He pulled her into his arms. “You did good, Sarah Newton.” He pulled her closer. “Real good.”
She closed her eyes and blocked the echo of his words. Not real.
She couldn’t trust him.
Or his sweet words.
Public Safety Office, 11:05 a.m.
“Don’t even try it,” Kale said to the man he’d known his whole life, Deputy Rodger Boyd. “We’re going in.”
“You can go in,” Rodger said, stepping into his path. “But not her.”
“So shoot me.” Kale walked around the determined deputy, Sarah right behind him.
No one was stepping on her toes today.
If August got in his way, Conner would beat the hell out of the guy.
The crackle of the deputy’s radio warned that he was informing the chief.
Kale didn’t care what they said. Sarah had as much right to be here as anyone else. She was a part of this investigation. He’d gotten word half an hour ago from Karen Brighton that the next briefing would start at eleven.
Images from a shower with Sarah ... more sex ... another shower ... flashed like a steamy movie trailer. He tucked it away for savoring later.
Maybe she was right and he hadn’t been living his own life. But today was as good a day as any to start. Or maybe he’d started last night.
He passed several other deputies en route to his destination, all of whom stopped and stared at him.
Screw ’em. He’d known these people his whole life. If they didn’t trust his actions, then too bad.
He burst into the conference room where the chief, the mayor, Kale’s fellow councilmen, and the fed were already gathered.
“Sorry we’re late,” Kale announced. Before anyone could get past the shock of his and Sarah’s appearance, he dragged out a chair and waited for her to sit. He didn’t take his eyes off August. “If we missed anything, we’d like to be brought up to speed.”
Kale settled into the chair next to Sarah.
“Kale.” The chief was the first to speak. “Don’t make me have her hauled out of here by force.”
“If she goes,” Kale cautioned, “I go. And when I go, I’m going straight out there to those reporters and tell them everything I know.” He surveyed the table. “And everything you don’t know.”
Sarah stared as if she didn’t recognize him.
Maybe she didn’t. Whatever she thought, he wasn’t that go-along guy all the time.
He’d assured her that the people in this village were God-fearing, compassionate folks. By God, he intended for these people to live up to his promise.
Mayor Patterson rose from his chair. “Conner, if you persist in this behavior—”
Special Agent Lex Asshole August held up a hand. “He’s right. She should stay.”
The chief’s jaw dropped.
As did Kale’s. What the hell was this guy up to? Sarah had warned him not to trust anything August did or said.
The mayor stood there with his own mouth hanging open for another three or four seconds before taking his seat. No one else said a word.
Chief Willard heaved a sigh. “Well, let’s get to it, then.” He reviewed the details Kale had already shared with Sarah. She didn’t ask any questions. As the chief spoke, Kale noticed that a timeline had been arranged on the whiteboard usually reserved for community activities requiring law-enforcement assistance.
