Shadow in Serenity

five


Carny shut off her Harley outside the motel and ran her fingers through her windblown hair. She hated wearing a helmet and only put the thing on when her son was riding with her. Someone from the sheriff’s department pulled her over at least once a week and slapped her with a warning, but she hadn’t yet gotten a ticket. The truth was, half the deputies had a crush on her and the other half considered her their little sister. None of them was about to get tough with her.

But Carny didn’t take advantage of that often. It was nice to know that so many nice guys lived in Serenity. If Abe Sullivan hadn’t ruined her stomach for relationships, she might even consider some of them dating material.

She walked into the office of “Doc” Carraway — so named not because he was a doctor, but because he’d flunked out of a South American med school. He’d chosen hotel management as an alternative occupation. Leaning on the counter, she said, “Hey, Doc. What room is Logan Brisco in?”

Doc looked up and instantly smoothed down his hair. “Uh … he’s in 210. I ain’t really supposed to tell you, but since folks have been comin’ in and out of there all day, I don’t guess it’s a secret.”

Dread flashed through her. “Don’t tell me they’ve been bringing him money.”

“If they’re smart,” Doc said. “Hugh Berkstrom got here at seven-thirty this morning.”

“Did he invest?” she asked. “Tell me he didn’t.”

“I don’t know. But I’ll tell you this much. Hugh didn’t make his fortune with careless investments. If he invests with Logan Brisco, then far as I’m concerned, there’s no better investment. And some of the folks who’ve come by this morning have been trying to make deals with him to put shops and restaurants inside the park.”

“Doc, there isn’t going to be a park.”

He just smiled. “We’ll see, won’t we?”

Exasperated, she headed up the stairwell to room 210 and knocked firmly on the door.

Logan opened the door wearing well-cut slacks and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. It was the first time she’d seen him without his jacket.

He grinned as if he’d been expecting her. “Well, well.”

“We have to talk,” she said, pushing into his room. She stopped cold when she saw her in-laws, Bev and J. R. Sullivan, getting up from the table. Her heart sank. “Oh, no. Not you too.”

“Don’t start, Carny,” J.R. said. “We know what we’re doin’.”

“Not if you gave him any money, you don’t.”

Bev shot a nervous glance at Logan. “Carny, please. We’ll talk about it later.”

For the first time in years, Carny felt the ache of tears behind her eyes. But she wouldn’t cry in front of this man. That would give him too much power.

“Look at me, Bev,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. “You know me better than anybody else in town does. Have you ever known me to say anything that wasn’t true?”

“No, of course not,” her mother-in-law replied.

J.R. looked up at her with weary eyes. “Honey, your past sometimes colors your thinkin’.”

“It sure does. If I can’t learn from my past, J.R., then I’d be pretty stupid, wouldn’t I?”

Logan leaned against the wall, arms folded, and from the amused look in his eyes, she knew he was enjoying every minute of this.

“You haven’t even prayed about this, J.R.,” she said. “If you had, you wouldn’t be doing it.”

“Honey, we can talk later,” J.R. said, and he and Bev stood to go.

Carny gritted her teeth and stared at Logan as the couple closed the door behind them. “Jail is too good for you. You should be shot.”

He broadened that maddening smile. “Did you come to invest too?”

“No, I did not,” she said through her teeth. “I came to warn you to stay away from my son. Duping the adults of this town is bad enough, but when you start conning little kids —”

“Excuse me,” he said, turning to his table as she spoke and opening a logbook. “You don’t mind if I make a few notations in here, do you? It’s important that I log in every penny I get, so I can register the shares and get the profits paid out accordingly.”

“Give me a break!” She jerked the logbook away from him and caught her breath at the number of investments he’d already logged there. “Nice prop,” she said. “Looks real legitimate.”

He shook his head, still grinning. “You’re determined to make me out to be a liar, aren’t you?”

“No,” she said, leaning over the table. “I’m determined to get you out of town. But first you’re going to give back all the money you’ve already gotten. What was the take today, Brisco? Ten thousand dollars? Twenty?”

Logan got up wearily, and crossing his arms, looked down at her. “What are you so hostile about?”

“You think this is hostility? Oh, no, this isn’t hostility. You haven’t seen hostility yet.”

He dropped onto the couch and patted the spot next to him. “Sit down.”

She gave a short laugh. “Yeah, right.”

“No, really. If we’re going to talk like two adults, then I’d prefer that you sit down.”

“I don’t really care what you prefer,” she said. “I didn’t come here to have a nice, cozy chat with you.”

“No, you came to show me how tough you are.” He stood back up and leaned against the wall. “So why didn’t your husband come? Why does he let you fight these battles all alone?”

“Brisco, by now I’m pretty sure that you’ve found out everything there is to know about me. I’m your biggest stumbling block in this town. So I’m sure you know that I’m a widow.”

“Well, that explains how vulnerable your son is. He’s hungry for a man’s attention. I noticed that right away.”

“Of course you did. It’s your job to spot people’s weaknesses. And right now you think Jason is my weakness. But it won’t work. If you insist on staying here until you’ve stolen all the town’s money, I’m going to make you sorry you ever took up crime as a profession. I’ve seen more cons than you’ve ever dreamed of. I’ve even been part of some. I’m not wrong.”

“Oh, so that’s it,” he said. “You’re so distrustful because you can’t be trusted. You think I’m like you.”

“You’re nothing like me,” she bit out. “I made something of my life in spite of my background. God washed me clean of all the garbage in my life, and these good people loved on me. I’ll fight tooth and nail to keep you from ruining them!”

His expression was serious as he stared at her, and for a moment she thought she might be getting through to him. Then he took a long breath and said, “You’re really cute when you have that look in your eye. Do you know that?”

She fought the impulse to slug him. “Give it up, Brisco. I can’t be charmed.”

His eyes danced with the challenge. “Want to lay odds on that?”

“I don’t gamble, but if I did I’d take that bet.”

He laughed. “A hundred bucks says you’ll be chasing me before the month is up.” His eyes twinkled. “Winner take all.”

For a moment, she stared at him, incredulous. What arrogance! This might even be fun. Winner take all, indeed. Lock, stock, and ego. “Like I said, I’m not a gambler.” Heading for the door, she looked back over her shoulder. “If you come near my son again, Brisco, I’ll hurt you.”

Then she slammed out of his room.