“Did you find a place to live in Seattle?” He resettled the belt around his big belly as he sat behind his massive desk.
“Not yet. Mom and Aunt Dotty are at a hotel as we speak. Though I have a month to get them settled before I start work at Seattle PD—as a shrink and not a cop, unfortunately.” Mia bit back a grin. “How’s the food around here, anyway?”
Pete rolled his eyes. “Fantastic and stop making fun. You’re nicer than that.”
“Am not.”
“Are, too.”
“If you say so.” Mia looked around the tiny office with the signed photograph of Roger Clemens proudly displayed on the side wall. The opposite wall held pictures of the small town, and the brick wall behind the sheriff held a wide window showing the forest outside. “I can’t believe you came out of retirement in this tiny town.”
Pete shrugged. “Me, either. As it turns out, being retired sucks, and the fishing around here isn’t much better. When the New Age Coalition approached me to run for office, I thought…why not?”
“NAC?” Sounded like a bunch of vegans.
Pete shrugged. “Yes. They’re an Eco-Group that’s tired of the mine running the town. They organized—pretty well—and I won the election. Barely.”
“Who lost?”
“Milt Jones. His family has worked for the mines for years, but he left town for a while to get a law degree. He’s practicing now instead.”
Still. To go from being a field supervisor in DC to a small-town sheriff was quite the stretch. Mia leaned forward, trying not to cringe as the metal folding chair protested. “Are you enjoying the job?”
“Sure.” Shields dropped over Pete’s faded blue eyes.
Mia cocked her head to the side. “That’s the first time you’ve ever lied to me.”
“No, it isn’t.” Pete folded his hands over his belly. “I lied years ago when I said you’d never make it as a behavioral scientist.”
“No. That was a tactical move to inspire a young agent.” One she had easily seen through. Without question, she never would’ve made it without his support and guidance. “You seem like you’re holding something back.”
“I’m not. Small towns are weird, and I’m nowhere near understanding this one. ” His bushy eyebrows rose on the last.
“You’ve been a part of this town forever.”
“No.” He slowly shook his head, his lips pursing. “I’ve had a hunting cabin here for years. I’m not part of the town—at least I wasn’t before taking this job.”
Something in Pete’s voice hinted that he still wasn’t part of the town. So, they had mining people and Eco-villagers. Sounded like a recipe for problems. “Fair enough. Tell me about Seth Volk.”
Pete tugged a file from a drawer, flipping it open to reveal a mug shot of Seth’s strong face. “Seth is the eldest son of Benjamin Volk, the guy who owns the silver mines.”
“So he’s the largest employer in this small town.”
“In the entire county.” Pete frowned. “The Volk family has owned the mines since they were discovered centuries ago. The family has clout and power.”
“Yet you arrested Seth.”
“Tactical move. I wanted to see what happened.”
“What was your basis for arrest?”
Pete flashed a grin. “I wanted to ask him questions about Ruby’s death, and he refused. So I held him on the charge of impeding an investigation.”
“Bogus charge.”
“Yeah, and he’s out now. No harm, no foul.”
And Pete had wanted her to study Seth. There was something—a reason—he wasn’t sharing with her. An odd hurt wandered down her spine. “We’ve known each other for years. Why aren’t you leveling with me?”
