Page 61 of Home Town Knight

“So you came here to distract me from my investigation?”

Grissom crossed his arms over his blazer. “We hear you’ve restricted access to the Tucker murder file, even from your undersheriff. After I told you the need for transparency with this case. Why is it that you’ve limited even your own department from the investigation?”

I leveled a stare at Norris, who gazed back at me steadily. “You weren’t in your office this morning,” Norris said. “DA Grissom called and asked about the Tucker case, and I answered.”

“That’s not all,” Grissom continued. “I had to read about the identity of your eyewitness in aDenver Dailyarticle and find out she’s a reporter.”

“She had nothing to do with that article. She’s cut ties with the paper as of this morning.”

“And that’s after CSP troopers saw you acting in a familiar manner with her at the murder scene. You already told me you met the woman in the Alpine bar the evening of the murder. Do you have any idea how all this looks, combined with the secrecy you insist on maintaining? How do you expect me to prosecute this case?”

Jud lifted an eyebrow.

I stood again, resting my hands flat on my desk. “You won’t have anything to prosecute if I don’t catch the killer. Which I will do. But the key to doing so isthe eyewitness. I consider the rest of this conversation to be confidential. Jud, you can leave my office.”

Jud’s chest puffed out like he might refuse, but then he tipped his hat. “Just wanted to help convey the local sentiment. So sorry to take up your precious time, Sheriff.”

I didn’t take my eyes off the man until he’d steppedoutside. I noticed he went to chat with my deputies, but I ignored it.

“The killer tried to go after my witness just last night,” I said.

Grissom scoffed. As for my undersheriff, he was staying quiet. Whether that was because he didn’t want to be here, or he was thinking deeper thoughts, I couldn’t tell. “Yes, I heard about that too,” Grissom said. “But not from you. You didn’t even call for backup to respond. Isn’t that against your own procedures?”

I’d figured the rumor mill in this town would spread the news. My concern was keeping the specifics of the security at Last Refuge under wraps. Which I’d done. But I had no intention of explaining that to the DA. “I dealt with the situation the way I saw fit. No one was injured. The property owners didn’t want any further disruption for their guests.”

“But the witness?” the undersheriff asked. “Is she still at Last Refuge?”

“No, she’s staying with me.”

“At your personal home?” Grissom shook his head. “I read the rest of thatDenver Dailyarticle. Genevieve Blake has been investigatingyoufor corruption. How the hell do you square that?”

Stay calm, I told myself. Though I was squeezing my fist so hard my knuckles cracked. “False rumors. Nothing more. I’m sure she’d say so if asked.”

“But you must realize how it sounds.”

I rolled my eyes. “What, like I’m cozying up to her so she’ll say nice things about me? I promise you, Miss Blake is way too ornery for that.”

“You’re too close to this case. And the more secretively you behave about it, the more people are going to wonder what exactly you’re hiding.”

And I’m sure Jud Hale will help guide public opinion along, I thought.

“Is that all? I really should get back to work on this murder investigation. Given the public concern about catching the killer.”

Grissom stormed out. I managed to unclench my fist.

Then I glared at my second in command.

Norris had stayed behind. He closed the door again. A couple of the deputies had been glancing over curiously from their desks. “Boss, I didn’t intend for that to be an ambush. The DA grabbed me and roped me into coming to your office. I didn’t know Jud Hale would be here until he suddenly appeared. Would’ve warned you otherwise.”

Norris Linscomb had been a senior deputy when I’d joined the department. I’d assumed that he would run for sheriff when the former one retired. A lot of people had thought the same. But he’d resisted. In fact, Norris had been one of my first supporters when I’d floated the idea of running myself. It had been a no-brainer to make him my second in command.

“I get it,” I said. “Neither man is used to hearing no.”

“Grissom is right about one thing. The circumstances with you and this witness don’t look good. People will read that article about her investigating you for corruption, and then she’s caught up in this Tucker case and you’re keeping her under wraps like you want to make sure she stays quiet. You can make light of it, but people love to draw salacious conclusions.”

Just imagine if they knew I’m also sleeping with her, I added internally.

“You think that’s what I’m doing? Putting pressure on a witness? That’s the kind of man I am?”

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