Page 45 of Engaging the Deputy

Still no sign of the van, but Cody’s rig was parked next to Krystal’s and the curtains were drawn in the living room window. He didn’t bother to stop.

After driving around town and still not finding Emery or his van, Jaden thought about heading back out to the barn. But the state crew was still there processing the place. He told himself that Emery might have just been curious when he’d driven past earlier to see if the deputy had taken him up on checking it out.

What Jaden really wanted to do was to drive out and check on Livie. He felt antsy, like he always did when an investigation started coming together. It was the most dangerous time in any case, but especially in a murder investigation. He was getting close. Someone was getting nervous.

He pulled out his phone, opting to text Livie instead of showing up at her door.

You OK?

Making crab apple jelly with my mom.

My favorite, he texted back.

I remember. I’ll save you a couple of jars!

Great. Tell your mom thank you.

At loose ends, he checked in with his boss in Fortune Creek, then drove down to the café. His growling stomach reminded him that he hadn’t had anything since lunch.

Just the thought of Sharon Brooks’s crab apple jelly had made him hungry. He thought about that one late night back in college when he and Livie had gotten into a care package her mom had sent. There was a jar of the jelly and peanut butter, along with homemade bread. He smiled at the memory. Best jelly he’d ever tasted.

Taking a seat in a booth facing the street, Jaden watched the sparse traffic as he waited for his meal order. This time of year, off season, things were usually quiet. He thought about everything he’d learned so far on the case. He had a pretty good idea why Rob Perkins had been killed. But it weighed on him that, while he had suspects, he still wasn’t close to arresting the person who had committed the murder or the person who had assaulted Cody. Were they the same one?

His food came and he dug in, reminding himself that he’d solved one old murder at Starling, though, thanks to Rusk. He recalled the male remains. Make those two murders. Remembering that Evangeline might have still been pregnant, he amended the thought. Make those three murders. Solved, but he would never be able to prove it, let alone get justice. Or maybe Elden Rusk had already gotten justice since he was trapped in his own guilt until he died.

As Jaden was leaving the café, he spotted Emery driving by in his van. Once in his patrol SUV, he sped after him. He started to hit his lights and siren, but realized Emery was headed to his apartment. He followed, parking next to him in the lot.

Emery didn’t seem happy to see him as Jaden climbed out and approached the van. The man’s scared expression gave him hope that Emery was ready to tell him the truth.

* * *

“Would you mindif I took a couple of jars of jelly to share?” Olivia asked her mother. She’d been antsy after they’d completed their work. She needed fresh air. Mostly, she wanted an excuse to see Jaden.

Sharon Brooks sighed. “Is there a handsome deputy on your list?”

Olivia grinned. “There is.” She told her mother about that night back in college when they’d opened her care package. At least, she told her the PG part. “He loved it. Said it was his favorite.”

“You won’t be late?” her mother asked, looking outside. It got dark earlier and earlier this time of year. The wind whistled through the bare branches of the trees. One limb scraped against the side of the house. “Something’s blowing in,” she warned. “Hate to see you get caught in a snowstorm.”

“I’ll be back long before that,” she promised and loaded a couple of jars into her bag, thinking she’d drop one off at the hardware store before it closed.

“Thanks for helping with the jelly,” her mother said as Olivia started for the door.

“It was fun,” she called over her shoulder and was out the door, headed for her car. It had been fun making the jelly with her mother. She remembered the two of them working in the kitchen together when she was a girl. Her mother had sewn her a small apron to wear. She’d been so proud of it, she thought now as she swallowed the lump that rose in her throat.

Climbing behind the wheel, she hesitated as she looked back at the house. She could see the flicker of the television screen, the silhouette of her mother curled up in her chair to watch her stories. Olivia told herself that she wouldn’t be gone that long. Maybe the two of them could watch a movie together when she got back.

That decided, she headed toward town, hoping to get there before the hardware store closed. Then she planned to go by the grocery store to pick up some peanut butter and bread before going to Jaden’s motel. She knew it was risky. He might turn her away. Or even more risky, he might invite her in.

The jelly was just an excuse. He would realize that right away. Hopefully, he’d hear her out. She needed to tell him she wasn’t leaving Montana. That she’d quit her job in California before she’d come home. That she loved him and was through running away—from being terrified that she would end up with her mother’s life.

The lights were still on at the hardware store as she parked and, taking one of the jars of jelly, headed for the front door. The bell tinkled as the door closed behind her. She saw that some of the lights had already been turned off, but the music was still playing softly, so she knew someone was still there.

“Hello!” she called as she headed toward the back, where the office was. “Jelly delivery!” No answer. Her footsteps echoed on the worn wood floor as she moved deeper into the building.

The lights were on in the office, but she didn’t see anyone. She caught a gust of wind coming down the hallway from the open back door to the alley. “Cody?”

* * *

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