Page 14 of Engaging the Deputy

“Tell me again who all was at the bar,” Jaden said, his eyes on his notebook.

“Cody, Emery, Rob and Dean,” she said.

He looked up at her then. “They weren’t with dates or their wives or girlfriends at the bar that night?”

“It wasn’t that unusual in the old days,” she said, sounding defensive. “I used to hang out with them, play pool, go fishing. We were all just friends.”

“Just you and the boys, huh?”

Her eyes narrowed with anger. “I told you about them when you and I were in college. They were old friends. That’s why I agreed to go that night. I thought…” She shook her head. “It turned out to be a mistake even before the tornado.”

“A mistake?”

“Cody still resents me leaving. He feels trapped here and…” She waved a hand through the air. “They’re his issues, but me getting to leave is a bone of contention between us. Why is my relationship with him so important to you?” she demanded with obvious irritation.

“So you did argue.”

She groaned. “Do we have to do this, Jaden?” Their gazes met. “You know I didn’t attack Cody.”

He wished he did. If she had rolled a rock down into that hole, she might not have realized it would hit him in the head and knock him unconscious. It could have been impulsive, like ending an engagement without any warning.

“Describe for me again what happened that night.”

He listened as she told the same story she had last night. She’d left Cody to get help. He’d been fine.

“Any idea who might have wanted to harm him?” She shook her head again. “What about Rob or Dean?” Another shake of her head.

“I’ve been gone, remember?”

“I remember.” He held her gaze for a long moment. They didn’t have anything to say to each other, but there’d once been a time when they used to talk for hours. He had often called her at night, lying in bed. He’d loved the sleepy sound of her voice and had imagined her lying there.

But that was back when they’d been engaged. Back when he’d thought that one day she would be lying in bed next to him, talking about their day or their kids or their new dreams, shared dreams.

“Tell me where everyone else was when you and Cody left the group to wander up the hillside.”

With a sigh, she repeated everything she’d told him before.

“Cody and I were fine. He saved my life when the house above us was ripped away in the tornado.”

“Must have been terrifying.” He couldn’t imagine what she’d been through, but Livie had always been strong.

“It was. Then the tornado moved on. We saw the bones that had been dislodged from the soil. The ladder had been ripped away, but Cody helped me climb up the shelves. Unfortunately, they barely held my weight, so he couldn’t use them to get out. I didn’t want to leave him down there, but he insisted I go for help.”

“That’s the last time you saw him conscious?”

“I still don’t understand what could have happened.” She shook her head. “When I came back, he was lying down there motionless.”

“Had you seen any rocks down there? Any that could have dislodged and struck him?”

She straightened her shoulders. “Like you said, I was terrified. I wasn’t really looking around. But I think it was just dirt. That’s why Cody was worried about it caving in more.” She met his gaze. “You think someone purposely tried to hurt him?”

“Who of your group would want to do that?” Jaden asked.

“No one. They were his friends.”

“Including Rob Perkins? There wasn’t anything going on between them…? Any disagreements?” He saw her hesitate. “What?”

“Cody wasn’t happy with Dean for bringing Jenny. He thought it was going to lead to trouble since they were married to other people.”

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