Full Circle (36 page)

"Of course," Mrs. Freeman agreed. "Remember though, everyone has an obligation to give back and support their communities. The more we care, the better our community. You came back to Rawlings for a reason. You have earned the favor of the entire town council, and we believe you would make a fine mayor, and the vote would be unanimous."

"Thank you, Mrs. Freeman."

"Good, now do you have a pen so I can sign your cast?"

Josie laughed. "Do you really want to? There might be a space somewhere on it that is blank. It is a silly thing, but at least I can cover it up with a sling."

"Nonsense, it shows people care." Mrs. Freeman picked out a purple pen and picked a spot under Josie's elbow where she could not possibly twist around to read it. She wrote something, smiled, said goodbye and swept out the door with a broad smile.

Josie shut the front door and turned around to find Jack standing in the hallway. "Mayor, huh?"

"Imagine that," Josie said, grinning.

"I can imagine it."

"Why didn't you come in and say hello?"

Jack shook his head. "She still scares the crap out of me and if she ever finds out who TP'ed the school lawn in my senior year, she'd still come after my hide."

Josie laughed, understanding all too well as she felt the same way about the formidable high school principal. Everyone in town viewed her with the highest of respect and if they had attended school under her—a twinge of fear. "What did she write on my cast? I can't see it." She held her arm up as much as she dared.

Jack bent down to read it. "To Josie: One of my toughest nuts to crack and one of my greatest success stories. I'm proud to call you a friend, Augustine Freeman."

Josie's eyes lit up. "Imagine that! Me! The delinquent of the town."

"I can," Jack said. "And I do. Getting Mrs. Freeman's recommendation is the equivalent of getting a blessing from the Pope. You'll make one hell of a good mayor."

"I haven't said I'd do it yet," Josie protested.

"So you say," Jack said, chuckling as he headed back down the hallway. "Mayor Raintree."

Buck ducked into the garage and behind the open hoods of Jack's Jeep and Josie's truck. Jack was checking out the engine fluids on both vehicles.

"Where is she?" Buck asked.

Jack looked up from wiping the dipstick. "The last I saw her, she was trying to put books on the library shelves one-handed. She has Alex in there helping. I told her if she gets on that rolling ladder, she's going to answer to me! She's kind of pissed at me right now."

Buck raised his bushy eyebrows. "I need you to find something for Josie to do the day after tomorrow, all day—something that will keep her busy."

"Why?"

Buck grimaced. "I can't tell you. I'm going to have Alex. I told her I was taking him fishing. It's supposed to be an all-day excursion for me and him."

"That's what she told me," Jack said. "Something tells me you're not going to fishing. Where are you going?"

"I can't tell you. This is Alex's idea, and I promised him I wouldn't tell. I'm Kato on this caper. He's the Green Hornet.

"Okay, stop right there. The less I know, the less I'll have to deny. Whatever you two are up to… don't wind up in trouble," Jack warned. "Because it won't be Alex she blames if something goes wrong."

"It will be a good deal all around, if he can pull it off," Buck promised with a grin. "Like I said, I'm only the sidekick driver."

Jack shook his head and went back to work. He knew Buck would not let the boy get into any serious trouble.

Jack headed for the public library after dropping Josie off at the sheriff's office. She was going to be debriefed and officially turn in her badge. After that, she would go over to the town hall to discuss with Mrs. Freeman what was involved with the mayor's job. He didn't need to go to the library, he could have done his research on their new computers at home, but he needed to look like he was doing research. Keeping Josie busy was not a difficult thing to do. She only had one speed—fast. She was not fully recovered yet, and it was wearing him out trying to keep her contained enough to get some rest.

Josie felt like she'd been let out of prison. She leaped out of Jack's Jeep in case he changed his mind, but well-wishers stopped her before she could take the ten steps toward the office door. After politely doing her duty, she ducked inside.

"Josie!" Georgina jumped up and hugged her tightly. "Are you supposed to be out and about?"

"Yes, my warden has given me a temporary pass," Josie joked.

"You're not still mad at me are you?" Georgina pleaded.

"Maybe," Josie hedged, dragging her friend into her old office and closing the door. "Give me the dirt on why Aiden Roland is stepping down from the mayor's position."

"Oh, that," Georgina said dismissively. "That's old news."

"I've been out of the loop lately, and you—you ratfink—haven't been keeping me up-to-date," Josie complained.

"Are you taking the job of mayor?"

"Tit for tat," Josie ordered. "Give!"

Georgina grinned. "Well, we all know Aiden's done a piss-poor job of it for the last two years. You were running the sheriff's office and his for the last year. He wasn't making many decisions and the ones he did make weren't good. It was about a year ago when he started missing a lot of time and getting flaky about showing up for work. The man called in with the flu at least ten times in the last six months."

"So what was it all about?" Josie demanded. "Is he sick? Oh God, he hasn't been diagnosed with MS, like his mother, has he?"

Georgina shook her head. "Not that I know, although Aiden has a problem. He says he needs help in the form of a therapist. He's moving up to Wassa to spend some time with an uncle and get treatment. This information is supposed to be hush-hush, but most everybody has heard by now. He's claiming he has an addiction to women and sex."

"Sex!" Josie's mouth flew open.

"Apparently, that woman he was caught with up in Holbart was only one of many," Georgina said. "There are at least a dozen single women in town that have admitted to having an affair with him. Of course, a lot of women aren't coming forward to admit it, but the ladies are whispering."

"Which is exactly what we're doing," Josie admitted. "We should be ashamed. We're representatives of the office."

"I am, hon. You won't be as soon as Clay gets back and debriefs you." Georgina admitted, "I don't feel guilty at all. That hound dog has gone after every woman in this town, single or married, including us. I do hope he gets help and gets well up there in Wassa because if he comes back to town, there won't be a woman for a hundred miles that would touch him."

Josie nodded. "What's going on with you and Clay? Any developments? You've been keeping yourself scarce."

"I know, but that was Clay's idea. He said you needed some time to get used to being away from the office. Him and me? Well hon, we're doing fine—in the sack and out. He says he has to figure out how to re-assign me to your office, once you become the mayor. Clay says I shouldn't report to him if we're involved as a couple. We're moving a little slower than I'd like, but at least we're moving. Clay is a careful man, but he knows what he's doing. I don't think anyone has given us, as a couple, a second glance. All that worry was only in his head. Oh, my board is lighting up. I've got to go."

"One more question, and I'll get out of your hair and wait for Clay," Josie said quickly. "How is Mary Anne? How's she dealing with all this? I feel so badly for her and those boys."

Georgina stuck her head out the door. "Ray! Take that board for a minute!" She turned her attention back to her friend. "What happened is not your fault, Josie. You were the victim, and you can't blame yourself for what that bastard did or any of the fallout from his crimes."

"I know that, but where did you learn it?" Josie asked.

"That FBI man brought a woman in who gave the entire sheriff's department a class on victim advocacy," Georgina admitted.

"I've been through several of those seminars," Josie admitted and gave her friend a hug. "I'm dealing with it. Now tell me about Mary Anne."

Georgina sighed. "She's gone. She handed the house and business keys to that FBI man and told him to search as much as he wanted, because she was taking the boys and a few clothes. That was it. She gave them access to all the business files and everything else, along with a couple dozen depositions. Their house is already up for sale.

"At first she was in total denial, but when all the facts added up, she had to accept that it was true. She didn't want to expose her kids to all that mess, and I don't blame her. The two oldest boys are old enough to hear things and to understand that their daddy was a monster. She might have to come back for the trial, although that would only be if the defense attorney wants her here.

"She has a brother who lives way up in Alaska, and I mean way up in a little settlement you can only get to by plane. That's where they went. Mary Anne said she has to protect her kids, and I can't blame her. Riley setup some donation jars at the Tavern and all over town, and raised quite a bit of money to help her start over. Everyone felt bad for her, but she didn't want any pity. She's a strong lady."

"She's going to need to be," Josie said.

Josie let Georgina get back to her job. Clay debriefed her, and she handed over her badge for the last time. She spent the rest of her day with Mrs. Freeman at the town hall. She was not ready to give the woman a definite answer, but she was getting close to a decision.

Jack picked her up at exactly four in the afternoon as promised, but instead of driving west, he turned south.

"Where are we going?" Josie asked.

"Special treat," Jack said with a grin. "Buck and Alex are out of our hair, so I'm taking advantage of it. I told Buck to keep Alex over at his place tonight."

"That's not—"

"I'm not telling, are you?" Jack interrupted.

"Nope," Josie admitted.

"Good!"

Jack drove to the address he'd been given, left Josie in the vehicle, and knocked on the door where he was handed a large cooler and a small cooler.

Josie knew where they were. Mrs. Sheppard had a small enterprising business cooking complete meals for people for their special occasions. She did not have a business license and did not advertise. Anyone with the authority to stop her looked the other way. Why kill a good thing by complicating it? You paid in cash and everyone using her services enjoyed her food and tipped her well.

Jack drove home, led Josie upstairs, went around lighting small candles placed around the bedroom, and setup a small candlelit table for two. He went into the bathroom and turned on all the jets in that fabulous shower of hers.

She watched as he set the scene for his seduction, and she let him take the lead. With nowhere to be and no one to interrupt, it would be a special evening. They'd made love since her abduction, but each time Jack had been gentle and treated her like she was fragile.

Jack led Josie into the bathroom and undressed her, meticulously placing his hands and fingers lightly and sensuously on her skin as he dropped her clothing piece by piece to the floor. Josie shivered in anticipation, but he only smiled. He produced a box of plastic bags along with a roll of tape and with the finesse of a magician, wrapped her cast carefully. With a quick flip, his tee shirt was over his head. With a snap and zip, his jeans were on the floor. He stepped out of them commando style—his cock full, stiff, and ready.