“Oh, I am,” Ford said. “You checked the place out and are safe?”
“I did. Pulled my gun out just like I’d been trained and walked around, but didn’t touch anything, I promise.”
“Stay put. I’m on the way once I drop Reenie off.”
She disconnected the call with her brother and called Rory back. “Ford is on his way to me. He’s not telling my parents. I don’t want them worried.”
“I don’t like this, Gale,” he said. “I think you should just keep your distance and let me do my thing.”
“Nope,” she said. “If there is one thing you’re going to learn really quickly it’s I don’t back down. Ever. This only revved my engine more.”
He snorted. “I was afraid you’d say that. Here is the thing—I can’t have this on my conscience. I don’t know if I can survive it again. I mean that. I don’t want anything to happen to you, your family, your career or their livelihoods. This is my battle to fight.”
“Yeah, well, no one goes into battle alone, so get over it,” she said.
He laughed on the other end. Not a funny sound, more like forced with the touch of a growl attached. “The last thing I need is your family to come down on me.”
“Oh, they will, but something tells me you’re strong enough to handle it. I’m coming to your place when Ford does. I want to see it better too. This is just a coward. Come on, notes under doors. What, are they eight?”
“You’re a piece of work,” he said.
“Yes, I am. Are you okay, Rory? Be honest with me. I know what I’m feeling about this, it’s got to be the same as you.”
“Someone wants me to stop,” he said. “I’m not sure if they think it’s going to disrupt business flow or crap like that.”
“Could be, but that doesn’t explain the threat to me. If I get threatened, my family does. Few will go against the sheriff, let alone Clay.”
“Takes some enormous balls for that,” he said. “Don’t you think?”
“I’m not making assumptions on who it is. I won’t do that, but I just know when someone tells me to stop, the opposite normally occurs. We are missing something, somewhere, and we’ll find it. I promise you that.”
“I hope you’re right,” he said quietly.
“Ford should be here soon and I need to use the bathroom.”
“Don’t touch anything.”
“I know you’re worried, but no one was in my place. If they were, I’d know it. And why slip the note under the door if they can get in? That makes no sense.”
“Nothing has made sense for years,” he said.
“I’ll see you soon,” she said. “And you don’t touch anything either.”
“Very funny.”
She hung up and ran to the bathroom, then heard knocking at her door when she was walking out. Once she saw Ford through the lookout glass, she opened it.
“See, still on the floor where I found it.”
“Gale,” Ford said.
She put her hand up. “Stop right there. I know you’re going to be worried and all, that’s in your nature. But all this tells me is that Rory is onto something. You know it.”
“Seems it. Or someone in the community wants no one getting back up in arms again, however innocent it could be.”
“It doesn’t matter what it is. He’s ruffling feathers and there’s nothing more I enjoy than plucking them off and getting people to yelp.”
Ford sighed and put gloves on, then picked up the note.
