Page 25 of Home Town Knight

“Naughtywhat?” Aiden appeared from a hallway, walking toward us. “You’d best not be flirting with my girlfriend, Sheriff. Try shit like that and you’re liable to lose something vital.”

I crossed my arms. “Not in the mood for fun and games at the moment. I have a murder investigation waiting for me at the station, and I need to talk to you both about your new guest.”

We went into Jessi’s office and shut the door. Jessi and Isat, while Aiden stood protectively behind her, hand resting casually on her shoulder. They’d rarely been apart since Aiden had moved to Hartley over a year ago. If Jessi was the heart and soul behind Last Refuge, then Aiden was its backbone. It had been his idea to start the Protectors. He and I were close now, but it hadn’t started out that way.

From the moment Aiden had appeared in Hartley, I’d been skeptical of him and his intentions toward Jessi. But from that very first night, the two of them had fused into a single unit, even before they’d realized that fact. They’d actually claimed to be brother and sister, which I had never actually believed. I could admit they made a great team, though. Their love was solid, through and through.

Seeing them together always twanged an empty spot inside me. Not because I longed for a significant other, but because they reminded me of my parents. Two people who had adored one another and chosen to be together against all odds. When I’d been younger, it had been Mom, Dad, and me against the world. Against both their families, who hadn’t approved.

Mom and Dad hadn’t gotten all the years together they’d deserved. I hoped things would be different for Aiden and Jessi. And for our friends Scarlett and Trace, who’d just gotten married in a spontaneous ceremony at the county courthouse.

But seeing the callousness of the world had made me a skeptic rather than a romantic. I wasn’t interested in anything serious, and I rarely hooked up because I had a certain reputation to maintain as sheriff. I was young for this job, and I’d been dealing with critics since the moment I’d gotten elected. Some people, like CSP Troopers Sykes and Rossiter, were just waiting for me to mess up. I didn’t intend to give them ammo.

When I needed to let off steam, I usually drove to anothercounty on my night off. Found a pretty woman at a bar who was looking for the same thing. Some no-strings fun. I almost never picked up women in my own jurisdiction.

Except for last night, of course.

And we know what a mistake that turned out to be.

“You wanted to tell us something about Genevieve?” Jessi asked.

“I wasn’t sure if you recognized her name. Last name Blake.” I looked from her to Aiden.

“It does ring a bell, now that you mention it,” Aiden said. “Who is she?”

“Genevieve is the reporter from Denver I mentioned a few months ago. She’s been sniffing around my department for almost the last year.”

Aiden shook his head. “Shit. We do basic background checks on everyone who books a room, but that’s to screen for criminal convictions or ties to anyone we’re protecting. River keeps an eye on internet chatter for us too, and he hasn’t seen anything about Last Refuge. Never occurred to me she’d be a reporter. Does she suspect us?”

“I don’t think so. Gen has me in her sights, not the Last Refuge Protectors. But that will change if she keeps digging.” She had claimed to have evidence I was corrupt. That was hard to imagine. My bigger concern was protecting my friends.

“And you just brought her up here?” Jessi sputtered. “No warning? We have our other protectees. We have a responsibility to them.”

Last Refuge wasn’t just a place to eat or rest for a night. It was meant to be a sanctuary for people with nowhere else to turn. And the Protectors were dedicated to ensuring the safety of anyone here.

Just recently, a mother had come to town desperate to escape her abusive boyfriend. Keira had picked mom anddaughter up by the side of the road and brought them to the station. But they’d refused to press charges against the man who’d hurt them. That was something I saw all too often among domestic abuse victims. I wasn’t judging. I understood the precariousness of their situation, yet without using the legal system, there was little I could do. So I’d brought them here. To Jessi and Aiden and Last Refuge.

Serving justice in my county meant everything to me. I knew better than most that the legal system faced severe limitations when it came to helping the vulnerable. Some cities might have had more resources available, but Hartley didn’t. So I would never have risked bringing Gen here if there hadn’t been a pressing need.

I held up my hands. “She’d already booked her reservation here, and I couldn’t steer her to a different hotel without alerting her suspicion as to why. If you’d rather Gen stay elsewhere, I can find another place for her. But I don’t think she would jeopardize anyone who’s seeking help at Last Refuge. Neither would I.”

There was more at risk than any of us would voice aloud. In the past, the Protectors had broken the law to save innocent lives. I strongly suspected Aiden, Trace, and River had done things that would land them in prison. I’d lose my job if the world knew my involvement. Even if our actions had saved lives and prevented unimaginable harm.

“But it’s complicated,” I went on. “There’s also the fact that Gen herself needs protection, and there’s no one I’d trust more than you to keep her safe.”

Jessi sighed. “You mentioned she’s a witness.”

“She’s the sole eyewitness to a murder that took place this morning outside the Alpine Hotel.” I took off my hat and scratched my head. “And there’s more. She and I met in the hotel bar last night. Neither of us realized who the other was. I went up to her room.”

Aiden snorted, and Jessi pointed at me. “I knew it. Youwerea naughty boy. Just had to make our lives nice and difficult.”

“Usually it’s me and Trace doing that,” Aiden said. “I can’t believe you screwed the reporter who’s trying to screw your career.”

“Hey, I already made that joke once. It’s off limits now.” I shoved my hat back down. “Besides, we didn’t sleep together. She saw my badge before we could get that far, and she flipped out on me. Genevieve can’t stand me. But I do have serious concerns about her safety. She saw this killer’s face. The guy took out the victim from the cover of the woods. Cold blood. We have to assume the man’s dangerous and that he’ll kill the only witness against him if he gets a chance. I trust the Protectors to take care of her.”

“Sounds like you don’t dislike her as much as you claim,” Jessi said.

“I’d do the same for any witness.”

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