For a moment, I just stare at him. The weight I’ve been carrying for days, the looming specter of a criminal record, the humiliation when I knew that something was wrong that night. All of it, gone.
“That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”
My father’s expression softens slightly. “No son of mine is going to be dragged through the dirt for another man’s crimes.”
I don’t know what to say. After years of feeling like I could never quite measure up to his expectations, after all the arguments and disappointments and silences that stretched too long, this feels like progress.
“Thank you,” I manage. “For making that happen.”
He waves off the gratitude with a gruff gesture. “It’s what any father would do. Besides, the evidence was on our side. That woman went to the station yesterday on her own and gave a full statement. Confirmed that Holden paid her to spike your drink.” He snorts. “She even brought the bag he gave her the money in. It had a stamp of the town hall logo on it.” My father shakes his head in disbelief. “Can you imagine? The man uses official town stationery to pay off someone for drugging a drink, then leaves it with her as evidence.”
“How dumb is this guy?” I mutter.
“Arrogant. He thought he was untouchable. Thought no one would ever look closely enough to catch him.” My father’s smile returns. “He had no idea what was coming his way.”
“And the money he took? Is there any chance of getting it back?”
“Already in discussions with the lawyers about recovery options. If the audit confirms what we suspect, we’ll pursue full restitution. It’ll take time, but we’ll get there.”
The sound of approaching footsteps draws our attention. I turn to find Sheriff Cade strolling toward us, his badge glinting in the morning sun, his expression all business.
Behind him, looking like death warmed over and then microwaved for good measure, is Deputy Tanner.
I have to suppress a grin at the sight of him. His face is pale, almost green around the edges, and there are dark circles under his eyes that suggest he didn’t sleep last night. He’s walking stiffly, each step clearly causing him discomfort, and there’s a general air of misery radiating off him that’s deeply satisfying to witness.
Kai told me everything this morning about their drinking competition, the darts, and the grand finale, where June’s pathetic excuse for an ex-boyfriend accidentally stabbed a bystander with a wayward dart, face-planted onto the floor, and started snoring.
It’s fucking glorious.
“Mr. Benton.” Sheriff Cade extends his hand to my father, and they shake. “Everything is in place. My deputies have eyes on every exit.”
“Excellent.” My father dips his chin, then angles his attention toward me like I’m a bullet point on his agenda. “Seth here has been instrumental in uncovering this whole mess. He and his… pack.”
The sheriff’s gaze slides to me and nods his thanks.
While my father and the sheriff continue trading logistics, I let my attention drift to Tanner. He’s standing a few feet away, trying to look professional and failing spectacularly. His uniform is wrinkled, his hair is a mess, and he winces every time someone speaks above a whisper.
I catch his attention and let the smug satisfaction show.
He glares back, but there’s no real threat behind it. The man is too busy trying not to vomit to muster anything convincing.
“Rough night?” I ask, keeping my voice just loud enough to carry.
“Fuck off, Seth.”
I laugh and glance around, only to spot Holden Pierce walking around the corner of the livestock area, coming in our direction. He’s dressed casually today, jeans and a button-up shirt, with a cowboy hat perched on his head that he clearly bought for the occasion. He looks relaxed. Confident. The king of his little empire, surveying his domain.
Until his gaze lands on us.
The transformation is instantaneous. His easy smile freezes, then crumbles. His confident stride stutters to a halt. I watch the color drain from his face as he takes in the sheriff, my father, the officers positioned around the perimeter.
He fucking knows.
“Holden Pierce!” Sheriff Cade’s voice booms across the grounds. “I need a moment to speak with you!”
But Holden is already moving, spinning on his heels and bolting toward the livestock stalls. His fancy cowboy hat flies off his head, landing in the dirt, forgotten. He doesn’t look back.
“Tanner!” The sheriff’s voice is sharp with command. “Go get him, for fuck’s sake!”
