Inferno – Chapter Eighteen

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“Sheriff, Bev Jackson’s calling for you,” Evelyn’s voice came through the intercom.

“Tell’er I’m busy,” Mal growled, looking through his desk for. . .ah, a pen.

“She’s pretty insistent, sir,” Evelyn called again a minute later.

“Fine,” Mal grumped, “put her on.”

Bev Jackson’s face was on the screen a second later.

“Well, Sheriff,” the reporter smirked. “How’d you enjoy the headlines?”

“Enjoyed it, to be honest,” Mal smiled. “Especially as you’ve got egg on your face, now.” The smirk faltered slightly, but only for a second.

“I don’t think so, Sheriff Reynolds,” was her reply.

“Suit yourself,” Mal shrugged. “Somethin’ I can do for you?”

“I wondered if you had anything to add, after seeing my story,” she smiled. It was an ugly smile, Mal decided.

“Well, we did manage to arrest the men responsible for the triple homicide,” Mal said calmly. “And, as I told you earlier, there was no connection.” Now Jackson’s face did falter.

“You did? Who were they? What was the motive? Have you. . .” Jackson scrambled for pen and pad, but Mal just held his hand up.

“I’ll have to get back to you on all that, Miss Jackson,” he smiled thinly. “I really am a bit busy right at the moment. But you have a good day, now. Hear?”

“But I need to know who. . .” Mal shut the screen off with a flourish. It felt good to be able to strike a blow at the arrogant woman. He knew he’d have trouble with her, probably a lot of trouble. But he wasn’t gonna play her game. At least not by her rules.

Malcolm Reynolds might have a great deal to learn about being a lawman, but he’d been dealing with the likes of Bev Jackson for years.

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Inara woke Holly for his turn at the watch, and headed for her shuttle. Things were going pretty good, she decided. The ship was in good shape, the work was done, and they were on schedule.

She smiled as she tried to remember when things had gone this smoothly u