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. Go on. Tell her what she wants to hear. Trouble was, he didn’t much believe in love. He’d certainly never witnessed it between his parents.

  Harlan stared into Lilah’s eyes. She was beautiful, kind—everything a man wanted in a woman. The better question was—what did she see in him? He’d brought her nothing but trouble.

  She was also going to be the mother of his child and he wanted her in his life, even if the thought of raising a baby scared the bejesus out of him. Not like he’d had a decent example from his own father.

  “Time’s up. I’ve got my answer,” she said softly, turning away from him.

  “Lilah, wait. You know I—” Great. Now he’d found his voice?

  She never turned. Her footsteps padded down the hallway and then came the firm click of a closed door.

  * * *

  UNIFORMED COPS AND men in suits swarmed the Elmore County sheriff’s office. Harlan stepped through the entrance in time to see J.D. exit his office.

  “What the hell is going on here?” he bellowed, one hand reaching in his uniform shirt pocket.

  Bet he’d pay a pretty penny for a cigar right about now, Harlan thought.

  J.D.’s eyes narrowed as he spotted him in the crowd. “You got something to do with this, Sampson?”

  “You bet I did.”

  Lewis slid him a warning look and he bit the inside of his cheek. They’d discussed this beforehand—he was to let Lewis interrogate J.D. while he tackled Lavon Tedder.

  Sammy jumped up from his desk and came over. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s time we cleaned house.” Harlan shot a meaningful glance at Alvin who sported a sweat stain under his armpits.

  “Could have told me this was coming,” Sammy said with the slightest note of reproach.

  “Sorry. It was put together late yesterday and I was told to keep it under tight wraps.”

  “Guess I can understand that. No wonder I was told to bring Lavon in this morning.”

  “He’s already here?”

  “Interrogation Room B. We’ve got his dad in Room A. Tom’s on his way with Ed Stovall in tow.”

  “Thanks, Sammy.” Harlan briefly clasped his hand and made his way to Room B, eager for a second crack at Lavon. He’d make the jerk break this time.

  Zelda rushed over and handed him a large envelope and file. “I’ve prepared everything they said you’d need.”

  He opened the envelope, nodding when he saw its contents. “Perfect.”

  She scurried back to her desk before he had a chance to study her closely. She’d worked with J.D. for many years. What did she think of all this? He would ask later. For now, he had a job to do.

  The interrogation room was as minimalistic as a jail cell, housing only a scarred metal table and a few folding chairs. An aggressively bright fluorescent bulb shone down from the ceiling—the better to spotlight the person being questioned.

  Lavon was tilted back in the chair so far his head touched the back wall. He had his arms folded in front of him and his perpetual scowl was in place.

  “You again,” he complained as Harlan walked in and sat across the table.

  “Yep. And this time J.D. and your daddy can’t bail you out of trouble.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  Harlan glanced at his watch. “I imagine J.D. will be in handcuffs within the next thirty minutes.”

  A bit of the smug attitude melted off Lavon’s face. “Liar.”

  “Why lie about that? You’ll see for yourself soon enough. Who knows—you two might wind up in the same jail cell tonight.”

  “I ain’t done nothing,” Lavon muttered.

  “I have an eyewitness who says different.”

  “Your girlfriend?” Lavon scoffed. “As if that won’t look rigged in court. Besides, it’ll be her word against mine.”

  “Her word will be loads more credible than those from some asshole who at age twenty-nine has an impressive list of petty crimes that have escalated over the last year.”

  He opened the folder and began reading aloud. “Vandalism, Class C Assault, Theft of Property in the second degree, criminal mischief—”

  “Lilah’s nothing but a whore, just like Darla was. All the Tedder women are the same. Look at—”

  A buzzer went off in his head, as loud as a referee’s whistle in an empty gym. Harlan slammed the file on the table and lunged.

  “Hey, man—you can’t do that,” Lavon sputtered.

  Harlan curled his fingers around the scooped neck of Lavon’s black T-shirt. The guy’s hazel eyes were inches from his own. “Never. Ever. Talk about Lilah that way.”

  Lavon gave a forced laugh. “Okay. Cool it, dude.”

  Harlan slowly released his grip and calmed his labored breathing. He was here to crack Lavon, not lose control of himself.

  “Fine. Let’s get on with it. We have an eyewitness placing you inside my house last night about seven o’clock. What do you have to say about that?”

  He shrugged. “I was home. You can ask my parents. I’m sure they’ll vouch for me.”

  “Just so you know—officers are there now checking for fingerprints.”

  “They won’t find anything,” he answered, chin lifting with confidence.

  “You think you’re safe because you wore gloves? Think again. They’ll comb the place for stray strands of hair, too. Bet you didn’t wear a hairnet.”

  Lavon licked his lips.

  “Let’s cut to the chase. Lilah saw you by my desk, and ten minutes later J.D. was at the door with a search warrant. Luckily, she got rid of the drugs you’d planted. You tried to set me up. Tell me why.”

  “I told you I was home last night. I had nothing to do with this.”

  “I’ll tell you why you did it. You’re involved up to your neck in distributing drugs and J.D. is in on the cut. Y’all saw I was getting a little too close to suspecting the truth, so you schemed to get me out of the way.”

  “You can’t prove it.”

  “Oh, we will.” Harlan cocked his thumb toward the door. “Did you get a glimpse of what’s happening out there?”

  “No. What?”

  Harlan rose and opened the door. “Let me take you on a little tour.”

  He stayed close by Lavon’s side as they went down the hallway and into the lobby. Lavon’s eyes widened as he caught sight of all the men and his gaze shifted toward J.D.’s office. The door was open and J.D. could be seen wiping his forehead as three men peppered him with questions.

  The incredulous drop of Lavon’s jaw was a thing of beauty. Harlan guided him back to the interrogation room. As soon as they were both seated, he opened the envelope. Best to do this before the guy asked for a lawyer and clammed up.

  He shimmied the half a dozen shell casings from the envelope onto the table. They were all in individual baggies.

  Lavon’s jaw tightened. “What’s this?”

/>   “We found these on Mossy Creek Trail. Where you and another man shot at Lilah.”

  “They ain’t mine. Probably left behind by hunters.”

  “The only thing being hunted was Lilah,” Harlan said, wanting to shake Lavon like a rag doll.

  “Wasn’t me.”

  “You’re lying. Lilah heard you while she hid in a cave.”

  “That don’t mean nothing. Her word against mine.”

  Harlan flicked the baggie. “These mean something.”

  “Them casings could have come from any number of folks.”

  “Doubtful.”

  Lavon’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Ain’t no way you can pin ’em on me.”

  “Actually we can and we will.”

  “How’s that?”

  “We’re getting a subpoena to confiscate all your guns. After that, we’ll run a ballistics test to see if we have a match.”

  Lavon blinked but quickly regained his belligerent stance. “Can’t narrow it down to just my gun. It’s a common model lots of folks ’round here might have for hunting.”

  Guy was fractionally smarter than Harlan had guessed, but some time alone in the interrogation room might make him sweat.

  “I’ll be back shortly.” Harlan put the casings back in the envelope and went out the door. At the end of the hall, Lewis saw him and approached. “How’s it going in there?”

  “Not the greatest. He’s not budging on his statement about having no knowledge of the drug ring.”

  “Time to shake him up a bit more.” Lewis pulled a small baggie from his pants pocket and handed it to him.

  Harlan held it to the light and peered. “A few hair strands?”

  Lewis grinned. “They belong to Lavon. We managed to get them today while he was waiting to be questioned.”

  Harlan nodded. “I know just what to do with them.” Quickly, he strode back to Room B and turned on his cell phone’s video before slapping the new evidence on the table. “Recognize these?”

  Lavon lifted his shoulders and then dropped them, feigning indifference. “Nope.”