Mercy in Passion: Book 3

He wasn’t watching where he was going; he just walked, needing freedom, needing air. The wind was brisk but that too went unnoticed. He was mad and it showed in the way his feet ate up the concrete as he walked.

“Now that’s a familiar look.”

Justin stopped abruptly, lifting his head to the man that spoke. He was the last person he wanted to see right now. “What?”

“That look on your face.” Wes stepped out of the shadows of his yard. “I remember seeing it plenty of times on your face when your daddy pissed you off.”

That much at least hadn’t changed. He was once again pissed at his father. “Yeah, right.”

“Wanna come in for a beer?”

“I just want to be alone right now, Wes.” And nowhere near him.

“Just one, come on man. For old times sake.”

“Another time, maybe. Catch you around, Wes.” Pulling a cigarette from the package, Justin headed off. When he saw Beth step in front of him, he actually rolled his eyes and blew out a long breath. “Great, another person I don’t want to see.”

“If you’re planning on starting up where you left off, Justin, know that I’ll be watching your ass.”

“Jesus Christ, Beth. How about a trial before you execute me. I wasn’t doing anything.”

“Yet.”

He flicked the ashes into the air, snarling. “Fuck off, okay.”

“I’m in charge of protecting this town now, Justin, and I won’t tolerate you making a mockery out of it, or your parents.”

He dropped the cigarette and not so gently stomped it out with his foot.

Beth pulled the pad from her back pocket of her police uniform pants and began writing.

“What the hell are you writing?”

“A ticket.” She snapped it off and handed it to him.

“For what?”

“Littering.”

He took the ticket, glanced at it then back up to her. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“I never kid where my job is concerned.”

“Jesus, you really turned scary.” He crumpled the ticket into his pocket. “For the record, constable, I have no intentions of making a mockery out of anyone. All I want is to make amends and set the record straight.” No, what he really wanted was to go home and forget the town of Passion.

“What record would that be?” she asked with a snarl in her tone.

“I was not responsible for the B&E.”

“Right.” She chuckled sarcastically.

“You know, I’m really getting tired of being persecuted for something I didn’t do.”

“You were caught red-handed.”

“I was set up.”

Beth simply stared at him.

“Fine, don’t believe me. Why should you be any different than anyone else.” He pushed past her, bumping her lightly as he marched off. He didn’t need this shit anyway.

“Well it’s not like you gave anyone reason to believe you.”

He spun around, furious. “I thought you above anyone else would believe me.”

“What was I supposed to believe when you ran off without saying a word, no letters, no calls to say how you were doing.”

“I couldn’t call because I—”

“You’re a coward.”

He actually felt like his head might explode with rage. “I am not a coward.”

“No, then why did you run?”

“I ran because I had no other choice.”

“You could have stayed and faced it like a man.”

“I was only eighteen.”

“Old enough to knock off a gas station.”

“I didn’t rob it,” he shouted at her, getting right into her face.

“Then explain why you were there and the locks were broken and the cash gone.”

“I was framed.”

“Right.” She turned to leave and was quickly spun around.

“Where was the cash then, Beth? It wasn’t on me. Why wouldn’t I have it if I had just robbed the place?”

“You gave it to your buddies.”

“Right and I stayed to what…get caught? Think about it.”

“I have thought about it, for six years. Let me go, Justin.”

“You’re a cop; look at the evidence, Beth. Look at it through a cop’s eyes, not a friend’s eyes.”

“I don’t want to discuss this anymore. Let me go, Justin.”

“Just listen to me.”

“Let me go.”

“Damn it, Beth.” He was completely thrown back when she gabbed his head with her other hand and plastered her mouth over his. Her lips were hot, her mouth was sweet, and as she pulled away, he saw the wide eyed look on her face. Slowly he released his hold on her.

She spun around.

“Beth—”

She rushed off without saying a word.