No matter how much of a setup the murder charge had been, hehadbeen a criminal, a gang member. Maybe he’d known it was wrong, but the only way he’d known how to help was from within, which meant bending some rules.
Okay, breaking a lot of rules.
And now he was on the outside, not just following rules but enforcing them.
Which meant he couldn’t let an interesting woman with dreamy green eyes and an engaging smile distract him from his purpose.
Like this job. He couldn’t take it for granted that it had taken a lot to get him here. He had to make sure the sheriff was pleased with his performance. Which meant, he had to findsomethingto put in his report today.
So, he went into any businesses that were open, introduced himself. Down one side of the street, then up the other. Popping into the ones he’d missed once they flipped their signs to Open, chatting with any passerby.
They were not a talkative lot in Hope Town. Not that his experience with people around here meant he expected any level of gregariousness, except Franny. She was a chatter.
He smiled in spite of himself. Based on how the day was going, that had been the most positive interaction he’d had all day.
Near lunchtime, he headed for the bookstore now that it was finally open. He was almost all the way on the other end of the street, but he kept it in his sights. Noting the comings and goings.
Like the woman who walked out of the bookstore with no bags. Her outfit wasn’t distinct. Just athletic pants and a T-shirt and a green baseball hat. The T-shirt was a little baggy—not out of place considering the athletic pants, but Royal studied her figure for signs of a gun.
Because she had a brisk stride. Her hair was pulled back in a tight braid. Her eyes were careful and assessing.
Fed.
Royal didn’t follow her right away, but he didn’t go into the bookstore to make his introductions like he’d originally planned. Instead, he kept walking down the street, glancingbackward once or twice to determine where the woman was going.
When she ducked into the antique store, he took a circuitous route there himself. Luckily he hadn’t introduced himself there yet, so he could step in without it seeming off or like he knew who the woman was. Or what she was anyway.
His target was talking to a woman at the cash register. It was casual, but Royal knew just from the way the woman stood that it was an interrogation—whether the lady behind the counter knew it or not.
They both glanced his way when he stepped inside. He offered a charming smile, walked right over to them. “Morning, ladies,” he said cheerfully. “Sorry to interrupt. I’m just making the Hope Town rounds today.”
He held his hand out to the woman behind the counter, not giving the Fed much attention, but he saw out of the corner of his eye how she edged away from the counter and headed for the door.
“Deputy Royal Campbell,” he said to the woman behind the counter. “I’m going around today and introducing myself to all the business owners.”
He glanced behind him as the Fed slipped out of the front door.
Later he’d look at his body cam footage and figure out just who she was.
And what part of Albennie Ward’s disappearance connected to an FBI case.
Chapter Seven
Franny chastised herself the entire time she got ready the next morning. A woman was missing, and she was doing her makeup because maybe Deputy Campbell would come back to the bakery and talk to her again?
It was gross and wrong…and it didn’t stop her. She grabbed her laptop, shoved it in its bag, and then stepped out into a hot, muggy morning.
Was Albennie somewhere hot without any air-conditioning? Was she still alive? Would—
“Stop,” she muttered out loud. She couldn’t worry about Albennie because she couldn’tdoanything about Albennie. She had to focus on the things she could do.
Maybe Royal would have some updates. Not that she expected him to be at the bakery. He’d probably only gone yesterday as a one-off. And even if he did become a regular to get coffee to start his shift, it didn’t mean they’d talk every morning.
“Because you’re not going to be here every morning. This isnotthe schedule.” And talking to herself out loudoutsidewas not the best sign for her mental health. She made it to the bottom of the stairs and forced herself to slow down.
Just out for a casual stroll to the bakery for some foodand work. She opened the bakery door, internally chastised herself for immediately searching the room for Royal. He wasn’t there, although one person was. Franny was pretty sure the woman worked at the bookstore, but she’d only talked to the managerso far. This woman was chatting with Lia while Lia worked the espresso machine.
Franny set her bag down. The door’s bell tinkled, and she quickly looked behind her. She wasnotdisappointed that the man who stepped inside was not Royal, because she wasn’t looking for Royal.
