Page 80 of Gideon

“Why would he do that?”

“Because he’s a troublemaker, and that’s what troublemakers do. He hated me before he ever met me.”

“Why would that be?”

“He got caught up with a girl.” He rolled his eyes. “You know how young men can be. She’s been nothing but trouble for years. Very resistant to any change in this town.”

Gideon scoffed. “This is unbelievable.”

“Mr. Stone,” Beck said. “You’ve had your chance to speak. I’d like to hear from Mr. Fairfax. Please, go on.”

“It’s not her fault,” Fairfax continued. “She found it difficult when her dad died suddenly. And her mom has mental health issues.”

Gideon jerked, and the sheriff held out his hand. “Stay where you are, Mr. Stone.”

“Beth does not?—”

“I asked you to refrain from interrupting,” Beck said.

“You’re in a very precarious position right now, Gideon,” Peters said. “I’d do as the agent says if I were you.”

“Thank you, Sheriff,” Beck said. “Do you have anything you’d like to add?”

“Absolutely. From the first day he arrived, he’s been nothing but trouble. In fact, I have a sworn affidavit from the bar owner saying that, on the first day Gideon came into town, he entered the bar and harassed his customers.”

“Charlie said that?” Gideon said. “You’re lying.”

Peters pulled a folded sheet of paper from his back pocket and handed it to Beck. “This is a copy.”

Beck read it, then looked at Gideon. “Would you like to see it?”

“Yes.” Gideon checked the name first, confirming itwas Charlie’s, then scanned the contents of the affidavit. “He wouldn’t have written this.” He tossed it onto the table.

Peters tapped Charlie’s signature. “He signed it in front of me. It’s all true.”

Gideon looked at the three men in turn. He’d never experienced anything like this. How had Fairfax and Peters gotten to Agent Beck? He’d flown in from another state. Not only that, the mat was wet. This meeting was all wrong. It was supposed to make everything better, not worse.

“And that’s not all,” Fairfax said. “There’s the fire.”

“The fire at Mr. Stone’s father’s place?” Beck said.

“Yes. There’s evidence to suggest Gideon is the one who started it in his dad’s garage.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Gideon spat. But it was too late. He was outnumbered. Beck was on their side. It didn’t matter what he said now.

“Why would he do that, Sheriff?” Beck asked.

“Could be a whole host of reasons. His dad’s a drunk, and he wanted to get rid of him for good. Maybe there’s an insurance policy, or maybe he hoped the fire would burn the whole town down.”

“Agent Beck,” Gideon said, trying to muster up some semblance of calm. “None of this is true, and I have reason to believe that it was actually a deputy by the name of Cole who is the culprit.”

“You have evidence of this?” Beck said.

“As much as they’ve got that I did it.”

“So, it’s your word against theirs?”

“Not quite,” Peters said. “Unlike Deputy Cole,Gideon has established a pattern of behavior. We not only have witnesses, but Mr. Stone himself has admitted to me that he destroyed public property.”

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