“I’m gonna sue the lot of ya,” Denny growled. “For unlawful arrest. For manhandling me.”
“Sleep it off in a cell.” Eastern sighed, shaking his head.
Denny continued to shout and curse as the officers dragged him down the hall.
Eastern returned to his office, hating that he was doing another evening shift. But Jarrad had called in sick…again. And the only other person available was Angie, who was a mother and had already done three night shifts this week. He didn’t want to ask her to skip her son’s school pickup and bath timeagain. And even though he hated missing nights with Avery, she had Sadie now, and he was pretty sure his kid likedhermore than she did him.
He lifted his phone to send a text.
Eastern: Hey, everything okay?
Her response was instant.
Sadie: It’s great. We’ve painted each other’s nails, baked cookies, and eaten said cookies with ice cream while watching a girl movie.
Eastern: A girl movie?
Sadie: You would have hated it. Just getting ready for bed now.
Eastern: Thank you, Sadie.
Sadie: You never have to thank me for spending time with Avery.
He leaned back in his seat. The last week with her had been… Hell, he couldn’t even describe it. Sadie had stayed over almost every night, and every minute he spent with her, he wanted more.
They hadn’t explicitly told Avery what was going on, but the kid was likely getting suspicious with Sadie eating dinner with them most evenings and breakfast with them in the mornings.
He shot a glance at the clock. Time to go home.
Grabbing his empty mug from the desk, he rose and headed down the hall. He’d tried calling Jamie a dozen times in the last week, but for some damn reason, she wasn’t answering. So much for needing to talk to him.
He was about to step into the kitchen when a hushed voice sounded.
“I’m just saying he needs to be careful. Eastern can’t be paid off like Jack.”
Eastern stopped. Jack had been the sheriff before him.
There was a scoff before Charles spoke. “When’s that asshole ever careful? He’s not even coming in for his shifts anymore.”
They were talking about Jarrad. He’d paid off the last sheriff? Why?
When the voices quieted so Eastern couldn’t make out the next words, he stepped into the kitchen to see Charles and Lenard standing close to each other.
Lenard’s eyes widened. “Boss! I thought you’d headed off by now.”
Eastern moved to the sink and rinsed the mug. “I’m about to leave. Couldn’t help but overhear something about Jarrad paying off Jack.”
The two men exchanged uncertain looks before Charles gave a smile…a very forced smile. “You know what we mean. Donuts. Cupcakes. Our old sheriff had one hell of a sweet tooth.”
Eastern put the mug into the dishwasher before turning to face the guys. He didn’t believe them. “Why did he have to buy off Jack?”
They both lifted their shoulders, and it was Charles again who answered. “You know Jarrad. He’s always screwing up in one way or another.”
Yeah. He still didn’t believe them. “You’d tell me if there was something more going on around here, wouldn’t you? Because I’d hate to think of the consequences involved if I learned something on my own.”
Lenard swallowed hard. “Of course. You’d be the first to know, boss.”
The men gave him tight smiles before heading out the door.
