Bea frowned. “Are you—”
“You.” Aspen’s gaze flashed back up to Bea. “Youhit me the night Margot was killed, and you took me to Dylan the day he kidnapped me!”
Anger, shock, and maybe a bit of fear flashed over Bea’s features—then everyone moved so quickly that Aspen didn’t have time to comprehend what was happening.
One second she was standing there, facing Bea; the next, Jesse was reaching into his holster while Bea kicked the door closed, grabbed Aspen around the neck and swung behind her, causing one of the coffees to drop to the floor. A gun was pressed to her temple the same time as Jesse aimed his Glock.
Air stalled in Aspen’s chest.
“I knew it was a good idea to start carrying,” Bea said.
Jesse’s eyes were black with rage. “What’s the plan, Bea? You’re in the sheriff’s office. You kill either of us, a shitload of armed deputies come in here and arrest you.”
Bea’s arm tightened around her neck. “I’ve got a go-bag in my car. I just need to get to my vehicle before they stop me.”
“Not gonna happen.” Jesse rounded his desk, gun still trained on Bea.
“Why?” Aspen whispered, so confused she wanted to scream. “I barely know you. Why would you help Dylan? Why would youkillanother deputy?”
“Because I love him.”
Aspen frowned. “Who?”
It was Jesse who answered. “Luke.”
Bea inched back a step. “Yes. And he said he lovedme. But then he went back to that whore, Margot! I was so angry and hurt, I could barely function.”
“So you killed her?” Aspen gasped.
“With everyone so fixated on Dylan, and with you working here in the station, it was easy. I knew everyone would suspect it was him.” She paused before sneering, “And our newsheriffwould look incompetent by allowing one of his deputies to be murdered in his own station, right under his nose. I lodged a complaint against you the next day, thinking Luke would get the job that should have been his all along, and with Margot out of the picture, he’d come back to me. It was so fucking perfect!”
Jesus. Her plan was so detailed.
“So you wanted me out so Luke would be in,” Jesse said.
“Yes! How dare you walk back into this town after being away for years and just take a job that was rightfully his! He’sbeen here, serving the community all along.”
“He didn’t want—”
“It wasn’t fair!” Bea cried, cutting off Jesse’s words. “Heshould have been sheriff. His office would have been right next tomydesk instead of next to Margot’s.”
The cold metal pressed harder against Aspen’s temple. She swallowed before asking, “Why drugmethough? Why help Dylan?”
“I asked Luke to meet me at a motel. He didn’t show, and when I was leaving, I saw your mom and Dylan fighting. I saw how angry he was. Well, I was angry too. Angry that my complaint had accomplished nothing. Angry that Jesse was still sheriff and Luke still didn’t want me. I knew losing you would tip Jesse over the edge. And with Luke as sheriff, he’d work more closely with me. He’d come back to me eventually.”
She did all of this for unrequited love.
“It’s over, Bea,” Jesse said quietly. “Put down the gun.”
Bea laughed, but the sound was almost hysterical. “You really think I’d just put down my gun and give up? It would mean everything I’ve done was fornothing!”
Jesse inched another step forward. “You know there’s no way out of this.”
“There is…but not for either of you.”
Jesse’s eyes narrowed. “Bea—”
The door behind them opened, and Luke’s voice sounded. “Jesse, I— What the fuck?”
