Cessily smiled at him. The look was sweet and almost appreciative, but I knew her better than that. This was her professional face, which meant she wanted something.
"We can't be sure, officers, because we just got home," Cessily replied. "And - I'm very sorry, but I didn't catch either of your names or badge numbers."
The men traded a look, and the second grumbled, "Just answer the questions, ladies."
Yeah, these men were clearly not on our side.
Chapter Three
Cessily pulled out her phone and held it up. "Officers, we just need a report, and I need both of your names and badge numbers for insurance purposes. They will ask who we filed it with. Nothing against either of you."
"Charlie Morgraves," the second man said, listing off his badge number.
Cessily zoomed in and snapped a picture of him. "Ok. And you, sir?"
"Tim Booth," the first man told her, turning his badge so she could get a picture of the number on it.
"Perfect!" Cessily said. "You know how those insurance companies are. But, now, where were we?" Her fake kindness was back in full force.
"The damage," Tim said, sounding almost bored.
I gestured down to the front. "Well, the gate was hanging and new when we left this morning. When we returned, it was like you see now."
"Did you move it?" Charlie asked.
"No, sir," I assured him. "We just got pictures. I've had long enough to contact my attorney here, then you."
"So you called your attorney before the police?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, sir. Since it wasn't a crime in progress, I've been taught to always notify my legal advisor first." I smiled at him, but I wasn't able to look quite as sweet as Cess had managed. "Was there a better way to handle this?"
Charlie huffed like he was anything but amused. "Well, we'll get you a report so your insurance can do something about it."
"Did you want a list of suspects?" Cessily asked.
"Ma'am, there's nothing we're going to be able to do about this," Tim explained. "This place has a reputation around town. The list of suspects is pretty much anyone in Cats Peak."
"What do you expect when you have men like that running around?" Charlie mumbled under his breath.
"I see," Cessily said. "So, you're not concerned that this is a hate crime?"
"And if it was?" Charlie asked, his Southern drawl dragging the words out to make them sound even more snide.
"Then shouldn't you offer to check the property on regular rounds?" Cessily replied much too easily. "Or maybe investigate other hate crimes in the area, check known vandals to see who has an alibi? After all, thatisa death threat."
That was enough for Charlie to turn and give her his full attention. "Look, you might be some big-shot attorney from a real fancy town, lady, but this is Cats Peak. If these people don't want to have problems, then they shouldn't cause them. Two of those men were already arrested down at the Grill for fighting."
"My point exactly," Cessily said, but her voice had gone cold.
"And it seems they didn't learn the first time," Charlie kept going. "First, a good man gets accused of kiddie porn - "
"By the FBI, with the data in his possession," Cessily broke in.
"And now those... queers!" He almost spit the word. "They just took Meredith's little girl. You think people aren't gonna be pissed about that? And this woman?" Charlie thrust his hand out at me. "She's all but naked in the middle of town. This is the kind of place we're warned about at church, and you can't blame any good, god-fearing people for being worried about it."
"Hm," Cessily huffed, catching my eye with a look that made it clear I should keep my mouth shut. "So, you're saying you're not going to protect these people because you don't agree with their lifestyle, is that it?"
"Oh, fuck off, lady," Charlie huffed before storming back towards the SUV.
