Creed reached for his hat. “When do we leave?”
“Monday morning. Early.” Hud picked up his coffee. “I want to go through the rest of Rawley’s files tonight. All of them.”
He was still at his desk an hour later, files spread across the surface, when a shadow fell across the papers. He looked up.
Dave stood on the other side of the desk with his hat on and his jacket over his arm, which meant he was headed somewhere and expected the building to be empty by now.
“Go home, Hud.”
Hud glanced around the office. Every desk was clear, every light off except the one above him. He hadn’t even heard them leave. “I didn’t realize it was so late.”
“It is.” Dave waited while Hud stacked the files and pushed his chair back.
Hud stood, stretched the sitting out of his back and reached for his Stetson. “I’ll walk out with you.”
“Make it quick. I’m meeting my wife at the diner.”
Hud bit back a grin. “Yes, sir.”
They rode the elevator down and came out through the courthouse’s side entrance into the cool evening air. The square was quiet, a few cars moving along the far side, the storefronts mostly dark. Dave gave him a nod and crossed toward the diner with the purposeful stride of a man who knew better than tokeep his wife waiting.
Hud crossed the lot to his truck. The only other vehicles left were the sheriff’s deputies’ units along the side of the building, the department running its night shift from the ground floor the same as always. He climbed in, tossed his hat on the seat beside him and sat for a moment in the quiet. Long day. Longer one coming.
He started the engine and headed home.
****
Friday morning Blair entered the office to find Sara already behind the desk. She crossed the room and pulled her into a hug.
“I’m so glad you didn’t let Wednesday run you off.”
Sara laughed softly. “I almost didn’t come back. My husband talked me into it. Said I’d be leaving everyone in the lurch and that one bad day wasn’t reason enough to quit.” She shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that.”
“God, no.” Sara laughed.
Blair hung her sweater on the coatrack and smoothed her fuchsia scrubs. “Fridays are slower and we close at one, so hang in there. I’m really glad you came back.”
The morning moved quickly and before Blair knew it they were locking up. She pulled on her sweater, said her goodbyes and stepped outside into unexpected warmth. The sun was bright and the air had lost some of its bite. She smiled to herself, hoping spring had finally decided to commit.
She waved at Celine through the window of The Everyday Grind as she passed and grinned when hercousin responded with an eye roll. She kept walking toward the diner, taking in the quiet charm of the street. Clifton really was a wonderful little town. She still hadn’t made it into half the locally owned shops, but that was a project for warmer days.
She reached for the diner door just as it swung open and Sheriff Sam Garrett stepped out, holding it for her.
“Hello, Blair.” That easy grin of his.
She managed a smile. The man was incredibly good looking and completely devoted to his wife.
“Hi, Sam. Good lunch?”
“Always. Enjoy yours.” He touched the brim of his Stetson and crossed the street.
Blair watched him go. Those Wranglers really had no business fitting that well.
She pushed through the door, waved at a few familiar faces and settled onto a red stool at the counter. Connie appeared in front of her, order pad ready.
“Hey there, hon. The usual?”
