Big Daddy Sheriff (Big Cedar Daddies #1)

Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Joe, can you go to my place and look in on the ladies?” Quinn asked.

His cell was patched in through his cruiser’s speakers, allowing him to keep both hands on the wheel.

“I’m on it,” Joe said.

Quinn smiled, feeling a little better about the situation. One of the good things about a town as small as Big Cedar was that it didn’t take any of the residents long to reach their destination. Joe could walk to Quinn’s house and be there in a matter of minutes.

Quinn thanked Joe and then ended the call as the SUV zoomed down the two-lane highway. Mountains and forest surrounded him. The road rose and fell. At the speed he was traveling, the dips caused his stomach to drop a little, like he was on a rollercoaster, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle.

The engine roared loudly as he pushed forward. He crested a steep hill and saw a car down at the bottom, probably half a mile away. It was just an indistinguishable dot at the moment, but Quinn had no doubt it was the one he was after.

He turned on his lights and mashed the pedal down.

With the red and blue now flashing, he increased the speed until he was going close to a hundred miles an hour.

He was closing in fast on his targets.

“Shit. It’s that cop,” Bruce said.

With a cigarette dangling between his lips, Hector turned in the passenger seat to cast a glance behind them.

“I’m a convicted felon,” Bruce said. “If he gets us on something, I’ll be back?—”

“Just shut up and drive,” Hector growled.

“Run from a cop?”

“What do you want to do? Pull over and let him run your license and registration?” Hector asked.

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do,” Bruce said. He signaled and eased onto the small grassy shoulder.

“What the hell?” Hector demanded.

“We aren’t wanted for anything. We haven’t broken the law in Oklahoma. I haven’t even so much as sped.”

“But you lied,” Hector pointed out.

“Is that a crime? For all he knows, we really need the oil changed. Play it cool. And whatever you do, don’t pull a gun,” Bruce commanded.

Hector didn’t look thrilled, but he nodded.

They sat still and waited as the marshal approached.

They were far enough out of town that Quinn technically didn’t have jurisdiction.

But the guys probably didn’t realize that. Besides, there was an agreement between him and the county sheriff’s office that allowed him to wander off his range when needed to assist the deputies or step in when they were too far away to reach a scene quickly. He was just going to assume this was one of those times.

“Is there a problem, Marshal?” the driver asked as the window slid down with a hum.

“I hope not,” Quinn said. “License and insurance, please.”

“Sure,” the guy said. “I’m just going to reach for my wallet and then inside the glove compartment. Is that okay?”

Quinn nodded. “Just go slow.”

“Of course.”

Quinn kept a watchful eye as he said, “You have experience encountering law enforcement, huh?”

The man chuckled. “You’ll know soon enough, so no sense in hiding it. I did some time. But I completed parole and I’m free and clear now.”

He handed Quinn the requested documents.

“Do you want to tell me why you’re really in Big Cedar?” Quinn said. He glanced briefly at the insurance verification card and license but didn’t let his eyes stay diverted for too long.

“Like I said, just passing through and wanted a bite to eat.”

“You said you needed an oil change.”

The guy—Bruce, from the name on his license—laughed. “Realized that as we were finishing breakfast. So, that too.”

The man in the passenger seat removed the cigarette from his mouth and craned his neck to try and look across and out the window. “The more we talked about it, Officer, the more we realized this car is long overdue. We got worried and wanted to take care of it. You know?”

Quinn bent down slightly to observe the service sticker that was in the upper corner of the windshield. “Hmm. This says you just got the oil changed last month.”

“Well, we’ve put a lot of miles on it since then,” Bruce said.

“And if I take a look at the milage and compare it with the sticker it’ll confirm that?” Quinn said.

The tension was palpable. The guys in the car wisely didn’t make any sudden movements, but Quinn was ready just in case they did.

“Do you have a warrant to look in here, Marshal?” Bruce said. “And speaking of all that… you’re the town marshal. Or that’s what you told me. Seems like out here, this far from town, it would be the county’s jurisdiction. I’m only guessing. I’m not an expert, of course.” There was a hint of malevolence in the smirk he wore.

Quinn grinned back. “Well, I do have a special commission to help the county boys out from time to time. It’s a rural area. Big swath of land to cover. The more hands on deck the better.” He held up the license and insurance. “Just sit tight and give me a few minutes to run these. We’ll have you on your way soon.”

He got in his cruiser, used his phone to capture a picture of the ID, then ran it through the system.

No outstanding warrants and the vehicle was clean.

He took another five minutes just because he could, then sauntered back to the awaiting men. Handing back the documents, he said, “You fellers are free to head on out. But I have a word of advice for you.” He leaned in, resting one elbow on the car door and keeping his other hand near his gun. “Big Cedar is the type of town where folks look out for one another. A community for decent folks who don’t take kindly to others poking around their business. And we sure don’t take kindly to men trying to get their hands on young ladies.” He stepped back, banged on the car door twice, and added, “You’d do well to keep that in mind. Go on now. Move it along.”

Bruce glared at him for a moment but clearly didn’t want to press his luck. He drove off without another word.

Quinn made sure the car kept heading straight ahead before he turned around and went back to Big Cedar.

He wouldn’t be letting Little Alyssa out of his sight anytime soon.