Arlo
Oakley’s old U.S. Marshal partner, Kellen Woodcroft, called me this morning, letting me know he was sending over the last of the paperwork and statements that needed signing off on. What he didn’t say was that I needed to sign off on every single statement that was given by anyone involved, including hospital staff that treated Lennox, Oakley, and Willow.
I’ve been buried in paperwork all day in an attempt to finish this shit today, and I haven’t looked at my phone or the clock since I started. Audrey promised to only bug me if it was an emergency.
At least it’s been a distraction from my constant thoughts of Rina and how we left things the other day.
I should have known things wouldn’t be as easy as apologizing. I’m honestly not sure what I expected, but Rina completely lashing out was a surprise. And I reacted. I said shit I shouldn’t have, and now I don’t know how to fix it.
Or if I even can.
She was absolutely right. In the fifteen years since we were together, not once did I try to tell her why I did what I did. I didn’t even attempt to be there for her when her parents died; instead I broke her heart and forced her to handle the tragedy on her own.
God, I’m an asshole. I wouldn’t hear me out either.
And she doesn’t even know about the worst of it.
“We need to talk to him, Audrey. It’s important, practically an emergency,” a voice sounds from the lobby area.
“Practically does not mean it actuallyisan emergency, Alice.” Audrey’s voice sounds exhausted.
I sigh and shove the last of the papers to the side.
“Let them in, Audrey,” I call out.
“Oh, thank you, Sheriff,” Alice overdoes the theatrics of gratitude.
Jim and Mabel trail in behind her, and I have to refrain from rolling my eyes.
“We had a thought about security in town we wanted to run by you,” Jim says when he sees I’m not going to actively engage in this conversation.
“And that’s an emergency?” I ask.
“Well, since the influx of reporters the other week, we thought we could create a barrier system blocking off Main Street if something like that ever happened again,” Mabel says.
I sit frozen.Are they fucking serious with this shit?Sure, let’s just block off our entire main thoroughfare on the off chance that the one-off with Tennison and Lennox happens again.
“Let me get this straight. You want me to spend our already non-existent budget on a removable barrier, on the rare chance that something like what happened with Lennox happens again?” I ask in disbelief.
“Exactly!” Alice nods with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Jim and Mabel seem to have caught on to what an asinine idea it is if their frowns are anything to go by.
“No.”
“No?” Alice asks.
“No. I’m not wasting funds on something that will most likely never happen again.”
I pull the papers I was working on before they interrupted me towards me and start working through them as the trio stands silent in my office.
I let them stew in my bluntness for a couple of minutes before I look up. “You can go. I’ve got things to catch up on. If there is a real emergency, feel free to call or stop by. Otherwise, I will talk to you three tomorrow.”
They shuffle their way out the front door, and Audrey’s laughter tinkles through the office.
“Most days, I think you need to lighten up. Today is not one of those days. Maybe those three will finally learn what an emergency is,” she says.
“They won’t.” I sigh. “They live for the gossip. I just don’t have the time to babysit them today.”
“Well, regardless, that was entertaining as hell.”
