Home Free. Claire McEwen
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legal.”
“Just leave it.” Arch shoved the words out over the nasty taste in his mouth. The last thing he wanted was for his brother-in-law to get himself in trouble defending him. Todd had already lied to cover Arch’s mistake with the truck, and even that wouldn’t go over well with Nora. “Let Patrick get his rocks off. The sooner he has his fun, the sooner we can all get on with our day.”
He put his hands behind his back and offered them to Patrick. “Try not to get too excited, Patty. I’m assuming you and Connor usually reserve these kinds of games for your private time together.”
Connor came at him with fist raised, but Todd caught his arm before he made contact. “What...you need him cuffed so you can get up the guts to hit him? Back off, Connor.”
Connor brought his hand down reluctantly, settling for spitting on the ground near Arch’s feet instead.
The cuffs wrapped hard talons around Arch’s wrists.
Todd pulled his phone out of his pocket and held it up. “I’m going to take a video of whatever the hell you two clowns try next. So just keep in mind that whatever happens here may go viral.”
Patrick gave Todd a look of fury, and Arch braced himself for what was sure to be a rough pat down. Anxiety and shame warred. The claustrophobic cuffs felt like they were snapped around his lungs as well as his wrists.
Patrick bent down to start his search at Arch’s ankles. Todd leaned right over his shoulder with his phone camera and started narrating. “Deputy Patrick Norris has cuffed an innocent man simply because he is on parole,” he intoned in a solemn voice. It sounded ridiculous, as Todd clearly meant it to be, and Arch’s stress was replaced by an overwhelming urge to laugh. Norris ran his hands up Arch’s legs and patted around, while Todd continued his narration. “Deputy Norris is now feeling the innocent man’s crotch.”
The breath Arch had been holding came out in a hoot of laughter, and Patrick dropped his hands and stood up, running his hands over the pockets of Arch’s jeans. “Empty your pockets!” he barked.
“The deputy is asking the man to empty his pockets,” Todd said.
“And I can’t,” Arch added. “Because I’ve been handcuffed.” His eyes met Todd’s and the two men burst out laughing.
Patrick shoved his hands into Arch’s pockets and brought out Arch’s car keys, holding them up triumphantly. “Ha! Explain these!”
“Deputy Norris has found a set of keys,” Todd proclaimed, his laughter breaking through his words. He brought his phone close to the deputy’s hand. “I am zooming in on his discovery.”
“Back off!” Patrick yelled, his voice sounding like the teenager Arch remembered.
“They’re my brother’s house keys,” Arch answered. Which was the partial truth.
The deputy set them on the ground and gave Arch a few more pats on his torso, Todd closely documenting each touch. “Satisfied with your little movie?” Patrick sneered when he’d finished. “Just what we need, a hippie activist in our town.”
“Sorry, Deputy.” Todd looked as if he was enjoying this entire exchange mightily. “But you’re stuck with me. We’ll just have to find a way to get along. Peace and rainbows and all that.”
Patrick shook his head and stomped over to the patrol car to call his office.
Arch stared at Todd in admiration. “What the hell, bro? I’d high-five you if I could.”
“This sucks.” Todd nodded toward Arch’s trapped hands. “But I’m saving this video. We’ll laugh about it for years to come.”
“You’ve been in these types of situations before,” Arch said.
“I was an environmental activist for a long time.” Todd dropped his voice low, glancing over to make sure neither Connor nor Patrick could hear. “I’ve been arrested a time or two for protests, things like that.”
“And my sister married you?” Arch knew that Nora had an understandable horror of anything unlawful.
“It took some convincing.” Todd smiled like a guy who really did believe in peace and rainbows. “She’s an amazing person.”
Deputy Norris was off his call and scribbling furiously in his notebook. Arch could tell he hadn’t gotten the information he’d hoped for. His face was puckered and red like he’d taken a shot of moonshine.
Arch leaned over so Todd could hear his whisper. “Keep that video camera ready. These guys are definitely carrying an old grudge. Maybe they finally figured out who was behind those Thursday flat tires.”
Todd gave him a wink and then took a couple of steps closer to Connor, who was lurking near his deputy buddy. “I’m sorry.” His voice mimicked polite apology. “But with the sheriff here today, I’m getting really behind schedule. So your tractor won’t be ready until tomorrow morning. You’ll have to come back and pick it up then.”
“But—”
Todd cut him off. “There are only so many minutes in a day, and you’ve used a bunch of them up with this bullshit.”
Connor stalked off to lean on his big pickup, parked near the door of the shop. He folded his arms and waited, obviously intent on seeing the end result of the chaos he’d caused.
Deputy Norris’s reluctance to end his big moment was evident in each step he took toward Arch. He clutched the handcuff keys like a toy he didn’t want to share. “My boss says he spoke with your parole officer. He knows you did your time. You’re clear, for now. He said to tell you that he’ll be checking in on you pretty often.”
Relief surged through Arch’s veins. He’d made a huge mistake driving here today. He wouldn’t make it again.
“So unlock the cuffs,” Todd urged. Arch tried to convey his gratitude in a glance. He wouldn’t beg, but he wanted the metal off him with a longing so deep it ached. They were a symbol of every sadistic creep he’d come across in jail. Creeps just like Patrick Norris. He couldn’t count the times he’d been tripped, hands cuffed and unable to catch his fall, by some pissed-off prison guard. This felt way too close to those dark times.
Arch turned, and Patrick unlocked the cuffs. “Better behave yourself, Hoffman, or I’ll be slapping these right back on.”
“I’m getting this all on video,” Todd reminded him.
Arch shoved his freed hands into his pockets, just to keep them under control.
“I think you’re out of line, Deputy,” Todd said. “And I mean to speak with the sheriff about what went on here today. Mike Davidson’s a good man, and he won’t be happy when I tell him how Arch was treated.”
The deputy looked uncomfortable, glancing over at his buddy. But Connor looked away, as if he’d had no part in all of this unpleasantness. It was kind of sad to see how the two men hadn’t changed. “He always did make you do his dirty work, Patrick.” Arch kept his voice quiet, so Connor wouldn’t hear. “I’m surprised you’re still content to be his lackey after all these years.”
“Shut up, Arch,” Patrick sneered, a high school kid again.
Arch gave up trying to reach the humanity in him. “If you’re finished, Todd and I have things we need to do.”
Todd stayed with Arch, watching as the deputy’s car and Connor’s oversize pickup rolled out of the lot. “Not the greatest homecoming.” He clapped a hand to Arch’s shoulder. “I apologize that happened at my shop.” Disgust dripped from Todd’s voice. “It’s obvious those two have it in for you.”
“Well, not for nothing. I did all I could to give them, and everyone else in this town, a hard time when I lived here. I don’t like their vigilante attitude, but I don’t blame them for seeing me as a menace.”
“But