The Woman Next Door by Joanne Locker Page B

but I don’t. I am going home and that is that!”
    “You aren’t going anywhere close to that house, young lady. Now, settle down while I get the logistics worked out. I need to make sure there are no weak spots.”
    “Sylvia isn’t a weak spot, Craig. They had her baby!”
    “I understand that, honey. Trust me, I will do whatever I can to protect her, but ultimately Internal Affairs will make the decision regarding her future with the department. The District Attorney will also have to decide whether or not to prosecute her. I can speak in her defense, but I cannot predict what they will do when all of the evidence is in.”
    It wasn’t entirely what she wanted to hear. “I am going home, Craig. Either you take me, or I am going to take myself. I am not hiding from McMaken.”
    “You are going to stop arguing with me about this!” Craig firmly declared. He was at the end of his patience. “I suggest you go into your bedroom and lie down for a while so that you’ll feel like traveling when we are ready to go.”
    The look the redhead leveled on him was clearly her ‘fuck you’ look, and it was all Craig could do to keep from following her and turning her over his knee and wearing out his hand on her cute butt. He’d barely tapped her the other times he’d spanked her, but she was close to a spanking the likes of which he doubted she’d ever experienced. It was exactly what she needed to stop some of that sass she was so fond of unleashing on anyone who dared to disagree with her. However, she left him in the living room and went to her room.
    Elizabeth used the extension of the landline to call for a cab, and promised to meet the driver beside the gate. She slipped out the window, walked the distance to the gate, and told the ever-vigilant Wally that Craig needed him at the house immediately. Wally didn’t suspect a thing, and the cab pulled up as he raced to help Craig.
    “I’m here! I’m here! What’s the problem?” Wally demanded of Craig, his gun drawn and his eyes searching the room for any sign of trouble.
    “There isn’t a problem that I know of.”
    “That little gal said to hurry and get here fast; that you needed me!”
    “What?” Craig ran to her bedroom and saw the window open. “She didn’t come with you, Wally?”
    “No, when she said to hurry, and she was all out of breath from running, I figured you were in trouble. Damn, I fell for the oldest trick in the book! Now, why’d she do that, do you reckon?”
    “Because she’s contrary and needs her butt blistered until she can’t sit down!”
    “Where do you think she went?” Wally demanded, angry with himself.
    “To her house. I’ve got to hurry and get to her before some of McMaken’s men do!”
    “You’d best get her on out of town, Lieutenant, and then call me for directions. She’s going to get herself killed if you don’t sit on her!”
    “I’m on my way. Lock up for me, Wally,” he said, and then ran to get into his car and go flying after her, lights flashing and moving cars out of his way. He was doing his best to beat her to the house, and the sight that greeted him was not a pretty one.
    Elizabeth was standing in front of her burning bush and Mrs. Huffy was standing there, too, and they were arguing and shouting at each other… again! He jumped out of the car. “Mrs. Huffy, take your butt home immediately and tell Hubert I said to keep you there.” When she gasped and ran off, he turned to Elizabeth, whisked her off her feet and threw her over his shoulder caveman style. He then proceeded to spank her upturned bottom hard the whole distance of the way to his car. He threw her inside and said, “Move one inch and I’ll take off my belt and wear it out on you!”
    Elizabeth burst into tears. Her butt was burning, her head was spinning, and she was in pain once again! Craig got in on his side of the car, and pulled out of there just as a black sedan pulled up. “Damn it, Lizzy; they’re onto us! Do you