“I like him,” Heather mused.
Anna nodded. “Yeah, he’s pretty great.” Her gaze didn’t leave Jack’s face. “In fact, he really doesn’t like people messing with townspeople, and especially women. Oh, he’s a softie, and it’s probably old-fashioned, but he’s very protective. You don’t want to cross him, Jack.”
Jack slowly turned his attention from Heather to Anna. “I’m not afraid of the sheriff.”
“Then you’re a dumbass,” Anna said easily. “Even so, you should be afraid of me. I have no problem suing you for harassment on Heather’s behalf, and I have connections to find any phone records you’ve left. Even those from a burner.”
Heather wasn’t certain that was possible, but Anna sure sounded confident. Maybe she was correct, or perhaps she was a great bluffer. Either way, it was nice to have her as a friend. “Did you really set all of this up, Jack?” she asked.
He sighed. “Are you having a breakdown? If so, I can get you help.”
She shook her head. How could he look so concerned and genuine? Either a random woman on crutches damaged his car, or he set the whole thing up. Logically, he had to have set the entire situation up. “Listen. It’s pretty much ridiculous to think that another woman on crutches wanted to harm you. Since I didn’t do anything to your car, the only possible conclusion is that you hired some lady to do that. Why in the world would you do such a thing?” she asked, her ankle aching.
“You know I didn’t do anything like that,” he said, his voice almost gentle. “I think we just need a little time away. If you would just agree to spend a weekend with me in my cabin in Bozeman, then I’d drop these charges. It’s a small thing to ask.”
Before Heather could answer, Anna held up a hand. “Wait a minute,” Anna said. “Just so I have this right. All Heather has to do is spend a weekend in Bozeman with you, and you’ll drop everything?”
“Yes,” Jack said.
Heather rounded on Anna. “You can’t think this is a good idea.”
“Nope,” Anna said, reaching for a legal tablet on the table. “I’m just documenting that Jack here just committed extortion. Perfectly, actually.” She lifted her gaze to a camera in the far corner. “On digital, no less.” She settled back and crossed her legs, looking pretty damn happy. “Sometimes it’s nice when things work out without my falling out of trees, you know?”
Jack looked at Anna like she was nuts, although he had gone a little pale. “I don’t like being threatened.”
“Who does, really?” Anna asked with a slight shrug. “Back to business. Who is the woman in the video, Jack?”
He crossed his arms. “I think it’s obvious that Heather is in the video.”
“Nope,” Anna said. “Let’s go back a bit. Why are you in Silverville staying at the Molly Motel?”
Jack lowered his chin and looked like a charging bull. “I came to Silverville to visit Heather after I learned that her grandmother died, and last night when we talked on the phone, she seemed sad and lost. I don’t understand it, but Heather took that frustration out on my vehicle. It’s heartbreaking, really.”
Heather reared up. “So you admit we talked on the phone last night, Mr. Unknown Caller?” Yes! He’d admitted it on camera, too. Her nose itched, but since she now knew she was on camera, she so was not going to scratch it. It itched right inside, too. She cleared her throat and tried to ignore the discomfort.
Anna twirled her pen around on the paper. “Why are you using a burner phone? That’s odd behavior.”
“I lost my phone,” he said, visibly calming himself. “Since I own a business, I had to quickly grab a disposable phone before driving here when Heather told me she needed help.”
“I most certainly did not,” Heather protested.
Anna cleared her throat. “What kind of business?”
“It’s a restaurant,” he said. “I own a chain of them.”
“You’d think you could get a woman without stalking one,” Anna mused thoughtfully.
Heather coughed to cover a chuckle. It was nice having a smart aleck for a lawyer.
Red slashed into Jack’s handsome face. Or what Heather had once considered handsome. These days she liked a more rough and rugged look, for sure. “I’d watch the slanderous tone,” Jack grunted.
“It’s only slander if it isn’t true,” Anna said cheerfully.
The door opened, and the sheriff poked his head inside. “Have you folks handled this?”
Anna tilted her head.
“It doesn’t look like it,” Jack muttered.
