Page 62 of Home Town Knight

“Not for one dadgum second. But you’re elected, Owen. You always have to be thinking of what your potentialopponents like Hale will do with this. Especially when added to that controversy with your uncles.”

Last year, Norris had been out of commission after a knee surgery, at home recovering and then relegated to a desk for months afterward. But I’d kept him apprised of everything that had happened, and I’d welcomed his advice as someone with more law enforcement experience than me. He was in his early fifties, a good man, if old-fashioned. Honorable almost to a fault.

There was no way he’d look favorably on the Last Refuge Protectors. He’d respect their intentions. But Norris would never approve of them acting as vigilantes. Or approve of my involvement.

Could I tell him what Genevieve had shared about Stillwater? About the corrupt official in our county? It had to be someone high-ranking, with enough pull to put weight on the scales. Maybe someone like DA Grissom, which was a sobering thought.

I didn’t want to burden Norris with that information until I knew more. Besides, Genevieve hadn’t told me I could share it with anyone but the Protectors.

“I have been secretive about the Tucker murder investigation,” I said. “That’s true. I was trying to keep Genevieve Blake’s identity from leaking. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you, only that I was keeping the circle as small as possible. Now, her identity is out there. She and I are friendly, and I’m trying to protect her since the killer is targeting her. But I don’t think that’s different from me protecting any other constituent who’s also my friend.”

“I see your point.”

“As for my family connections, I can’t help those.”

He dipped his head, a quick nod. “No, I suppose not.”

“You know I always value your thoughts. Last thing I want is the state attorney general’s office plowing in here andtaking over because they think we’re slacking. Who knows, Jud Hale might already have made phone calls to his friends in the governor’s office to that effect. He and Grissom both are taking a lot of interest in this case.”

Norris frowned, making his mustache twitch. “There’s publicity involved in a murder investigation. Grissom and Hale want to look good. That’s exactly why I didn’t want your title, Sheriff. I’m not cut out to be a politician.”

“Not sure I am either,” I said with a sigh. “I’ll give you access to the Tucker file. We’re exploring a number of avenues of inquiry, but my primary theory is that Tucker stumbled onto some money when he was out hunting. The killer might’ve been the person he stole it from. You can take a look at the evidence so far and see if you agree.”

“I will. Sure.”

“Don’t share anything with DA Grissom, or anyone outside our team, unless you clear it with me first.”

“Of course not.”

“I can count on you?”

He knew I didn’t just mean this murder investigation. “I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather work for.”

“Good to hear.”

“But I need to be frank. I’m not sure what’s really going on between you and this witness, and you can keep that private. But you can’t afford to get distracted by a beautiful face. You’ve been so careful in the past, come so far despite the setbacks you’ve had. Losing your mom and dad, the family scandals. The trouble in this very office last year.”

I glanced down at my desk, lips pressed into a tight line.

“I have no doubt that, wherever they are now, you’ve made your parents proud. Don’t squander that by being reckless.”

With that said, Norris ducked out of my office, but his words still echoed in my head.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Genevieve

I clickedon the folder labeledAce Tucker, and it opened. Keira had added me to the permissions. Anticipation made me sit forward, excitement humming in my veins.

The cursor hovered over the first document. The report from the techs who’d run the crime scene in the Alpine parking lot. I double-clicked.

As dark as it might sound when talking about a murder, I loved moments like this. That sense of discovery. Not knowing what I might find.

I was in a conference room, where Keira had set me up with a department laptop and instructions for access to the Tucker file. She’d seemed surprised at the trust Owen was granting me, yet she’d accepted it easily enough because she had that much faith inhim.

But Sheriff Douglas was that kind of man. I touched the hat I was wearing. Owen’s Carhartt snapback, which I’d borrowed from his room. He was charismatic, but with a goodness that was easy to find when you looked. Made me laugh to think I’d ever suspected him of being Stillwater’s mole.

Great in bed too.

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