Page 46 of Claimed By the Deputies

“Nope. But you’ll find some interesting names on that list,” I add.

By the time I’m done, the sheriff and his deputies are sold. We have new leads, solid ones. Red thread dances all over the floor with new connections and possible suspects.

“We might not be able to touch some of these people, Armand Hamilton, in particular,” Lucas warns. “He’s close friends with the DA, and a golfing buddy to at least two circuit judges that I’m aware of. Unless we find him with a smoking gun in his hand, we’ll only end up burying ourselves.”

“Fair enough. What if we go straight at the big dog first? The mayor’s right hand? Link Jerry Spring to Johnson and Jade. Drop a line in the local newspapers: Mayor’s Aide Connected to Cold-Blooded Murderer and Drug Dealers. That’ll get Jerry out of town hall in the blink of an eye.”

“For what it’s worth, Hamilton does strike me as the type to cut people off if they’re a liability,” Mitch says.

“His son was supposed to take over the drugstore chain,” Tyler adds. “But if he moved away, who’s running the show now?”

Lucas gives me a long look. “You continue to surprise me, Tassia.”

“Now, now, you’re going to make me blush.”

“I could do a lot more, you know.” He leans forward and kisses me on the lips, then gives Tyler and Mitch an apologetic smile. “Gentlemen, will you excuse us for the rest of the evening?”

Tyler pats Mitch’s shoulder. “No problem. We’ve got a bottle of scotch to finish anyway while we pick up where Tassia left off with these files.”

“Tassia,” Mitch glances over at me.

“Yes?”

“Thank you for everything you’re doing.”

There’s a lot I could say, yet I lack the courage to say it. Instead, I offer a gentle nod and reply with a soft smile. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Lucas’s arm snakes around my waist and he pulls me closer. I’m heating up like an ascending rocket as he takes my hand and guides me upstairs. Part of me longs for the moment when I’ll be with all three of them. I know it’s only a matter of time, and I know it needs to happen organically.

Right now, I’m going to let Lucas keep me busy throughout the rest of the night. Maybe it’ll be enough to erase the image of the stranger near my cabin out of my head.

9

TASSIA

“Are you sure you want me here with you?” I ask when we get out of Lucas’s SUV outside Frost Valley’s town hall.

“Yes. You’ve proven yourself useful in the field,” he responds.

“Let’s just hope it doesn’t end with another gun pointed at your head,” Mitch replies.

“You and me both,” I say, shuddering as I remember that particular moment. “So what’s our angle here?”

“The mayor agreed to talk to us regarding our concerns,” Lucas says. “In light of new evidence and the suspects currently in our custody, he didn’t really have any other choice.”

“We’re testing the waters,” Mitch adds. “And verifying the connections we know are already there.”

I smirk. “He’s going to lie to our faces. You know that, right?”

“You think so highly of people,” Mitch quips.

“Probably because I know people.”

“You’ve had your share of the worst kind, I’m guessing.”

“Yeah, and I’ve got the criminal record to show for it,” I mutter.

We’re greeted by Jerry Spring as soon as we walk into the mayor’s office. His assistant smiles as she motions toward a set of French doors.

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