Shotgun Justice by Angi Morgan Read Free Book Online Page A

hand. Shotgun lying next to her bare thigh.
    Very short shorts. But who was he to complain? She was safe. Avery had long, terrific legs that he’d admired for most of his life. Sand volleyball at Baylor had been eye-opening when he was eighteen.
    â€œSorry for losing my head on the highway.” She took a short sip from the bottle, never taking her eyes from him. Her short pixie cut—and he knew that only because of his mother telling him years ago—was under a black hat.
    â€œSorry that I didn’t give you a heads-up before arriving.” He took a couple of steps closer, wondering if that shotgun was for him or Tenoreno’s hired man. “Got another one of those?”
    â€œDidn’t you bring your own weapons?” She sipped, then set her bottle on top of the water ring already on the old porch. “Oh, you meant a beer. Sure.”
    The amber bottle had been sitting behind her for a while. Evidenced by the moisture dripping from its surface. He didn’t care if the beer inside was hotter than hell; he’d guzzle the peace offering he recognized being offered to him.
    â€œNice hat.” They tapped the bottle bottoms together and each drew a long drink.
    â€œI bought it when I moved here. Symbolic. Rangers wear white, et cetera.”
    Crickets chirped, the floodlight went off. It was a calm he could be thankful for. No words were necessary. In spite of their differences, they could work together. Old friends, falling into sync with...
    â€œYour assassin waltzed into the sheriff’s office this evening.” Avery tipped the bottle for another swallow. “Want to see his picture?”

Chapter Six
    Warm beer shot from Jesse’s mouth and up through his nose. Avery remained on the step, calmly finishing her last swallow. Her eyes sparkled from the porch light but mainly with laughter. Or maybe it was satisfaction.
    No one had caught a picture of the Snake Eyes Killer. If they had, they didn’t know it. Completely at home with her, he untucked his shirttail and used it to dry his face. “You’re lucky I wasn’t facing you when you shared that news.”
    â€œIt’s all about the timing. Have a seat.” She patted the space on the far side of her daddy’s shotgun.
    He recognized the initials carved into the wood. A.T. Hers. He’d helped her do it when they were ten. They’d both been grounded two weeks for ruining it, according to their dads. He took his seat and tried to be patient.
    She pulled a folded piece of paper from her back pocket and flipped it on top of the gun. “I’m not convinced. Too easy for someone who’s never left a trace.”
    â€œYou know?”
    â€œI’m not helpless, Jesse. I already admitted that I lost it on the highway. But honestly, when have you ever known me to lose the good sense God gave me during a case? I called Major Parker. I got all the details you didn’t tell me.” She spun sideways, leaning against the porch rail. “You sort of buried the most important part of your story when you got out of the car.”
    â€œI apologized.”
    â€œYes, you did. So, moving on.” She leaned forward and tapped the paper with a short nail. “Professional hit men don’t curiously face a video camera like this guy did. He smiled at it, for crying out loud.”
    â€œI agree. Probably not our man, but—”
    â€œIt’s someone who’s met him,” she finished with him.
    Jesse unfolded the picture of a guy who looked normal enough. Looking directly at the camera with a big grin. “Did you send it to Major Parker?”
    â€œYes. He has someone working on facial recognition. I issued an all-points bulletin.” She shook her head. “We both know that’s just busywork. Why do you think this Snake Eyes character would show his hand, letting us know that he’s here?”
    â€œTo draw you out? Think he was waiting for you at