R. E. Bradshaw - Rainey Nights by R. E. Bradshaw Page A

Carolina. You never admitted anything about the murder until today. It wasn’t covered in your deal. North Carolina can indict you for felony kidnapping that resulted in rape and murder.”
    Dalton yanked at the chain around his belt. Rainey didn’t flinch.
    “Why wouldn’t you admit to that one killing? We all knew you did it. Was it because she was so young? You knew your supporters would dump you if you admitted to killing a child. She was a young innocent girl, just barely thirteen, who did nothing but cross your path. If the guys in here know you killed a child, the target already on your back is going to grow exponentially. Dahmer lasted, what, nineteen months? You’re going to die Dalton, one way or another. Too bad they don’t use the guillotine anymore, it would be so fitting.”
    Dalton lost all semblance of control. “I told you I was going to kill you the day you shot me. You thought I forgot about that. I keep my promises. One day when you least expect it, I’m going to send someone after you. You’re going to be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life. When you close your eyes at night you’ll see me. I’m going to haunt your dreams…”
    Rainey signaled the guard on the other side of the door that she was ready to be let out. He spoke into his radio and the door began to slide open.
    Dalton continued to scream behind her, “You’ll never forget me. I’ll get you one way or another, you can bet on that, bitch. I have fans right now that want you dead. You’re going to die just like those other whores.”
    Just before the door closed behind her Rainey looked at the guard in the corner. She nodded. The guard smiled. Rainey walked down the hall with Dalton’s screams echoing off the walls, his body writhing in pain, as 50,000 volts jolted him from his chair.
    Under her breath, she said, “Give it your best shot, asshole.”

PART II
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
~Lao Tzu

Chapter four
    Monday, April 4, present day.
    Raleigh, North Carolina
    “Cease fire! Cease fire!”
    Rainey shouted, but to no avail. The two women in front of her continued to pull the triggers of their respective weapons. The rounds came fast, one behind the other, disappearing toward the black silhouettes in their sights.
    She tried again, louder this time. “Cease fire!”
    The blonde stopped firing first. She turned her eyes back to Rainey just as the other woman fired her last round.
    “That’s it!” Rainey continued to shout, because she hadn’t yet taken out her ear protection. “You two will not be shooting semi-automatic weapons. You are staying with the revolvers I gave you to begin with.”
    Katie pointed to Rainey’s ears and then removed her own earplugs. She grinned like a kid at Rainey. “Oh, but that was so much fun.”
    Ernie laughed. “You could blow a hole in a bus with that thing, before you knew what was happening.”
    “Exactly my point,” Rainey said, letting the earplugs drop to dangle around her neck. “Now, take out the clips like I showed you and clear the chamber.” Rainey was all business until the weapons were safely out of Ernie and Katie’s hands.
    Katie prattled on while she did as she was told, still giggling from the thrill. “That was amazing. I wonder if I hit the target? After that first pull, it just got easier, but you’re right. I think I need to be able to actually control the damn thing, if I’m going to shoot it.”
    “I tried to tell you both that I had given you the weapon most suited for you, but no, what does a trained FBI agent know about shooting?”
    Rainey’s sarcasm was not lost on Ernie, who practically raised her, and didn’t take the smart remark without a comeback. She placed her hands on her hips, her gray head bobbing, as she said emphatically, “Former FBI agent.”
    “And you’re making me miss it more and more every minute,” Rainey shot back.
    Katie came up behind her and wrapped her arms around