Dead to Rights by Jack Patterson (fiction book recommendations .txt) 📕

on. She had two marriage proposals and a promising career in law, so it was obvious she wasn’t interested in becoming arm candy for Drake just to be relegated to a player’s wife for the rest of her life.”

“Did she tell you that or is that your own conclusion?” Kelly asked.

“She basically said it, just not in those exact words. I can’t remember how she phrased it, but that was the first time I ever even considered that she might not marry Drake. I mean around here, a ring on the finger isn’t a done deal, but it might as well be.”

“So, do you think Drake knew about all this?” Cal asked.

“I didn’t tell him, if that’s what you’re gettin’ at,” Burt said. “It’s really none of my business even if people tell me their life story. Loose-lipped bartenders don’t get good tips in small towns.”

“Could anyone else have told him?”

Burt shrugged. “It’s possible. Susannah’s love life wasn’t some state secret, but it wasn’t common knowledge either. She did her best to remain discreet about what she was doing. As far as I could tell, she wanted to milk her sugar daddy for as long as possible. He’d just bought her a nice car and a huge ring, not to mention always sending her gifts.”

Another customer across the room yelled for Burt.

“Duty calls.”

“Well, you’ve been most helpful,” Cal said, shaking Burt’s hand. “Thanks for your time.”

Burt nodded. “If it wasn’t Drake, I hope you figure out who the bastard is who did this. It’s been a deep wound in this town for a long time now.”

“I’m taking this assignment very seriously; that much you can count on,” Cal said.

***

A HALF HOUR LATER, Cal and Kelly got into their car and started heading toward the Okefenokee Inn just outside of town near one of the entrances to the park. The sun slipped away on the horizon as dusk turned to nightfall.

“What do you think?” Cal asked Kelly as he glanced at her.

With wide eyes, she shook her head. “I really don’t know. If I had to make a decision based off what we just learned from Burt, I’d say Drake did it. He had a strong motive, means, and opportunity.”

“Even with all the other shady activities taking place, like Sheriff Sloan? And the possibility that one of the other men Susannah was dating knew about what was going on?”

“That’s where it gets tricky.”

Cal gazed at the road ahead. “It’s further complicated by the fact that Sheriff Sloan was in charge of the investigation. I think any reasonable law enforcement official would perform due diligence in such an investigation. It’s apparent that wasn’t the case here.”

Kelly nodded. “True, but that doesn’t mean he got the wrong guy.”

Before Cal could protest, he lurched forward in his seat.

What the—

Cal glanced in his rearview mirror to see the grill of a large white truck pulling back.

“Cal!” Kelly screamed.

Their car started to veer off the road. Cal resisted the urge to yank the steering wheel back in the opposite direction. Instead, he gradually guided the car off a soft shoulder and back onto the road. Once he regained control, he looked up in time to see the truck roar past him.

Kelly had her camera out and was focusing on the truck.

Cal stomped on the gas, but couldn’t make up any ground on the truck that was racing down the road.

“Leave it, Cal. He obviously wasn’t trying to kill us, just scare us.”

“Did you get his license plate number?” Cal asked.

Kelly stared at the display screen on the back of her camera. “Sure did.”

“Good. We need to visit Sheriff Sloan first thing tomorrow morning,” Cal said. “He’s gonna get an earful from me.”

CHAPTER 9

WHEN CAL WOKE UP on Wednesday morning, he stepped onto the small porch from his second story room in the Okefenokee Inn. His view consisted of a forested area that included some marshland. The burgeoning sunlight trickled through the thick canopy, casting a warm glow on the raw nature scene in front of him. A pair of white ibises waded into the swamp, pecking at the water in search of food. The birds’ actions mesmerized Cal so much that he didn’t notice the bloody carcass of a deer lying at the water’s edge or the man cleaning it up.

“Hello there,” the man called to Cal.

Taken aback, Cal jumped. “Oh, hello,” he said, trying to remain composed. “I didn’t see you down there.”

“But ya saw what Gus did last night, didn’t ya?” the man said, gesturing toward the dead deer.

“I guess so,” Cal said, leaning forward on the railing to get a closer look. “Who’s Gus?”

“Gus is our resident gator, though he isn’t always so friendly.”

Cal laughed nervously. “That’s funny. I don’t remember reading about him on the website.”

The man chuckled as he shoveled the deer into a thick plastic back.

“There isn’t exactly a place to list dangerous exotic animals when you’re filling out all your information for those websites. Besides, Gus would never hurt a human.”

“Guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”

The man laughed again. “This is the Okefenokee, Mister. It’s a beautiful place, but it’s still very wild. Anything can happen out here—and I mean anything.”

“Except for Gus eating another human being.”

“There’s always a first time for everything.”

Cal’s eyes widened as he waved at the man and returned to his room.

“Making some new friends?” Kelly asked as she emerged from the bathroom.

“More like trying to avoid some four-legged ones.”

She cocked her head to one side. “Such as?”

“Gus the Gator. Step outside if you want to check out his handiwork from last night. He mauled a deer.”

“Right below our window?”

Cal nodded.

***

WHEN CAL AND KELLY stepped into the Pickett County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Sloan was standing behind the counter and leaning on it while he perused a stack of papers attached to a clipboard. He didn’t look up when they entered as he remained fixated on the reports in his hand.

“Morning, Sheriff,” Cal said. “I