Cade Creek 11 - Race Against Time by Stormy Glenn Page A

Terrence’s goons chuckled. The guy quickly schooled his features as if he knew he had fucked up by the harsh glare Terrence shot in his direction. Race knew how he felt. He didn’t like being on the receiving end of one of Terrence’s looks either.
    Race lifted his neon-green casted arm. “This wasn’t the only time Terrence beat me up. While the authorities dismissed it as a lover’s tiff, I filed reports the other two times he knocked me around. There’s got to be at least a police report somewhere.”
    Sheriff Riley’s eyes narrowed as they turned on Terrence. “I do believe you will need a lawyer, sir.”
    “Now, wait a minute,” Terrence sputtered. There was a sense of disbelief in his tone as if he couldn’t quite understand why a police officer was listening to Race instead of him. “Whatever he is saying, he made it up. I barely know him. I have no reason to assault him.”
    “If you barely know me, then why won’t you leave me alone?” Race asked, growing tired of this all. He just wanted to be left alone. “I don’t like you. I don’t want you. I want nothing to do with you. Go away and leave me alone.”
    Race jumped back when Terrence snarled and raised a hand in the air. Before the blow could land, Race was swung around out of the man’s reach, Vinnie and Ari moving to stand between him and Terrence.
    At the same time, Sheriff Riley grabbed Terrence’s arm and swung the man around, pinning his arm behind his back. The unmistakable sound of handcuffs being clicked closed filled the air, echoing in Race’s mind.
    Terrence was being arrested?
    “Get him out of here, Deputy,” the sheriff directed.
    “You have the right to remain silent,” the deputy began as he started escorting Terrence toward the entrance. “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.”
    Race pushed between Vinnie and Ari, refusing to miss out on watching someone finally believe him. The sight of Terrence being led away by the deputy was one he thought he’d never see. Terrence was shouting and struggling the entire way, his two goons following behind him.
    “Is it over?” he whispered.
    “You’ll have to go down to the station and give a statement,” Vinnie said. “And I’m pretty sure the sheriff will want to know about the other two times Terrence beat you up, but yeah.” Vinnie grinned. “I think it’s over.”
    Race didn’t realize how much he had been waiting for those words. The second they were out of Vinnie’s mouth, Race let out a sob and collapsed against the man. Once again, he felt Vinnie’s arms close around him and then Ari pressed into him from behind. They were both trying to comfort him, protect him. It wasn’t something Race was used to.
    “We’ll need Race to come down to the station and give a statement.”
    Sheriff Riley’s voice broke into the comfort Race had found in Vinnie and Ari’s arms.
    “He’s pretty upset, Sheriff,” Vinnie said as his arms tightened around Race. “Can he come down in the morning?”
    The sheriff gave a little huff that brought a smile to Race’s lips. “Fine, but I expect to see him first thing in the morning. I can only hold this idiot for seventy-two hours without charging him.”
    Race inhaled as he raised his head to look at the sheriff. “You’re going to let him go?” Race didn’t know if he could go through this again.
    “Not if I can help it,” the sheriff replied. “That’s why I need your statement. Tomorrow, I’ll contact the authorities where you filed your previous reports. Hopefully, with them, and what I personally witnessed tonight, we’ll be able to get a judge to hold him over to trial.”
    Race gulped. “Trial?” There was going to be a trial?
    “Look, Race, I’ll be honest with you. Unless we have concrete