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

only one I got, so I try to make the best of it. Over time, I eventually just forgot about Susannah and went on with my life.”

“Until she died?” Cal asked.

“Yeah, when she died, it brought back all those painful memories again—then I was glad she was dead. She only escaped because her daddy was the sheriff. Otherwise, she would’ve and should’ve gone to jail. But whatever, it’s over and done with.”

“I heard you got in trouble with the law before that,” Cal said. “What kept you from entering a life of crime?”

Ray flashed a faint smile. “Believe it or not, it was Sheriff Sloan himself. I went to Camp Manmaker one summer, and it helped keep me straight. That and my momma, God rest her soul.”

“What happened to your mother?” Kelly asked.

“She died of lung cancer. Couldn’t stop smokin’, even after they told her she was dyin’ from it. I know she’s in a better place now.”

The pot started to boil. Kelly got up and walked over to the stove.

“Where do you keep your mugs?” Kelly asked.

“Down below with everything else,” Ray said. “Look in the cabinet next to the refrigerator.”

Kelly knelt down and pulled out a coffee mug. She put it on the table and proceeded to fetch the water. She poured the hot water over the tea bag.

“Smells good,” Ray said.

“Yeah, but it needs to steep for a few minutes,” she said as she finished pouring. “Waiting is the worst part about making such delicious smelling tea.”

Then Kelly, still carrying the pot of hot water, lurched toward Ray, sending the hot water flying toward him.

“Look out,” Kelly cried.

Ray leaped out of his wheelchair, jumping to the side as he watched the water splash onto the kitchen floor. Then he slowly looked up at Cal and Kelly.

“Well, isn’t this interesting,” Cal said.

Ray reached behind his back and pulled out a gun, training it on Cal and Kelly. He motioned for Kelly to move closer to Cal.

“It most certainly is,” Ray said. “Looks like you’re gonna miss your flight.”

“If you plan on killing us, please make it quick, but only after you tell me how you did it,” Cal said.

Ray furrowed his brow. “Did what?”

“How you murdered Susannah Sloan?”

“I shot her at point blank range, just like I’m gonna do to you.”

“Why? Were you still bitter about her running you over and never having to suffer any consequences?” Cal asked, pressing Ray.

“Believe it or not, it was a simple hit.”

“A hit? What are you talking about?”

Ray shook his head. “Don’t act like you don’t know. I heard about your little stunt last night at Camp Manmaker. You know what goes on there.”

Cal nodded. “So, what? She found out that her father was a big drug lord in South Georgia?”

“Pretty much. Sheriff Sloan tried to convince her to leave it alone and help throw the feds off his trail. She told him she wouldn’t do that, so he told me to convince her by any means necessary. I don’t think he meant for me to kill her, but I did. In the end, what was he going to say. He would’ve gone to jail for life if he tried to turn on me—and he knew it.”

“So he told you that night to take care of her?”

“Naw, this had been in the works for a few days. He just stopped by her house to plead with her one more time and give her one more chance. When I heard that Isaiah Drake was going to be in town, I decided to pin it all on him. And he’d be dead and this case would’ve been long gone if it hadn’t been for you.”

“You were the one who planted that picture in Drake’s pocket?”

Ray smiled and stroked his chin.

“That punk did exactly what I wanted him to. Drake made it so easy for me to pin the murder on him. I snuck up behind him, and he never knew what hit him. I gave him something that knocked him out for hours and planted everything on him before I shoved him out in that johnboat, right where that idiot deputy Tate Pellman went fishing every weekend.”

Ray cocked his gun and pointed it at Cal’s head. “Any more questions before I end this little game?”

“And the finger?” Kelly asked.

“My special little touch.”

“Just one more,” Cal said. “Why’d you fake it? Why stay in a wheelchair all these years?”

“Because nobody would believe I could be capable of such things, especially being the Marsh Monster or just The Monster, depending on who you’re talkin’ to.”

“But what about—?”

“I’m done with your questions,” Ray said. “Time to bury you in the swamp.”

Before Ray could move, the front door flew open and a team of Pickett County deputies swarmed into the room.

“Drop your gun, nice and easy,” Tillman said. “Your little charade is over, Devontae.”

Ray placed his gun on the floor and raised his hands in the air.

“Good luck in court,” Cal said before adding with a wink, “and thanks for the great story.”

CHAPTER 41

ON FRIDAY MORNING, Cal was barely awake when Maddie came bounding into his room. She jumped on top of him and begged him to play. Cal moaned for a moment before he stretched and got up. If it was up to him, he would’ve rather slept for another two hours, but he realized he couldn’t waste any opportunity to spend with his family, especially his sweet daughter.

He glanced next to him and realized Kelly was gone. Making his way into the living room with Maddie in tow, Cal savored the aroma of a freshly brewed cup of tea. Kelly, who was smiling in the kitchen, joined him, carrying a mug for him as well.

“I made you a cup,” she said. “It’s not sweet tea, of course, but it tastes almost as good.”

“Thanks,” Cal said, taking the cup from her hand.

After taking a few sips, he set the cup down on the coffee table in the center of