Page 83 of Hard Knock Hero

I backed off. I doubted they would shoot me, but I might accidentally “trip” a few times. I didn’t need that headache.

Jeremy’s clones left me alone. The deputy returned to his usual duties, while the correctional officer took up his post beyond the cell block. I hoped Jessi was at the sheriff’s office being interviewed. Better yet, with her brother by her side. Trace and Owen wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

I sat on the metal bench and tried to relax, even though I was keyed up with anxiety over not knowing if Jessi was safe.

A few minutes later, I perked up when I heard voices. A visitor had just arrived. The correctional officer buzzed my guest in.

Sawyer Rigsby strolled toward my cell.

I stood up and went over to the bars, bracing my hands against them. “You walk around here like you own the place.”

“That’s an exaggeration,” Sawyer said stiffly. “I’m just a visitor.”

“Does Sheriff Douglas know you’re here?”

Sawyer glanced up. He was probably searching out the cameras. “Owen knows what he needs to know,” he said quietly. “Nothing more. My nephew means well, but he gets in over his head.”

“What do you want?” I asked.

“Look, I know who you are now. They told me your real name. I know you’re from California. The night that Chester and his brothers ran into you in the diner, you said you were just passing through. Clearly, you were being honest. I’ll bet you were only here in the first place because of the bridge closure. Wrong place, wrong time.”

“What’s your point?”

“It’s admirable of you to try to stand up for Jessi. It really is. But it’s misguided.”

I squeezed the bars. Said nothing.

“This has all gotten out of hand. The mess between Jessi and Jeremy should’ve been over with. They never should’ve escalated things the way they have. And now, look where we are. You’re in a jail cell instead of wherever it is you actually belong. People around town are upset. My nephew is dead.”

“I didn’t want that either,” I said. I could tell by the shrewd look in Sawyer’s eyes that he knew. This murder accusation was bogus.

“Neither one of us needs this trouble, Mr. Shelborne. I think we can reach a mutually advantageous arrangement. For the greater good of Hartley.”

And for the sake of whatever you’re trying to hide, I added silently. That had to be what this was really about. He and his brother Dale wanted an end to all this drama. When you were running an illegal operation, drama was extremely bad for business.

But I had to admit, I was curious.

“What’s your proposal?” I asked.

He clasped his hands behind his back. “I’ll clear up this misunderstanding. Make the murder charge go away. In exchange, you’ll leave Hartley and never come back. As for Jessi, I’ll give her a choice. She can join Hart-Made Candy Company as our full-time head of recipe development, with a very competitive compensation package. I know Scarlett has been selling Jessi’s tarts in my shop. I chose not to say anything. Jessi’s got talent, and I’ve always preferred making friends rather than enemies. But if Jessi doesn’t like that option, I’d be happy to cut her a check so she can make her way elsewhere. Away from Hartley and all the bad reminders of the past.”

“Very generous of you.”

“You don’t believe me?”

I didn’t knowwhatto think of this guy. But his offer? It wasn’t all that bad.

I had to leave Hartley anyway. I’d never planned on returning. This was my get-out-of-jail-free card. And maybe Jessi would like the proposal when she considered it in a practical light. She could take Sawyer’s money and go to Paris, like she’d wanted. Go to pastry school. Escape from all her problems.

But the woman I knew? She would never choose the easy way out. I admired a lot of things about her, but that might’ve been number one.

I remembered that wistful look in her eye when she’d shared her dreams with me. When she’d shown me why she had chosen to stand her ground and make a home in Hartley. If Jessi were standing next to me right now, what would she say? I honestly wasn’t sure.

ButIknew exactly what I had to say.

I beckoned Sawyer closer. Then I announced, nice and loud for the cameras, “Go fuck yourself.”

Sawyer’s face turned beet red. He wasn’t used to people talking to him like that. “You’re being stupid.”

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