“We might or the Feds might have more questions for you later, but I’ve made sure everyone has your contact information. I haven’t called Audra, but—”
Franny pushed to her feet. “I’m not going back to the ranch, Copeland.”
He frowned. “Yeah, I had a feeling you’d say that. Look, a kidnapping happened right below where you live.”
“It did. Are you telling anyone else in Hope Town to leave?”
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. And before he could try a different angle, Mr. Simmons approached.
“Detective Beckett.” He nodded at both of them. “Ms. Perkins. As the landlord, I just wanted to make sure that you’ve got everything you need.”
Copeland snorted at the wordlandlord, though Franny wasn’t sure why.
“I’m fine, Mr. Simmons.”
He nodded. “Good. Listen, it’s important for a lot of the residents of Hope Town that this…stays below the radar. Obviously we’ve got a police presence, and people who know Albennie are worried, myself included, but we want to keep things…safe and calm. I’m hoping you’ll stay.”
“Come on, Simmons. What are you playing at?” Copeland demanded.
“Not playing,” he said, not even sparing Copeland a glance. “I’ve talked with the sheriff,” Mr. Simmons said. The sun reflected off his sunglasses, and he looked very…official even though he wasn’t in a uniform and didn’t carry any badge. “Hope Town will have an officer posted twenty-four-seven untilthe kidnapper is found. I know you’re a newer tenant, and this is the kind of thing that’s going to scare people off, but I’d like to extend a personal invitation for you to stay, knowing there will be extra security and precautions for Hope Town residents.”
“Thank you,” she said. Then smiled at Copeland. “I plan on staying.”
Copeland rolled his eyes and shook his head, but he didn’t offer up any compelling argument not to stay. Maybe she was a little scared, but it seemed like the safest place to be was Hope Town if there was going to be a police presence and extra security.
The deputy who’d first arrived came up to Mr. Simmons.
“Simmons. Fed wants to show you something.” The deputy glanced her way, but his gaze didn’t linger.
Mr. Simmons nodded. “You let me know if you need anything, Ms. Perkins.”
Franny nodded, turned to Copeland. “Can I head upstairs now, Detective?” She onlykind ofsaiddetectivein a way that sounded dismissive—something she’d picked up from Rosalie.
Copeland scowled. “Yeah, but don’t blame me if Audra and Rosalie break down your door and demand you come home. I’ll come with you, Simmons,” he said turning to the man. “I want to hear anything the Feds have to say to you.”
Mr. Simmons didn’t bristle at that, but the deputy did.
“You can’t let her just go,” the deputy said, looking at them all like they were crazy.
Mr. Simmons eyed him. “I’ve already arranged with the sheriff to ramp up Hope Town security and—”
“I don’t think you guys understand. She didn’t justwitnessthe kidnapping.” The man’s gaze was dark and fierce. “The kidnappersawher.”
Slowly Copeland and Mr. Simmons’s eyes turned to her, both with an arrested kind of concern in their expressions.
Apparentlythathadn’t made the rounds yet. Or maybe she hadn’t expressly told anyone but this deputy.
“Well, hell, Franny,” Copeland muttered. “That changes everything.”
“SHERIFF WANTS TOsee you,” Gard said, grabbing Royal before he headed out of the station.
Royal raised an eyebrow but didn’t mount an argument. It had been a long day out in the heat dealing with the Hope Town kidnapping and Royal was ready to go home, have a beer and maybe sit in an ice bath for the rest of the night just to get the heat of the day off him.
But the sheriff wanted to see him. “Bad see me or good see me?”
“Remains to be seen,” Gard said. “But you did good today. No reason it should be bad.”
Royal couldn’t think of a place where he’d screwed up, and Gard’s reassurance helped, but being summoned into the sheriff’s office long past the sheriff’s usual office hours didn’t feelpromisingregardless.
