The Devil's Right Hand (25 page)

“
Please, man,” DeWayne sobbed. “Don’t
hurt me...”

“
Weren't you
!?”
Keller screamed into his face so loud that DeWayne flinched. “No,
man, no, I swear it...”

“
You’re a fucking
liar
!” Keller emphasized the last word by lifting
DeWayne up and slamming his body against the car again. “Tell
the
truth
,” another slam, “You
little
fuck
!” a third. Keller
felt like he was standing on a high-voltage line. His blood was
singing in his veins.

“
Okay, okay!” Snot ran form DeWayne’s
nose as he cried. “Whatever, man. Yeah. I was gonna shoot you, but
I didn’t mean it, please, man, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please, please
don’t kill me.”

The words brought clarity to Keller’s
mind, focusing the high wild feeling that was consuming him. There
was only one thing that would be better, one thing that would make
this feeling complete. Keller laughed. It came out as a high, mad
chuckle that made DeWayne moan in terror. Keller’s finger tightened
on the trigger.
A little more
,
he thought,
just a little, not even a
half-inch
, so easy...

“
Keller
!” A
voice roared. Keller looked up, over the top of the car.

Berry was standing there a few feet away. He
was slightly crouched, his arms out in warning or supplication. His
dark-brown eyes held Keller’s. “Don’t do it, son,” Berry said
evenly. “Don’t do it. It’s murder.”

Keller looked back at DeWayne. The man’s face
seemed to be coming apart with fear. “He’s gonna kill me, mister!”
he sobbed to Berry. “Oh, God, please stop him, he’s gonna kill me
like he killed my folks.”

Keller felt the rush back off just a little
bit. He looked down at DeWayne, baffled. “What the hell are you
talking about?” he said.

DeWayne sniffled. “You killed ‘em. You killed
my folks to try to make ‘em tell where I was. It was on TV.”

At those words, Keller felt the rage flow out
of him as if someone had pulled a stopper from a drain. He released
DeWayne’s jacket and stepped back, still holding the gun on him. He
saw DeWayne Puryear as what he was: a sad, scared, stupid man who
was in way over his head. Keller felt shaky and ashamed. He shook
his head. “I never met your folks, DeWayne.” he said. “Jesus, how
dumb are you? Don’t you think it might have been that other guy?
The one that killed your cousin Leonard?”

“
But--the TV said...”

“
Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Keller said.
“Turn around, DeWayne.” DeWayne hesitated. Keller sighed. “I’m not
going to shoot you. Now turn around. Put your hands on the car and
spread your legs.” Reluctantly, DeWayne complied. Keller performed
a quick one-handed frisk, still holding the gun on his captive with
the other hand. When he was satisfied that he had the only
armament, he stepped back and looked at Berry.

“
Major,” he said, “this is the guy I’ve
been looking for.”

“
Well, I had hoped you hadn’t started
attacking random strangers,” Berry replied.

“
Funny,” Keller said. “You think you
can find me something to secure him with?”

Berry looked doubtful. “We’re a rehab center,
Keller, not a prison. We don’t have any cuffs. I don’t know...”

“
Some rope. Even some duct tape,”
Keller said. Berry nodded and turned back towards the house. A
crowd had gathered on the porch. Crystal Puryear was among them.
Her face was white and she had her hand over her mouth.

“
It’s okay,” Keller shouted to her. “I
didn’t hurt him.”

“
Like hell he didn’t!” DeWayne
yelled.

“
Shut up,” Keller said. Crystal turned
and fled back into the house.

Keller heard a low moaning sound, like an
animal in pain. He looked over. The skinny blonde had recovered
somewhat. She sat at the edge of the parking lot, in the gravel,
her knees drawn up to her chest. She had her arms wrapped around
her legs. She rocked back and forth, keening like a banshee. Tears
spilled down her face, mingling with the blood that oozed from the
scratches on her face and flowed from the laceration in her temple.
A stocky red-haired woman in a white nurse’s uniform ran to the
blonde and knelt by her side. After taking a moment to examine the
wound, she put her arm around the girl’s shoulder and helped her to
her feet, shooting a glare of pure disgust at Keller.

“
You can’t take him from me,” the girl
sobbed brokenly. “He needs me.” The nurse led her off towards the
house.

Keller felt another quick flash of shame
until he looked down at the gnawed webbing between his right thumb
and forefinger. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and
dabbed at his own wound, wincing with pain.

“
Who’s that?” Berry said. He had
arrived with a roll of thick nylon rope and a clasp
knife.

“
Damned if I know,” said Keller. He
handed the gun to Berry. “Hold this,” he said. “If this guy
moves...” he almost said, “shoot him,” until he saw the stony look
cross Berry’s face, “...just give it back to me, quick.” He deftly
bound DeWayne’s hands behind his back and hobbled his feet by tying
a short length of rope between them. He gave a last tug on the rope
to check it. “Back to the trunk, DeWayne,” he said. “Don’t worry,
it won’t be far.”

All of the fight seemed to have gone out of
DeWayne. He meekly allowed himself to be led to  the back of
Keller’s borrowed car and bundled in. As Keller slammed the trunk
shut, Berry said, “You better let me look at that before it gets
infected, son.”

“
Later,” Keller said. “I’ve got to make
a delivery.”

“
Jack,” Berry said. “We need to talk
about what just happened.”

“
I’m kind of busy now, Lucas,” Keller
said.

“
You almost lost it there, son,” he
said. “You came close to killing this boy. And you liked it. I
could see it in your eyes. I’m, ah, I’m kind of worried about
that.”

“
I’ll come right back,” Keller said. “I
promise.” He pulled his cell phone off his belt and dialed Marie’s
number. “C’mon,” he muttered as the phone rang. “Be
there...”

She picked up on the fourth ring.
“Hello?”

“
Marie,” he said. “It’s Jack Keller.”
There was a brief silence. “Hey,” she said finally. Her voice
sounded strained.

“
I know, we need to talk,” he said.
“But first, I’ve got DeWayne Puryear. He’s in my trunk right now.
I’m going to bring him to you.”

Another brief pause. “Gee, Keller, most guys
would just bring flowers to say they were sorry.” Her laugh sounded
tinny, artificial.

“
I’m serious. You can have the collar.
That may get you back in with the department.”

“
What about you?”

“
I’ll come with you. I…have some
business of my own to take care of.” he debated telling her about
the warrant out for him, decided against it. He’d tell her when
they got there. He needed her thinking about taking in
Puryear.

“
Okay.”

“
Im bringing him to your house. Get
ready. All I’ve got is rope. You’ll need cuffs.”

“
Okay.” More silence. Keller thought of
asking her what was wrong, but he thought he knew. He’d straighten
everything out when this job was done. He hung up.

Traffic was light; it took Keller twenty
minutes to drive to her house. On the way there, he listened
carefully for sounds from the trunk to see if DeWayne was going to
try anything. There was nothing. The man seemed to have accepted
defeat, but Keller knew better than to rely on that.

The door opened immediately to his knock, but
only as far as the security chain. Marie peeked through the crack
for a moment, then closed the door. There was the brief rattle of
the chain being drawn aside, then the door swung open.

She was dressed in full uniform. Her cuffs
hung at her belt with her baton and service pistol. “Hey,” she
said. She didn’t meet his eyes.

“
Hey,” Keller said. “Puryear’s in the
trunk. I’ve got him tied and hobbled, but knowing him, he’s been
gnawing on the ropes like a rat.”

She didn’t answer, but turned on her heel
abruptly and walked into the house. Keller followed. “Look,” he
said. I’m sorry for running out...” he stopped as he reached the
living room.

Detective Barnes was standing by the
bookshelf. His face had its accustomed weary, resigned look. His
partner Stacy lounged on the couch, his legs crossed. He was
grinning at Keller.

Keller looked at Marie. “What...” he stopped
when he saw the look on her face. Her jaw was set and her eyes were
like cold iron. “You called them,” he said.

Barnes stopped forward. “Jackson Keller?”
Keller made no answer. He continued to look at Marie. “You called
them,” he said again.

She raised her chin slightly. Her voice was
steady as she said, “No. They called me. They told me about the
warrant. You should have told me, Keller.”

“
Jackson Keller, you’re under arrest
for the murder of John Lee Oxendine.” He turned to Marie. “Your
collar, officer Jones. You brought him in. Cuff him.”

 
They know I won’t
fight her
, Keller thought bitterly. Marie unsnapped
the cuffs from her belt and advanced on him. “Turn around, Keller.
Hands behind your back.” He just looked at her. “Jack,” she said.
“Don’t make this any harder than it already is.”

“
Isn’t that his line?” Stacy
chortled.

Barnes sighed. “Shut up, Stace.”

Stacy went on as Keller turned his back and
placed his hands behind him. “We never knew you had such a talent
for the undercover work, Jones.”

Keller felt the cold steel circlet fasten
around his wrist. “Hurry up and get the cuffs locked,” Keller said,
“before I break that asshole’s jaw.”

Stacy’s face reddened. He jumped to his feet,
his fists clenched. “Stace,” Barnes said. “Check on Puryear in the
car Keller was driving. If he’s still tied up, you drive that car.
Jones and I will take Keller to the station in mine.”

Stacy walked towards the door. As he passed
Marie, he gave her a little pat on the buttocks, his hand lingering
for just a second. Marie whirled on him. “Don’t you ever do that
again, you son of a bitch,” she hissed.

The grin never left his face. “C’mon, Marie,”
he said. “You might get used to it. And if you do, I might not ask
too many questions about your, ah, relationship with this suspect.”
He turned and smirked at Keller.

Keller felt his muscles tighten. The blood
throbbed in his temples, but he stared straight ahead.

“
Detective Stacy,” Barnes said, “if you
don’t get a move on and do what I said, I’ll write you up myself.”
Stacy’s control slipped for just a moment. He glanced uncertainly
at Barnes before plastering the smirk back on his face. He
sauntered past Keller, still leering at Marie. “We’ll see if you’re
still a tough guy when we get your ass to the station, Keller,” he
whispered.

As he left, Barnes turned to Marie. “Read him
his rights, Jones,” he said. “I’ll go start the car.” He left
behind Stacy.

“
You have the right to remain silent,”
Marie said. “Anything you say--”

“
Marie,” Keller said.

“
Anything you say,” her voice rode over
his, “can and will be used against you in a court of law...” he let
her finish the litany. When she was finished, she asked, “Do you
understand these rights that I’ve just explained to
you?”

“
Yeah,” he said. They stood looking at
one another. “Marie,” Keller finally said. “I’m sorry.”

For the first time, her mask of control
cracked. Tears glistened in her eyes and her voice shook. “Damn it,
Keller,” she said. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out there was a
warrant out for you?”

“
I wasn’t thinking about any of that,”
he said. “I was only thinking about being with you.”

She wiped a tear away with the back of
her hand. “The worst part is that I’m going to be back on the
force. Barnes says I might even get a promotion. But there’ll
always be these whispers. I’ll be lucky if I don’t turn into a
laughingstock. And that animal Stacy, grinning at me, thinking he
can put his hands on me...
damn
you, Keller!”

“
I’m sorry,” he said again.

She shook her head savagely, wiped the last
tear away, and squared her shoulders. She looked him in the eye. “I
wouldn’t have run out on you, Jack,” she said. “I swear it. I would
have gone to bat for you. If you’d have just trusted me.” She shook
her head again. “Let’s go,” she said. Her voice was steady
again.

They rode to the station in silence, Keller
slumped in the back seat of the unmarked car, Barnes and Marie in
the front. Stacy followed with DeWayne Puryear still in the trunk
of Keller’s borrowed car. As they pulled into the parking lot,
Barnes muttered, “Oh, shit.” Keller straightened up.

A white van was parked in front of the
station. A long metal pole stuck up from the roof of the van, with
a dish resembling a radar antenna atop the pole. The words “ACTION
NEWS LIVE” were blazoned across the side of the van. Keller could
see the camera crew and the brunette news reporter from Eddie
Wesson’s funeral poised and waiting.

“
Stacy, you asshole,” Barnes snarled.
“Only you would think to call the newsies in at a time like
this.”