The sheriff stood there, waiting for them to leave. Jack took his time getting up on his crutches. Kate’s heart was beating hard. Had Jack known the truth about his brakes being tampered with? Sara had told her that they believed brake fluid had drained when Jack drove over some rocky terrain, but now the sheriff said they’d been cut. Everything had just become much more serious—and dangerous.
Sara looked like she was about to collapse from shock.
Kate was the last one up. She reached for her handbag, which she’d set on the floor, but the sheriff did a deft little kick and sent it skidding under his desk. She looked at him in surprise but then understood. He wanted to see her alone.
Outside by the truck, Kate said she’d forgotten her bag and needed to go back to get it.
“I’m going to take Sara and your car home. I’ll come back to pick you up.”
With a nod, Kate turned and went into the office where the sheriff was waiting for her. He no longer wore his look of anger. Instead, he seemed to be a deflated balloon. She took a chair across from him and waited in silence for him to tell her what he had to say.
“That wasn’t easy for me.” He looked at her. “You’re the only sane one in your little trio and I need your help on this. Those two have so much baggage hanging around their necks that they can’t think straight.”
Kate wanted to lighten the air—for her own sake as much as his. “To be fair, I have an equal amount ofveryannoying baggage. But the airlines lost mine. If it ever shows up, I’ll be up that creek. No paddle has been made that can get me away frommybaggage.”
It took him a moment but the sheriff did manage a bit of a smile. “This whole thing started with Jack slobbering over that reporter. And now he’s gotyoufollowing him.”
“Jack and I aren’t an item, if that’s what you mean.”
“That’s good. Saving yourself for a Stewart. Wise choice.”
Why were the people in this town so obsessed with who she was or wasn’t dating? Exasperated, she said, “Would it do any good to say that today women make their own futures? Men are just desserts? I believe in feminism, in women’s power.”
The sheriff had a full-on smile. “You are so much like your father.”
“You knew him?”
“Anyone in Lachlan over...well, a certain age, knew him. Of course, he was a lot older than me.”
“Of course.”
“It’s an old-fashioned word but he was charming. Made people laugh. Cheered them up. He and Roy and I—”
“Roy Wyatt? Jack’s father? And you?”
Sheriff Flynn gave a one-sided smile. “I haven’t always been a person dedicated to good. I sowed a few wild oats. Actually, it was your father who made me go into law enforcement.” He laughed. “It was either that or jail. Roy went the other way.”
“And my father?”
“He left town. Looks like he did a good job in making you.”
“Thank you. Maybe I could take you out to dinner some night and you’d tell me about my father?”
The sheriff stood up. “I’d love to do that, but the gossip in this town would be that I made a pass at you.”
Kate stood. “Then I’d have to say that I accepted. But that wouldn’t be good for your reputation as a fighter of evil.”
He looked surprised, then pleased. “Go on, get out of here.” He sighed. “But please do what you can to get them to stop trying to be detectives. Go sell some houses. Help Tayla beautify this town. Leave the dead to rest in peace. You guys made a beautiful memorial service. That’s enough.”
She started to leave but turned back. “I didn’t know about what happened to Evan...about Jack’s brakes.”
“Nobody does. But the day after those bodies were found, I was suspicious. I had a friend check that truck out. The line had been cut.”
“Then why hasn’t there been an investigation?”
Sheriff Flynn took a while to answer. “Jack kept saying he’d driven over some sharp rocks and they’d cut the line. But then, maybe somebody used a piece of flint to do the cut. Whatever, Forensics couldn’t prove it was intentional.” He shook his head. “Besides, there was a lot of alcohol involved. Evan was clean but Jack was saturated. And no one could prove who the driver was. If I’d pushed, it could have ended up with Jack in prison.”
“And he is a Wyatt,” Kate said and the sheriff gave a quick nod. “But you don’t believe it was an accident?”
