In the beat it took Jon to debate whether or not to mention the people he knew who were, or had connections to, some powerful people, the deputy across from them lifted his hands as if to ward off the accusation.
“I’m not here for either reason, ma’am. I was not aware of any altercation between you and Deputy Parker.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and settled his other hand on his hip. “That does explain it, though.” His arms dropped and he said, “Let’s start again. I’m Raph Dennison, deputy sheriff for the Leeland County Sheriff’s Department.” He made no effort to shake their hands, clearly reading the room. “I’ve been with the department a couple of years, but I don’t usually work the Misty Glades beat.”
Jon let his eyes narrow. “And?”
Dennison inclined his head. “This morning Deputy Parker popped into my office while I was making some other calls and slapped a note on my desk. Seemed a call had come in out thisway and the sheriff wanted me to follow up on it. Other than the message contained in that call, that’s all I know.”
Warning bells went off in Jon’s head.
Jenna drew a breath. “You’re saying they tossed you at us rather than find their balls?”
He actually had to bite his tongue not to laugh.
Dennison did a poor job stowing his own brief amusement. “Pretty much, apparently.” He faced Jenna again. “Which brings me to why I’m here. Dispatch received a report earlier this morning about a break-in at your bakery, Sweet Stop.”
Her morning had started so wonderfully, it really had.
That should probably have been her first warning.
For a moment, for one singular moment, she stared at Deputy Dennison as though he’d suddenly started speaking Chinese. Then the sounds of his words connected with their meaning in her brain and her temper erupted.
“Are youfreakingkidding me?Whathappened? And you’re coming tomeabout it?” Jenna stomped up to the man she didn’t know, too angry to be wary of him, and jabbed a finger into his perfectly straight tie. “I’m not even sure what you’re here for! You assholes have had sole custody of my bakery all damn week! I’ve beenbarredfrom stepping foot on the property, no one will talk to me about it, and when I push, they slam doors in my face or hang up on me. And nowyou’veallowed my poor, neglected, place of business—my sole source of income—to be what, vandalized? Robbed?” Her voice rose with every sentence and she couldn’t stop herself. “That’s on you!” Freshtears burned her eyes, these tears born from helpless anger and frustration.
If her business had been broken into and further damaged, that would mean more money out of pocket to make right. She wasn’t sure the insurance would cover it. She’d fight to have it covered. She’d sue the department for negligence if it came to that, but it might all come down to a matter of pride and principle.
“The sheriff’s department has been responsible for securing my property since Monday!”
“Ma’am,” Dennison said, taking a step back and raising his hands as if to ward her off.
Her knees buckled.
Jon was there, catching her and lowering her gently to the floor, tilting her into his chest. He laid a hand on her head as the emotion overwhelmed her. She let her forehead rest on his shoulder, let the vibration of his voice soothe her when he spoke.
“She’s right, deputy. Your office has stonewalled her from the start. I was there at the initial scene, and it shouldn’t have gone down like it did. They know it. Whether they’re just doing this to fuck with someone they think they can push around or to try and stall while they cover their asses, I can’t say. But you’re the ones with possession of that property right now. You took it, you’ve refused to return it, and that means whatever has happened is your responsibility.”
Silence held for several seconds before the deputy blew out a hard breath. “Obviously, I need to have a conversation with my superiors. In the meantime, it’s probably best you continue staying away from the bakery, at least until you receive a more formal notification.”
Jenna squeezed her eyes shut and tried to focus on her breathing, tried to steady herself. It didn’t serve any purpose to explode like she had. It didn’t even feel good.
Jon’s voice was calm, like the still waters that hid a monster underneath. “Why bother coming out here at all if that’s your recommendation?”
“That’s my advice in light of the circumstance as I now understand it,” Dennison said. “Iwasgoing to request Ms. Hodge accompany me to the bakery, do a careful walk-through, to take stock of the scene. I’m unfamiliar with the bakery, so I would only be able to notice the obvious things.”
Jenna eased off of Jon, feeling as though she should be facing forward.
Jon silently lifted them both back to their feet.
Dennison kept talking. “However, I think the wisest course of action—given your situation with the department, and the Parkers specifically—is to stay away. Keep your head down. Give them nothing they could potentially twist to their advantage if things escalate further.”
Jenna frowned. “But I’d be going in the company of one of their own. Someone they sent.”
Dennison nodded. “Yes, and you should be right that that’s fine. But if they’re already being unreasonable, then just having confirmation or concrete evidence that you returned to the bakery after they locked it down could be enough for them to slap on the handcuffs.” He held up a hand when he saw her open her mouth again. “The request I got came on an index card. Handwritten, easily deniable, entirely informal. It’s not our usual system. It’d be my word against theirs.”
Jon rubbed a hand over her back. “That’s why they sent you, and not the other guy Parker was paired with on Monday, I’m guessing?”
“Yeah,” Dennison said. “I know who you mean. He doesn’t leave the office without Senior or Junior unless he’s clocked off for the day.” He rested one hand on his belt and raised the other to scratch at the back of his head, visibly bothered. “If they’regiving you this kind of trouble … fuck, I hate to have to say this, but you might want to look into a lawyer.”
Jenna’s eyes widened.
