Page 14 of Badges
“Was that my broken arm?” I was trying to stand in front of Mom because my dad was screaming at her.
He grabbed me and threw me out of the way.
Sheriff Rowland nods without looking at me. “Then again when she ‘fell down the stairs’.” He tosses his fingers in air quotes as he says it. “The best thing that happened to her was getting the job at the Frozen Bones serving ice cream and coffee.”
“I love that place.” It’s a million times better than the mushy eggs and overcooked sausage patty I’m trying to chew now.
He chuckles as he straightens, patting his belly. “Yea, I put on about twenty pounds that summer keeping an eye on her. Your dad had a way of showing up and trying to cause a ruckus. Me and another deputy swapped out stopping by.” He gets a faraway stare at a point somewhere over my head. “Took me two years to work it off.”
What the hell? There were never any cops there when I’d show up after school.
There were always a ton of other kids there, it probably kept Dad at bay.
“Okay, you knew her.” I’m not sure why, but it makes me feel more comfortable with him.
He’s a link to the past, and a happier time.
“You know they blamed her for what he did.” I swirl the coffee in the bottom of the tin cup. It’s almost cool by the time I take a sip. “My grandmother used to yell at Mom for being a bad wife, and that she must have done something to deserve it.”
His chest rumbles so deeply I can almost feel the vibrations.
“No one asks for that.” He tilts backwards, kicking his feet out in front of him and crossing his arms. “That’s the biggest buncha bullshit I’ve heard today.”
“That’s what I thought too!” I exclaim, nearly spilling my drink. “I was starting to wonder if I was crazy. Mom was soscared my dad would find her, she didn’t want to take any on the books jobs since they asked for ID.” I think that’s what started the spiral.
His copper whiskers twist as he frowns. “Yea, she was hiding pretty good. Needle in the haystack. Shit, needle in a stack of needles.”
Huh. Was he looking for her?
“Well, it made her take on some shady crap,” I sigh, setting down my empty cup. “She got tied in with the wrong people.” I squint at him as I try to decide if I should tell him about my sister.
If he starts trying to track her down, Max will find out.
The last thing in the world I want is for her to get hurt. If he thinks I talked…
A shiver works down my spine.
She’s too fucking young to be wrapped up in all of this. I just need to keep that detail out.
“So these ‘wrong people’?” The sheriff’s palm cups the air as he encourages me. “Are they the ones who put you up to this?”
All I can do is nod. Those fake ass eggs aren’t sitting well.
I might just hurl onto my lap.
“Did they tell you why?” His lips purse as he watches me.
My shoulders rise and fall in a shrug. “Just that the people that own that BG brand took something very important to them, and they were making them pay.” Fisting the worn blue blanket, I pound it against my knee. “I didn’t want anyone to get hurt!” My voice rises. “No one was supposed to! God, those poor cows…” Their image haunted me all night.
He runs his thick fingers through his hair. When it falls, it covers his eyes like a mane.
That’s what he reminds me of, a lion in the way he moves and watches.
“Elena—” His words carry a heavy husk. “—you know you’re going to have to give me names? I have to be able to track them down. If you do, I can probably get you a greatly reduced sentence. Maybe even out on bail—”
“No, I can’t.” A tremor works into my tone.
“Is it—” He pauses, his dark eyes fixing on me. “—your boyfriend? Husband? Are they being threatened?”
