Showdown at Lizard Rock Read Online Free

and being heard was the point of the protest. She inserted the key in the padlock and unsnapped it.
    King smiled fiendishly. “Now, darlin’, we’re going down.”
    “What?”
    “Like I said, I like to be prepared. And I’m not Tarzan or The Fly, so I plan ahead.”
    He swooped her up into his arms once more, stood quickly, and stepped forward into the waiting bucket of the cherry picker. The construction workers burst into spontaneous applause, and the roar of engines began to die.
    “You fink! You tricked me!” Kaylyn began to beat on his hairy chest.
    “You got it,” he said smugly.
    The bucket creaked and shimmied under their weight. She closed her eyes and hung on tight, feeling defeated and depressed.
    The police chief was waiting by the rock for them. “What’s the problem here?” he asked gruffly. “Do you realize that you’ve got traffic tied up for miles?”
    “Arrest her, Chief Newton,” King said. “I’d like to charge this woman with trespassing and breaking and entering. I have witnesses.” He deposited her into the arms of the startled police officer standing beside the chief.
    “Breaking and entering what?” Newton glancedaround the area, then back at King. King suppressed a wince as the chief’s disapproving gaze roved over his barely covered body.
    “Breaking and entering on my property and defacing my rock,” King explained. “She drove a spike into the Lizard’s neck.”
    “I admit I did trespass,” Kaylyn said. “But I did not drive a spike into the Lizard. That spike has been there for years.”
    “You heard her, Chief. She admitted entering the property without permission and refusing to leave when she was requested to do so. I want to press charges.”
    “You’re not serious, are you, Mr. Vandergriff?” Newton asked. “I mean, surely we can work this out.”
    “Oh, no! I’m dead serious. And I insist that you do your duty. Arrest this woman.”
    Chief Newton gave Kaylyn a helpless look. “I’m afraid I’ll have to take you in, Katie, my girl. What in tarnation did you think you’d accomplish by sitting up on that rock in that garb?”
    Kaylyn was fuming silently. Vandergriff wasn’t going to have the last say. There was no way she was going to jail. Wait. Unless …
    “All right, Chief, if that’s the case, I’d like to press charges against King Vandergriff for assault with intent to do bodily harm.”
    “Bull,” King retorted. “I didn’t do anything to you.”
    “You grabbed her, son,” Newton said. “I saw you. She tried to get away, and you held on. That’s intent to do bodily harm in my book. Take them both in, boys, and find them some clothes.”
    “Oh, dammit! For Pete’s sake!” King protested.His hands were pulled out in front of him, and a pair of handcuffs were snapped on. The police officer carrying Kaylyn deposited her in a patrol car, and the officer leading King opened the door on the opposite side.
    “Hey,” one of the reporters called out, “what about our refreshments down at the Waterhole?”
    King turned to look for Mac. “Mac! Take them to the restaurant and get things rolling. I’ll be out of this mess and down there before you’re finished.”
    “Now look what you’ve done,” Kaylyn said to King as two officers slid into the patrol car’s front seat. “We’re both going to jail. Hey, guys!” She rapped on the divider to get the officers’ attention. “Will somebody get over to that van and tell Sandi and Luther what’s happening so they can get back to the home?”
    “The home? Did I understand you to say ‘home’?” King asked.
    “Yes, the senior citizens’ home. That’s where I live.”
    “Then what I heard was true. I’m dealing with the ultimate do-gooder.” He gave a sigh of resignation and leaned back in the seat.
    “I live and work in the Pretty Springs Nursing Home. Luther is one of the patients.”
    “And Sandi? Is that like in Claus?”
    “Cool it, King. You’re about to push me too