C5 Chapter 5

The sun was starting to set, the firefly’s twinkling, the crickets and frogs playing their melodies, not a cloud in the sky, the moon and stars peeking out, and the night not too hot, but just right. With Sterling in her arms, it felt almost romantic. Like the perfect set up for some hot, steamy kiss full of pent up sexual tension where the girl and guy realize they are right for each other and no longer deny their sexual chemistry. Leila looked up into Sterling’s blue eyes, and he looked down into hers. She drew a bit closer towards those luscious lips of his, until the beam of a high powered flashlight blinded her. She tried to clear away the spots, and drew back from his strong, corded embrace. If looks could kill, the deputy holding that damn flashlight in one hand and an evidence bag in the other would have dropped dead on the spot.

“Sheriff I have something you’ll want to see,” said the deputy, out of breath.

It was clear the man had run out the back door and around the bar. It was also clear that Sheriff Thorne didn’t do much running these days. His younger deputies seemed to do the leg work while he took all the glory and credit. Leila doubted the good sheriff ever did things like combing crime scenes down on his hands and knees, or anything that required much physical effort beyond sitting on his ass and barking out orders.

Sheriff straightened his shoulders and swaggered towards his deputy. He grabbed the bag from the man’s hand. The deputy looked rather pleased with himself. Thorne peered down into the black bag, careful not to reveal its contents before a smug smile spread across his flabby jowls. It reminded Leila of the way The Grinch smiled.

“Good work Deputy Marks. Matches the description the coroner gave us. I’ll take it in for processing.”

Sheriff made a show of wrapping the bag up tight. But he had already purposely given away the nature of it’s contents. It was obvious it was the alleged murder weapon. He sent the deputy off to continue the dredge work while he made for his cruiser.

Leila wondered what was in the bag Thorne placed carefully on the seat of his cruiser. Perhaps she would better be able to guess after she and Zenia had a look at the body. She hoped her friend came through and they weren’t caught. She would just have to trust the other girl, but trust was not something that came easily to Leila after all she had been through.

She found herself rubbing Sterling’s arm in a soothing manner as they watched and waited what the sheriff would do next. She wondered why the handsome bar owner wasn’t wearing a shirt, not that she was complaining. Neither were the mosquitos. It was clear Sterling was exhausted seeing as he hadn’t slept in over a day, but that prick Thorne seemed to relish dragging it out. It was soon clear the man was a sadist who loved to humiliate people.

“Am I free to go Sheriff?” asked Sterling.

“When I say you are.”

Then he made a show of sitting in his patrol car for another twenty minutes typing away at his computer. Leila wouldn’t have been surprised if he was playing a computer game. Sterling leaned up against his truck and sighed. He looked like the next strong wind would knock him head over heels. She considered marching over to the sheriff and giving him a piece of her mind but figured it would only make things worse.

A good number of deputies had left the crime scene by now, replaced by a few of the night crew. Fresh and well rested. The same courtesy denied to Sterling. Still Sheriff sat on his fat ass enjoying his display of power and authority. Finally, he got out of his cruiser holding a bag and walked back over to where Leila and Sterling waited. Zenia’s V.W. bug was pulling into the lot, the beam of her headlights casting them all in an uncomfortable spotlight.

“I decided I’m going to be needing your pants as well. Just because there’s no blood visible to the naked eye, don’t mean there’s nothing there,” said Thorne

Then he opened the bag and it became clear he intended Sterling to further strip down right there in the parking lot. The horny part of Leila’s brain did a happy dance. While the sensible, good citizen cried foul. This was bullshit meant to humiliate him and strip him of his dignity. This was the one-time Leila didn’t want to see Sterling stripped.

“Sheriff this is a violation of his rights,” said Leila.

“Would you prefer to do this down at the station,” he sneered. “I have more questions for Mr. Mount anyway.”

Zenia got out of her car. She was holding a brown, greasy bag of burgers in her hand. When her face took in the tense expressions. She set the food on her hood and narrowed her dark eyes at the Sheriff.

“What the hell is going on here?” she demanded. “Do I need to call him a lawyer or something? You have detained him for an absurd amount of time denying him breaks and other basic human privileges.”

“You need to mind your own business Miss Valdez and be on your way before I change my mind about hauling your ass in for lying to a police officer, trespassing, and obstruction.”

Zenia crossed her arms and snorted. Her expression was clear. She wasn’t going to back down from this. From this injustice her friend was receiving from one egotistical, power hungry, backwater Sheriff.

Sterling put his hands up as if in surrender. He literally placed himself in between the women and Thorne.

“There’s no need for this. It’s alright. I appreciate what you gals are doing for me, but you two should go home and get some rest. I’ll be fine.”

Sterling pulled his boots off then, followed by his Levi’s in quick succession. Leila had dreamed about this moment, but this wasn’t quite how she had imagined it. His body was just as delicious as she had fantasized. All muscled, honed, amazingness. She was practically salivating as he placed his crumpled up jeans in the evidence bag. But Zenia’s face was enraged. However, the pretty Cuban bit her tongue for her bosses sake.

Thorne closed the bag and placed it in his cruiser. While his back was turned, Zenia muttered “Motherfucking bastard.” He again took his good ole sweet time lollygagging while Sterling stood in the lot of his bar in nothing but his boxer shorts and boots. It was not an unpleasant sight and Leila kept talking her raging hormones into submission. Now was not the time or place to be having thoughts of removing his boxers with her teeth and climbing on top of him. She liked it rough and dirty, but not with so many witnesses present. And doing him right then and there would look pretty bad for his case.

“You’re free to go for now Mr. Mount. But don’t leave town. We’ll be in touch,” said the sheriff.

Then he plopped down into his cruiser once more and pretended to be busy. Zenia gave Sterling a quick hug.

“How you holdin’ up Ster? We need to get some food in you and a nice and cozy bed. I would hate for you to go home alone at a time like this. And I would invite you to crash at my place, but Granny is in one of her moods. Leila lives close by…” suggested Zenia.

Leila’s heart up kicked several gears. She gave a nervous laugh and then Zenia an uncomfortable smile. “Um my couch isn’t all that great. My place is a bit of a mess at the moment.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be just fine on my own. The bar is closed tomorrow, but I’ll pay you both to cover your shifts. I wouldn’t want to put you out,” said Sterling.

That was just the type of good guy he was. He was concerned with others even though his bar would be shut down, not bringing any revenue for God knew how long, and he was the prime suspect in a murder investigation. He yawned and rubbed his hand down his face.

“Don’t be silly. You aren’t putting anyone out. And you aren’t in any condition to drive. I can give you a ride home, but I need to get home to Granny before too long. Perhaps Leila could keep you company tonight? You really shouldn’t be alone after all that’s happened.”

Leila should have been a bit more shocked about Zenia’s forwardness. She wanted to be there for Sterling in his time of need, but at the same time didn’t think being alone with him was the best idea. Once she crossed that line there was no going back. Because as much as Leila tried to convince herself otherwise, Sterling Mount was not the kind of man she could do a one night stand with. She had feelings for him she shouldn’t and that she couldn’t deny. He was a complication in her no strings plan. He fucked it up entirely. And fucking him would only fuck herself in the end.

Sterling smiled that grin of his that made women moist between their legs. And Leila wasn’t immune to it.

“I don’t want to be a bother. I wouldn’t mind the company but I’m a bit of a slob. I’ll be alright. You don’t have to worry about me really ladies. I’m just going to shower and hit the sack when I get home. I’m fine to drive. I appreciate your concern though.”

There was a squeal as Sheriff Thorne rolled down the automatic windows on his patrol car. He stuck his giant head out the window.

“Your truck is being impounded Mr. Mount. After our team goes over it thoroughly, it’ll be released so long as it doesn’t become evidence in this case. Have a nice evening.”

With that Sheriff rolled his window back up and left the parking lot with a smug smile. Zenia flipped him the bird. True to his word, a tow truck pulled in only seconds later. Leila shook her head. What a dick.

“Son of a bitch,” said Zenia, catching the attention of a deputy. “I know I know, shouldn’t be here. Trust me we’re leaving! Ster, why don’t you ride with Leila. My car’s a mess. I’ll meet you at your house so we can talk.”

Zenia didn’t wait around for agreement. She grabbed her bag of fast food off the hood of her car and kicked up her tires with a squeal of gravel out of the lot. Leila figured it was no accident the gravel pelted a cruiser. She gave Sterling a sheepish grin.

“I must warn you my truck is a piece of shit. The air doesn’t work. The driver’s side window sticks. And sometimes I have to tap the radio to get it to work,” she confessed as she led him towards her Chevy.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind taking a look under your hood sometime Mrs. Leila,” he offered. “Maybe your A.C, just needs to be charged. And I can fix that window too.”

Yes, you can look under my hood sugar pie, thought Leila. You can lubricate and drill me anytime darling. But instead, she just shook her head as she opened her truck door.

“I don’t want to be a bother Mr. Mount. You have enough going on already. You’ll have to tell me where you live.”

She tried to avoid looking over and seeing a mostly naked man in her truck. Her head filled with all the fun things they could get up too, make that truck rock. But instead, she turned the key in the ignition and attempted to focus on the road. Sterling gave her a smile and some directions. By the time she pulled out of the lot, the sun had fully disappeared, and the night was in full swing. She cracked her window and was relieved that it worked. Sterling did the same and damn the wind did amazing things to his thick head of hair. The breeze felt nice and did amazing things to her breasts and left goosebumps on her skin. Or perhaps that was the effect of the man sitting in the seat next to her with his arm dangling out the window.

“Would you like to listen to the radio?” she asked to break the heavy silence.

“No thanks Miss. Leila. This quiet is nice. Thanks for giving me a ride home. I sure do appreciate it,” he crooned.

“Do you need me to stop anywhere first? Get you some food or something?”

She made a show of adjusting her mirrors and checking her rearview. And she may have tilted the mirror lower than necessary.

Sterling glanced down at his practically naked body and laughed. “I don’t think that would be very proper. What would folks in town say?”

“Oh, I can think of a thing or two. At least you would give the ladies at the Methodist church something to talk about,” she teased.

“Oh I’m sure their tongues are already wagging about all this mess for sure. I just can’t believe this. I’m just waiting to wake up and this all have been a bad dream. I know Clyde and I had our differences, but I knew that man my whole life. He was in my bar every night. I still can’t believe he’s dead.”

Leila reached over and patted his hand on the seat. His hand was warm, but she felt a slight tremor in it.

“I know what you mean. It’s hard to believe. But I know you didn’t kill him Mr. Mount. I stand behind you one hundred percent. I’m here for you.”

He placed his other hand on top of hers. Leila enjoyed the feel of it. It felt right. She swallowed hard but left her hand snuggled safely in between his.

“Thank you, Miss Leila. That means a lot to me,” he sighed and laid his weary head back against the seat. “I just keep seeing Clyde lying there on the ground all torn up with Zanna screaming. I could already tell he was gone, but I reached down to check his pulse, but I couldn’t find…. I’m sorry I shouldn’t be laying this on you.”

“No it’s ok. Get it out. It’ll help you feel better. Not to sound morbid, but I heard that Clyde looked like he had been attacked by an animal or something. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want too…”

Leila sincerely hoped Sterling decided to open up to her. She needed all the information she could get if she was going to help clear his name and find the real killer. She waited patiently. But she wasn’t going to push him or pry.

“There was a lot of blood. It was awful. Clyde’s throat had been slashed open. And not with just like a knife or something. But like claws or well meat hooks. I saw the deputies eyeing the freezer. I think they must have taken one of our multi prong meat hooks. Clyde had his faults, but the man didn’t deserve to die like that.”

She processed this information. Sterling’s DNA would be on the meat hook, but so would other employees at the Stillwater Bar and Grill. Amos Fox and Gerald Travis both bartended and cooked from time to time. So the meat hook alone proved nothing. If it even was the murder weapon to begin with. She feared that Stillwater P.D. had set their sights on their suspect and were now doing everything in their power to make their evidence fit the man, rather than vice versa. The sheriff was up for reelection this year. He wanted this case solved quickly, tied up in a neat little box. To play the benevolent hero who took a vicious killer off the streets and let the good citizens of Stillwater sleep peacefully in their beds again.

Well fuck that! Sterling wasn’t going down for a crime he didn’t commit as a victim of politics and suck ass police work. Leila would use her unique skill set to help crack the case. Then she would enjoy watching that smug smile disappear off Sheriff Thorne’s face. Maybe even publicly humiliate that son of a bitch for the way he treated Sterling. It was time someone knocked that Humpty Dumpty off his high horse. Sheriff Thorne had awoken the beast inside Leila Dupree. She was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And soon Thorne would realize that men like him were the real sheep after all.