“Hey,” she replied. “What are you working on?”
“This old cabin needs some TLC,” he remarked, nodding to the slightly dilapidated shack next to him. “I think it could make a good living space for someone once I’ve had some time to put it all back together again.”
“Sounds like a heck of a job,” she replied.
“It will be,” he agreed. “But it’s satisfying to see it all come together when it’s finished.”
She smiled but he could tell at once there was something on her mind. You didn’t work with someone as closely as they had and not have an idea of what was going on inside their head.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“Sheriff Willis,” she replied. “You know him?”
“Yeah, he’s the sheriff for the small town down the mountain,” he told her, propping up his tools and turning to face her properly. “What about him?”
“You think he’s trustworthy?” she pressed.
Frowning, he nodded. “He’s never given me any reason to think he isn’t,” he replied. “Why do you ask?”
“I think he could be the contact I need in the force to dig up the information on Ziegler and his crew,” she explained. “I can’t use my own credentials—that’ll make it easier for them to find me. But someone like him, he could.”
Aaron sighed, leaning up against the shack. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“Of course I’m not,” she replied, and she turned to head back toward the main building.
He took off after her. She was so focused on what she felt like she needed to do, she was going to walk herself straightinto trouble if she wasn’t careful. He knew he wouldn’t forgive himself if something happened to her. She had already been through so much, and he wasn’t about to let her walk into this mess without trying to deter her.
“Bailey, you don’t want to start this fight,” he warned as he matched pace with her.
She shot a look at him. “I’m not the one who started it, they are,” she reminded him. “I’m just going to finish it.”
She reached her truck and climbed in, wincing as she swung her leg in after her.
He stood in front of it, arms crossed. “I’m not going to let you go down there alone,” he warned her.
She stared at him for a moment, as though daring him to try and stop her.
“You can either get out of my way, or you can help me,” she replied. “Which one is it going to be?”
He paused for a moment, then let out a sigh, and gestured for her to get out of the truck. “Come on, let me drive,” he told her. “Your leg’s still healing.”
She looked as though she was about to protest, but thought better of it. She climbed out and allowed him to take the driver’s seat while she hobbled around and got in on the passenger’s side. Being beside her again like this, it brought back a flood of memories. All those hours they had spent cruising around the county, talking, listening to music, and getting to know each other. In all the years he had been on the force, those had been his favorite memories.
Maybe he would be able to make some new ones with her before this latest mission was over.
They drove into town, and Bailey peered around, taking the place in with her incisive gaze. She had always been really observant, able to pick up on details that went over his head. It was one of the many things that would have made her anamazing detective, though he supposed he had shot her in the foot when he had written that report about her. He tried not to linger on the thought of it. He had done what he had to do at the time, and at least she was willing to let him help now, right?
They arrived outside the sheriff’s station, and he helped Bailey out of the truck. Aaron didn’t know Sheriff Willis particularly well, but he had met him a few times and the sheriff had always seemed capable and trustworthy. Reminded him of some of the cops he’d known when he was first starting out: Dedicated, focused, and committed to keeping the small town where he served a safe place for everyone.
Bailey led the way inside, where they found Willis leaning up against the reception desk. She smiled pleasantly at him.
He looked her up and down and extended his hand. “You must be new,” he remarked. Aaron guessed he knew almost everyone in this town, which would make his job a lot easier.
Bailey took his hand, and nodded. She introduced herself. “I’m Bailey Masters. Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Willis replied, and he nodded in greeting to Aaron.
“Sheriff Willis.” Aaron returned the nod.
