I stand her on her feet, take her hand, and guide her down the stairs. We find the sheriff waiting by the front door. No one else is around. I’m sure they are giving us space to handle this.
“Let’s use the library,” I suggest before leading the three of us in that direction.
“I’m so sorry this is happening to you,” Johnston says as soon as I shut the door.
We all move to the center of the room. I sit with Melody on a loveseat. Johnston takes a nearby armchair. He leans his forearms on his thighs and rubs his hands together. “The good news is, we’re pretty sure we know who’s harassing you.”
Melody nods.
“Unfortunately, we don’t know where the woman is. She’s not at home, and we don’t want her to realize we’re onto her. She’s a flight risk.”
I palm Melody’s back. “Is someone watching her house?”
“Yes. But this could get ugly.”
“Very,” I agree. “She emailed Melody this morning and threatened to out her if she doesn’t leave town.”
Johnston cringes. “Jesus. What is wrong with people?”
“Apparently, she thinks she’s in charge of the morality police, and she has decided Melody’s line of work is not godly enough for her,” I reply.
Johnston rubs a hand down his face.
Melody turns to me. “Let’s do it.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Do what?” Johnston asks.
“We’ll hold a town meeting. Tonight. Melody will speak to the community.”
Johnston slowly nods. “Are you going to out yourself?”
“Yes. It’s the only way. I won’t be blackmailed. I refuse to be. All she asked of me this week was to leave town. But there’s no stopping her from deciding to extort money from me next week. It may never end. And for what? Someone was eventually going to find out who I am. I just didn’t expect it to happen like this.”
“I’m sorry,” Johnston repeats. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right thing. I also don’t believe the people of this town will turn their backs on you.” He reaches into the leather bag he set next to him and pulls out the wrapped book from yesterday. “This is yours. I didn’t open it. It wasn’t necessary. We ran a bunch of tests on the packaging. There were no prints.”
“Thank you.” She takes it from him with a shaking hand.
Johnston stands. “You’ll have Ryder send out a community notice about tonight?”
I also rise. “Yes.”
“I’ll be there with my deputies, just in case the woman dares to show up.”
“Thank you.”
Chapter 22
Melody
* * *
So much for getting a lot of work done today. I’m too frazzled to go back to work. Instead, I’m sitting between Brody’s legs on our bed, propped against his chest. I have the wrapped book in my hands.
I tip my head back. “Just so you know, you’ve ruined me. I realized this morning that my pen name is actually rather tame.”
