Free Never Cry Mercy by L. T. Ryan

and blue lights bounced off the walls. Vernon cut the siren, but left the strobe going. He barged through the backdoor. His face was pale. His hands shook. It took a few seconds for him to ask what had happened, and even then, he stammered through the simple question. No doubt homicide was not a skill he'd grown into.
    Reese asked me to give the rundown since I'd been the one to make the discovery. I proceeded cautiously, avoiding saying anything that I thought might incriminate myself. I felt my report was textbook. Reese nodded her agreement when I finished.
    "You got some investigative experience?" Vernon said.
    "A bit," I said, trying to play it off. I didn't want to give him anything to dig with. "Military."
    He nodded, glanced over at Reese. "Good enough, I guess."
    Through the window I spotted another cruiser. It pulled up alongside Vernon's, blocking the road. Two officers I hadn't seen before stepped out. They looked to be in their mid-thirties. Vernon gave them a quick rundown. Grabbed one to go upstairs with him, and told the other to remain with Reese and me.
    "Don't you two go nowhere, OK?" Vernon said.
    Reese answered for both of us. "We'll be right here if you need us."
    Ten minutes passed. I followed the sound of their footsteps through the investigation. They were in the bedroom now. An unmarked patrol car arrived, driven by an officer in plain clothes. He walked into the house, ignoring me and nodding at Reese. She offered a half-hearted smile in return. A silent ambulance pulled up right after.
    "They're gonna move the bodies," I said. "The hell are they doing?"
    "They don't have much experience at this," Reese said.
    "We have to stop them. Forensics needs a chance to work this."
    She laughed. "What forensics?"
    "Damned if I know. The highway patrol, then. Something. Somebody has to process the scene before they butcher it."
    "We're in a world trapped fifty years in the past, Jack."
    "Then I'm going up to stop them."
    She grabbed my arm. "Stay here. You'll just make it worse if you go up there. Let them do what they need to do. Not like all that other stuff is gonna make a bit of difference here."
    My cheeks and ears burned. But like she said, there was little that could be done. I sensed that Reese wanted to get away from the house, but that wasn't the reason she held me back. I'd only make things worse for myself. After all, I had no doubt that soon I'd be the number one suspect. That's why we changed our story slightly and told Vernon that she came to the house with me after I told her how upset Ingrid had been. Reese wanted to talk to the woman, make sure she was OK, and that nothing serious was going on. It was nearly foolproof, so long as they didn't find those kids. Outside of them, it had been deserted with the storm pressing down.
    Vernon came down the stairs, stopping in the threshold between the kitchen and living room. He leaned against the wall, his face pale, brow sweaty. Perhaps he was about to pass out. He brushed silver strands of hair away from his forehead. His hand continued around the back of his head.
    "You OK, Vernon?" Reese said.
    His head bobbed up and down twice, and then he exited the house. A cool gust of wind blew in. Thunder rumbled in the distance.  
    "Ingrid was his mother's best friend," Reese said.
    "Christ," I said.
    "His mom passed away fifteen years ago, but Vernon made it a point to check in on Ingrid and Herbie every few months, at least. If they needed anything, or had trouble with anyone, he took care of it."
    "So he cared for her."
    Reese nodded.
    "Did he care about Herbie?"
    "Jack." If she could've exhaled fire, I'm sure she would have roasted me right there. "What are you saying? He did this? You honestly think that? He's a cop for Christ's sake."
    The ties ran deep. Didn't matter how long she'd been off the force. Didn't matter we were in a small town in Texas. Vernon was a cop. In Reese's mind, he deserved every last benefit of the doubt.
    "You know that doesn't