“Normally that’s what I ask you.”
“Is there anything I need to know? Everything with that psycho Maxwell is handled?” Hollis's expression turns dark at the mention of Maxwell. It’s not normal for other cops to be here.
“He’s in a prison, where he’ll be staying.”
“Then why is there a cop here?”
“Hudson?”
“Oh my God, never mind. I’ll find out for myself.”
That is, after all, why I'd gotten the picture. Ms. Judy was asking me what was going on over at the station. I go ahead and text her back, telling her it's nothing, just a cop from another county stopping in to say hi.
It's a lie. I have no clue, but I've learned it's better to ease the minds of people when it comes to some things. I need to dig around before I sound the alarms. We can't be abusing the phone tree, which I'm at the very top of. When we light that shit up, we need people at full attention, so I don't abuse the power, as much as I'd love to.
With great power comes great responsibility.
"What power?" Candy asks. Shit, I did it again. "We're totally catching a felony," she mutters when I don't respond. I grab my coat, slipping it on. The station isn’t far. I’ll just take a quick walk over there and take a peek.
I should probably put some sensible shoes on, but this trip calls for heels. There’s a new female in town, and based on the picture, she’s a damn stunner. The uniform did nothing to hide how gorgeous she is. I’ll be keeping my heels on for this visit down to the station.
Then again, what if it’s all the frills and extra I put into getting dressed every day that turn Hudson off? He’s all rugged and probably wants a girl who can hike a mountain or go camping. I might be a small-town girl, but I’m not a country girl.
I’m being petty and getting ahead of myself. She might be a total sweetheart that’s married or a lesbian. I hate how much this man gets me worked up over these things, but I know it’s not his doing. I’m doing it to myself. Hudson is merely existing.
I’ll take a walk past the station. I might get a peek inside. I don’t have a full game plan, but I don’t always need one.
“Why are you walking so fast?” Candy asks as she follows me out the door.
“There’s been a new development.” I stop when we are far enough away from Hollis and show her the picture that Judy sent me.
“Who is that? She’s too gorgeous to be wearing that ugly uniform.” I shoot Candy a glare. It may be true, but it’s not what I want to hear at the moment. “I mean, I guess she’s okay if you’re into people that look like her.”
Candy quickly backpedals, realizing this is not the time to be a girls’ girl. It’s time to be best friends. That’s how it goes. Your best friend on top and then a girls' girl.
“Tinsley.” I bump the side of her fist, about to walk by her, but she stops me. Tinsley is a bundle of energy. The girl is always up to something. It doesn’t matter that she’s only fourteen.
Tinsley does nails over at the salon. However, we would never openly admit that. You need to be an adult and have a license for these kinds of things, but she works at the salon. I’m sure as hell not shutting down Tinsley’s backdoor nail services. The girl is freaking good. She does killer freehand designs.
“We got a problem,” she tells me, folding her arms over her chest and chewing her bubble gum. “There is a girl in there with the sheriff.”
“Really?” I pretend not to know. She nods adamantly, making those curls of hers bounce.
“Been in there for”—she checks her smartwatch—“thirty-two minutes and seven seconds.”
“She might be stopping in from another county.” I don’t think that’s the case, but one can hope.
“I saw her eyeing him up when she followed him into the station.” Now Tinsley glares toward the station.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” I tell her. I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince her or myself.
“Oh, we’re still pretending you’re not in love with him?” she asks.
“Yes,” Candy answers before I can. All right, Tinsley is turning into a little me. I need winter break to be over so she’s back at school and not out here clocking everyone's business.
“I’ll handle it,” Tinsley says.
“Tins.” I let out a small laugh. “I got it. I’ll find out who she is, and I’ll fill you in.”
