CHAPTER 6

WILFRED LEE UNCORKED A BOTTLE of his best black label bourbon as he watched Sheriff Ned Wilson speed up the driveway leading to his sprawling brick ranch. He used his cane to rock his chair while waiting for Wilson. Sipping his drink, Lee looked skyward at the dark clouds gathering on the horizon. Over time, he’d developed the necessary skills to outlast the worst Mother Nature had to offer. Nothing rattled him.

Wilson huffed as he climbed the steps onto Lee’s porch. Once he reached the top, he paused to catch his breath.

“Working hard today, Sheriff?” Lee asked.

“I wouldn’t have to if everyone would let me do my job and stop pokin’ their noses where they don’t belong,” he shot back. Hiking his pants up, he waddled over to Lee.

Lee took a swig of his drink and pursed his lips. “Anything I should be concerned about?”

“I thought you were gonna straighten out that big city reporter.”

“Did what I could for now. Called his publisher, gave him an earful.”

Wilson took his hat off and mopped his brow with the palm of his right hand. “I pulled him over and told him to leave town.”

Lee tapped his cane several times before speaking. “And did he?”

“Naw, he’s still here. Got a report that he and his wife checked in at the Wheel Well Inn off Highway 52. Looks like he intends to stay for a while.”

“Keep an eye on him. If he makes more trouble, I’ll deal with him myself.”

“You got it, boss.” Wilson put his hat back on, nodded at Lee, and lumbered back toward his squad car.

Lee stared at the dusty cloud left in the wake of the sheriff’s exit. It remained in the air, unwilling to disappear. Only his son’s black Porsche Boxster GTS pierced the low-hanging cloud as it passed Wilson. The car skidded to a stop in the driveway and Lee’s son got out.

“Son, how many times have I told you that our driveway isn’t a racetrack?” he yelled.

Jeremy stopped and turned toward his father. He looked over the top of his sunglasses. “Do you expect me to keep count?”

“I expect you to obey.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have bought me a sports car.” He turned and walked straight toward the side entrance of the house.

Everything and everyone in Millersville was under Lee’s thumb—though his son never missed a chance to challenge that authority or flirt with freedom. All his power guaranteed him nothing. Lee still had to work to ensure that no one could touch his dominion. It’s why the sheriff was on his payroll, as were all the deputies. But that alone wasn’t enough. Exerting control on an empire of this magnitude required stringent control on everything. Outside forces weren’t welcome, especially forces like nosy big city reporters. Though he feared his son could do more damage than any strangers.

Lee took another sip and put his drink down on the bourbon cask next to his chair. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

“Got anything I can use on this reporter?” Lee asked, foregoing all pleasantries.

“A few things here and there,” answered the voice on the other end.

“Such as?”

“Nothing too scandalous, but we can always spin things into our favor.”

“Quit jerkin’ me around. What’ve you got?”

“I’m preparing a dossier for you now and will have it couriered over to you within the hour—but be careful. This guy ain’t afraid of nobody.”

“He’s never butted heads with anyone like me.”

“No, he hasn’t, sir.”

Lee snarled as he hung up.

Ain’t afraid of nobody? He’s never had a run in with Wilfred Lee.

“I’ll make him wish he never came to my town,” Lee said aloud as he tamped his cane down several times on the porch. “He has no idea what I’m capable of.”