Page 31 of Claimed By the Deputies

The same sheriff I’ve been spending my nights with, tousling between the sheets of my bed or his. I’m doing my best to compartmentalize, like Lucas said, but I don’t think we’re as good at it as we like to believe.

“Who is this guy again?” I ask as we pull up outside a convenience store on the not-so-nice side of town. I’m in the back seat of Tyler’s car, Mitch in the passenger seat.

“Stuart Johnson,” Tyler says as he turns the engine off.

“Come on, I’m dying to hear what he has to tell us,” Mitch says and gets out of the car first. I join him on the sidewalk, cautiously glancing up and down the road.

I’m nowhere near as imposing as the two tall and dashing deputies I’m accompanying. My intention is to get people to open up, not to intimidate.

“Stuart Johnson worked at the same Hamilton drugstore as William Jade,” Mitch says, going over his smartphone notes. “Got fired a couple months back, but he’s been texting Jade a lot.”

“I know they were using code for their drug deals, but they’re not as smart as they think they are,” I reply. “Like I wouldn’t figure out that arugula stands for green crack weed.”

“I still can’t get over the fact that you clocked the jellybeans as oxy pills,” Tyler chuckles dryly.

“Oh, come on, that was easy once I figured out the yellow skittles stood for the super lemon haze strain,” I shoot back. “Code is easy when it’s built by idiots.”

“Remind me again, what did the New York cheesecake stand for?”

“Cocaine,” I say with a giggle. “Not to be confused with the strawberry shortcake, which was Molly.”

“My God, and these are people in charge of the distribution and dealing of highly illegal narcotics across the county.” Mitch pinches the bridge of his nose.

I shake my head slowly. “They’re just pawns. But with the right squeeze, they’ll lead us to top management.”

“Easier said than done,” Tyler mutters. “We don’t know how far the web reaches.”

We head into the convenience store, rather empty at this early hour. Stuart Johnson pops up behind the counter with a faint smile and sunken eyes. “Good morning, officers, ma’am. What can I get you?”

“You can tell us about your friendship with Billy Jade, for starters.” Mitch goes straight for the bullseye.

Instantly, Stuart becomes tight-lipped and apprehensive. “What’s this about?”

“We arrested your friend on two counts of murder,” Mitch says.

“Whoa!” Stuart gasps, eyes wide with shock. “I had no idea. What murders? Oh, damn, those two chicks? Tanya and what’s the other one’s name?”

“Dina,” I reply, a hint of disgust to my tone.

“Right. Listen, I had nothing to do with any of that,” he insists. “I’m no killer, I swear.” He nervously looks around the empty store and adds, “You’re making me look bad here. I just got this job.”

Tyler shrugs. “I don’t see your boss or your manager anywhere in sight.”

“We’ve got cameras.” He points to the nearest one in the upper left corner.

I clock the disconnected cable immediately and announce, “It’s not connected.”

“Lady, I don’t want any trouble here.” Stuart gives me a hard look, one I believe is meant to intimidate me. Tyler clearly has a low tolerance for any attempt to make me feel unsafe. He takes a step forward. He’s significantly taller and bigger than this guy—enough to make an impact.

“Tell us about William,” Tyler says. “You’re not in any trouble. Yet.”

“What do you want to know?” Stuart frowns. He appears a bit defeated.

“You two were buddies. Maybe you still are. You tell us.”

“We used to work at the same drugstore, that’s all.”

I can’t help but smile. “You’re quite close on social media. Photos and videos of you dating back at least two years ago, partying and drinking, driving around taking selfies.”

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