Page 38 of Silent Road

"Then why'd you arrest him?"

"Because sometimes you have to act on the evidence you have, even if your gut tells you there might be more to the story."Sheila turned onto the main road leading to the station."It's like when I grounded you.The evidence—you sneaking out, lying about where you were—pointed to one conclusion.But my gut tells me there's more going on with you than just typical teenage rebellion."

Star twisted in her seat to face the window, but not before Sheila caught the tremor in her chin."You don't know anything about me."

"Maybe not," Sheila admitted."But I know what it looks like when someone's runningfromsomething instead oftowardsomething."

"That's rich, coming from you."Star's voice cracked slightly."All you do is run.To work, to crime scenes, to wherever else you can find to avoid being home."

The accusation hit harder than Sheila would have expected.She opened her mouth to defend herself, then closed it again.How many times had she used work as an escape?How many dinners had she missed, how many conversations had she cut short because duty called?

How many times had she made excuses not to come home because she didn't want to deal with the complicated emotions brought up by being around the people she loved?

"You're right," she said finally."I do run to work.But right now, I'm running toward you, not away from you.Even if you don't want me to."

Star let out a sharp laugh that sounded more like a sob."Stop pretending you care.You're only doing this because you have to.Because nobody else would take me."

Sheila pulled into her reserved spot at the station, killed the engine, but didn't move to get out."Is that what you think?That you're some kind of obligation?"

"Aren't I?"Star's voice was barely a whisper."You didn't want kids—if you did, you would've settled down years ago.You only took me in because—" She stopped abruptly, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Because what?"Sheila pressed, turning to face her ward.

But Star's walls were already back up, her face a mask of practiced indifference."Whatever.Can we just go inside?If I have to spend the day watching you play cop, I don't want to do it sitting in this car."

Sheila recognized the deflection for what it was—she used the same technique herself often enough.Part of her wanted to push harder, to force the conversation past this breaking point to whatever truth lay beneath.But fifteen years of investigative work had taught her that some revelations couldn't be forced.

Sometimes, you had to wait for the evidence to surface on its own.

She reached for her phone and car keys."Alright.But this conversation isn't over, Star.Whether you believe it or not, I'm not giving up on you."

"Yeah," Star muttered, yanking open her door."That's what they all say."

As Sheila was getting out, she suddenly remembered that she'd promised to visit Finn at the hospital that very morning.Inwardly cursing her forgetfulness, she sent him a quick, apologetic text.She hoped he would understand, given everything on her plate right now.

The resort's administrative building sat separate from the main lodge, a three-story structure of glass and stone that caught the morning light like a prism.Sheila led Star through the employee entrance, badges clipped to their outer layers—Sheila's gold shield on her belt, and a hastily printed visitor's pass hanging from Star's hoodie.

"Listen carefully," Sheila said, stopping in the corridor."You can sit in the office or in the break room.There are vending machines if you get hungry, and the wifi password is posted by the coffee maker.But you do not leave this building without me.Understood?"

Star rolled her eyes."What happened to probable cause?"

"Don't start."Sheila fixed her with a stern look."This isn't a game."

They found Tommy waiting by the employee locker room.His face clouded with confusion at the sight of Star.

"This is Star," Sheila told him."She's with me.Star, this is Deputy Forster."

"Tommy," he corrected automatically, then gestured toward the locker room."About those lockers—"

"Star, break room's two doors down on the left," Sheila interrupted."Get yourself settled."

"But I want to—"

"Now."

Star huffed but trudged down the hallway, her boots squeaking against the polished floor.

"She your kid or something?"Tommy raised an eyebrow.

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