Page 81 of Home Town Knight

My mind was running circles around what had happened, what Rossiter had told us, and the picture was clearer. But nowhere close to crystal. And the killer was still out there. Maybetwokillers, since there’d been two intruders at Last Refuge.

I only knew the face of one of them, and I still had no idea who he was.

Dean sat next to me, resting his elbow on the table. “You need anything else?”

I focused on breathing. In. Out. I had no patience for a panic attack right now. Not that Ieverdid, but if I could head it off, I would. “Would you sit with me a little while?”

“Of course,” he said softly. “I was already planning on it.”

The tight spring in my body uncoiled.

Ten minutes later, there was a knock, and the break room door opened. Keira looked inside. “Gen, there you are. Owen asked me to record your statement if you’re up to it.”

“I figured that was coming.” I stood up, and Dean did as well. “Keira, have you met Owen’s friend Dean? He’s the bartender here at the Alpine.”

“Dean Reynolds.” He held out his hand, and Keira slid hers into his grip.

“Deputy Keira Marsh.” Her long eyelashes blinked as she looked up at him, then looked back one more time before turning to me. My mood lifted as I bit back a smile. I was pretty sure Keira had just seen something she liked.

“Is Owen here at the hotel?” I asked.

“He’s wrapping up at the scenes, and the forensics folkswill handle the rest. Undersheriff Linscomb and I just arrived. Go ahead and get comfortable, and I’ll turn on my body cam when you’re ready to give your statement of what happened tonight.”

I sat down and took a sip of tea, while Dean and Keira shuffled around pretending not to sneak glances at one another. When I was ready, Dean stepped out of the room.

We got started, and I described how Owen and I had followed Ellis to his meeting with Rossiter. Then Ellis being shot by an unseen sniper.

We were maybe halfway through when I heard angry voices out in the hall. One of them was Owen’s.

I got up, went to the door, and opened it. “I don’t know how you expect me to conduct this investigation when you keep impeding it,” Owen said.

I recognized the man he was speaking to. District Attorney Grissom. I’d seen his photo online when I’d been researching Hart County officials. Owen had mentioned before that the DA was showing a lot of interest in this case.

“There’s been a second murder. And the victim was killed right in front of you! How can you claim to have a handle on this? Now I hear you had a civilian reporter there with you during an official operation? I’m entitled to ask questions about what the hell you’ve been doing.”

I stormed out into the hall. “He’s been trying to do his job. Did you miss the part where a state trooper was responsible for bringing Ellis out into the open? Or where Ellis lied to the sheriff’s office about what he knew? None of that is Sheriff Douglas’s fault.”

Owen gave me an unamused look, which was probably code for,You’re not helping.

Grissom eyed me. “So you’re the reporter. Didn’t you come to Hart County to investigate Sheriff Douglas for corruption?”

“I came here to investigate whether a public official in this county is corrupt. I quickly concluded it’s not the sheriff. But I haven’t made my mind up about anyone else.”

“Genevieve also assisted me when Rossiter tried to flee,” Owen pointed out. “She’s been much more of an asset than a hindrance.”

“She shouldn’t be involved in this murder investigation at all,” Grissom seethed. “Get her out of here.” He marched into the room where other officers were gathering, a lot of whom had probably heard that exchange. But I didn’t care.

Owen walked over to me. Even though he’d defended me, I scowled automatically, half-expecting him to tell me to stay out of this too. But instead, he held my chin with his gentle, calloused fingers.

And he kissed me. Right there in view of the DA and the other cops. It was just a brief press of his lips, but his message was clear. He was choosing me in front of them all.

“Thank you for having my back,” he said. “While I’d love to keep you with me, I can’t right now. Dean can get you a hotel room. Get some rest. I’ll be up when I’m finished here.”

I held the lapels of his jacket. It wasn’t his usual one, but still said Hart County Sheriff’s Department. “All right. But feel free to grab me if you need me to yell at anyone else.”

The corner of his mouth quirked. “I will.”

Keira wrapped up my interview quickly, then went to join the rest of her team. Dean sorted out a hotel room for me to get some sleep. He walked me up to the second floor after swinging by the front desk for a basic toiletry kit. “I won’t go far. I’ll hang out here in the hallway until Tex is ready to come up.”

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