Read Keller County Cops Book Seven: Code of Vengeance for Free Online Page A

Mindy?" He swallowed a guffaw. This meeting was going just as he'd envisioned. The poor little chippy was terrified right down to her pretty silk thong. Score one for the overweight middle-aged businessman running for sheriff. He sniffed. "I told you what I want you to do, but I haven't given you the first detail. Aren't you curious?"
    "Not really." She skewered him with her eyes.
    He countered by giving her a smile laced with contempt. "You should be. We have to discuss your first assignment."
    "If you insist," she said, as if the words tasted bad. Her professional veneer had cracked, and she'd morphed back into poor little Cherry Delight. "Wh-what do you want me to do?"
    "You were at the scene of last night's murder at the Kitty Kat Klub, correct?"
    "Yes. I attempted to interview Sheriff Blaylock, but he blew me off using the 'ongoing investigation' excuse."
    "Not surprising." Maillet sighed. "He's a cop to the core."
    "So what do you want me to do?"
    "Stick to him like glue. Horn in on the damned investigation. Put every fucking thing he does on television." A lava stream of anger and determination rose up within him. He pounded his knee with his fist. "I want him exposed, goddamn it. As transparent as a piece of Scotch tape. Something slimy is bound to rise to the surface if you do that. Do you understand?"
    "Of course." She leaned forward in her chair, and for the first time since he let her know he knew her secret, a gleam reappeared in her eyes. "I'm good at digging up dirt."
    "I know. I bet you were damned good at stripping, too." A thrill slid through him as he imagined her naked and writhing next to a metal pole. He grinned and opened his mouth to ask for pictures, but she cut him off with a brisk wave.
    Her cheeks flushed bright red. "I only did what I had to do, and I'm not proud of it."
    "Obviously not." He rubbed his hands together. "Doesn't matter. All you have to do is remember that if you want your past to stay hidden, you'll do everything I ask. Hell, one juicy story about Rick Blaylock, and he won't know what hit him."
     
    *****
     
    Keegan slept until after nine a.m. on Sunday, although she usually got up early, even on weekends. She hadn't gotten to bed until after two a.m., thanks to the adrenaline pumping through her veins, and had used the extra energy to sharpen her knives and clean the Sig before stowing them away inside her newly-purchased gun safe. She hadn't used any of them, but she liked to keep them in prime condition. Finally, however, exhaustion slammed into her like a runaway train and she wandered over to the kitchen sink to wash her hands.
    To her surprise, the water was off.
    Irritated but too tired care, she stormed into the bathroom, grabbed her toothbrush, and brushed her teeth in the kitchen with the aid of a bottle of water from the refrigerator.  Best she could do. A trip to the bathroom reminded her she couldn't flush the toilet. At least she lived alone, so if she wasn't able to flush -- unless her stomach got restless during the night -- it wasn't too big a deal. Not bothering to retrieve the bottle of water so she could scrub her face, she stripped off her clothes, dragged on her favorite cotton nightshirt, and climbed beneath the covers. She hadn't worn any makeup today anyway.
    Another hour or more passed before she finally fell asleep.
    By morning, to Keegan's relief, the water had come back on. Once she stretched and wiped the sleep from her eyes, she stumbled into the bathroom and cheered when the tap gurgled, then spewed out a normal stream of water. She figured she probably shouldn't drink any of it just yet, but it would be fine for cleaning up. What she needed most was a hot shower.
    She washed her hands and then glanced in the mirror. Her bloodshot green eyes mocked her. Their flat, weary look wasn't surprising, really, considering the night she'd had. Maybe she should at least put some drops in them. She had a full day to recover before returning to work tomorrow,