Chapter Fourteen
Istormedinto the precinct with all the Aunt Cathy southern attitude I could muster up. “Sheriff Milton, you’re crazier than an outhouse rat. What on God’s green and people’s littering Earth could you possibly arrest Dylanfor?”
A deputy’s eyes went wide, but Sheriff Milton stood there like a rebel soldier defending his land. “Good evening, Ms. Dixon. How may I helpyou?”
Anger flooded me. I lunged forward. I would’ve smacked him across that smug face if Zoey hadn’t held meback.
Zoey pulled me to her side. “Sheriff, could you please tell us what the chargesare?”
“Trespassing,” he said in an authoritativetone.
I yanked my arm, but Zoey had more strength than her little frame should allow. “Where was Mr. Markhamtrespassing?”
“At the bakery. It was closed up for the night, and he was entering the back door.” Sheriff Milton lifted his chin. “Last time I checked, that was owned by Sadie and AshtonDumont.”
“And did he tell you that he had a key and why he was there?” Zoeyasked.
I felt like I was missingsomething.
Sheriff Milton picked up a folder and eyed it as if our conversation was a waste of his time. “Lies. That’s all theywere.”
“I demand you release him now!” Ishouted.
Sheriff Milton looked at his deputy, who remained silent in the corner. “Now you see why.” He cleared his throat and looked back at me. “He’s alreadygone.”
My arm fatigued into submission, and Zoey let go of her finger-bruising grip. “Why didn’t you tell me that?” I slid my phone from my pocket to see if he had called me. He hadn’t, so I dialed him and waited for thering.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.Buzz.
I turned toward the vibration behind the counter. Sheriff Milton lifted a bag with Dylan’s phone. “He decided he didn’t want to wait for the paperwork to be processed, so he headed out withoutthis.”
“Why? What did you say to him?” I marched back toward thecounter.
“It doesn’t matter now. He’s gone, headed for the airport, and we’ll all be better forit.”
“No. He wouldn’t do that.” My hands trembled, but I forced the fear down. “He wouldn’t leave meagain.”
Sheriff Milton slammed the folder against the desk. “There’s no way he’d stay after what I told him. Not if he was a goodman.”
Zoey bolted in front of me. “What did you tellhim?”
Sheriff Milton leaned back against the wall behind him, his nostrils flaring. “Only the truth. That if he stayed, he’d murder Avery the way his father murdered hismother.”
“His father didn’t murder her. She died in a car accident,” I protested. My breath came in short, tightbursts.
He smiled, an I-know-more-than-you-do smile. “I still can’t believe the town never questioned that accident report. A woman, who grew up on a farm outside of town and drove these streets her entire life, swerved to miss adeer?”
My insides squeezed tight, warning me this wasn’t going to be good. “What are you talkingabout?”
“I’m talking about the former sheriff altering the scene of the accident. Dylan’s dead-beat dad was driving while intoxicated and killed his wife. The sheriff took pity on his friend and filed a different report because he thought Dylan would be better with his biological father than in fostercare.”
“No,” I mumbled. That would’ve sent Dylan into a mind spin. All these years he didn’t know. “Why would you tell him thatnow?”
“Because I’m not going to allow another girl in our community to be hoodwinked by a Markham. The night of his father’s accident has haunted me my entire career. I didn’t have a choice back then since I was new on the force, but I have a choice now. I can keep him from killing you. Don’t you see? I’m trying to protectyou.”
I shook my head. “Dylan isn’t like hisfather.”
“He already proved he was that night I drove him out of town.” The sheriff’s snarl turned into a knowing grin. “Did you know he was coming to get you when he was drunk, and instead of reaching your house, he hit atree?”
