Page 114 of Surly Sheriff
It was hisjobto protect his family.
And yes, he was getting into a touchy area of gender equality.
That she turned away from him, a trainedMarine, to go into battle with her stuck in his craw. He’d have left with her, supported her,protected herwhile she moved the pieces into place to take down that monster.
She had fled instead, leaving him a cruel note to find, breaking her promises, breaking his heart.
It all boiled down to one word.
Trust.
His wife hadn’t trusted him.
He rubbed his hand over his mouth and jaw.
Fuck.
Another succinct word.
One summing up the entire situation.
He looked up at the rap on his doorframe. It was Deputy Graham. “Andy Long’s autopsy report is in.”
Her words tempered his annoyance at her interruption. “Already?” He motioned her in, recalling that Bella’s unfortunate visit had cut their conversation short.
She placed the report on his desk. “He died from a catastrophic cardiac event.”
“Heart attack?”
“Yes. Death was instant.”
That would account for the man’s swerving across the road.
“Just as Rae had said,” he whispered.
“About that … there’s still gossip doing the rounds that your wife caused the accident, but there was nothing she could’ve done to save the man. Hopefully, this news will dispel them.”
Doubtful. If Bella’s outburst was anything to go by, it would take a while for folk to warm up to Rae again. He dropped his head, scowling at the animosity she faced. And added ahumphthat the town’s perception weighed so heavily on him. If he accepted her, they would, too.
“Beau …”
His head snapped up. He’d forgotten the woman was in his office. And it was unusual for her to use his first name. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend. You earned the time off.”
Instead of leaving, she stayed in front of his desk.
“Something else, Deputy Graham?”
She frowned, pursing her lips. Her nod was sharp. “We need to talk,” she said and stepped back, closing his door.
Beau frowned. “I’ve a lot on my plate. And I need to go out to the Long farm, inform Andy’s family.”
She approached his desk again. “This is important.”
He suppressed a sigh and tilted his head toward the visitor’s chair. But for someone who had something important to tell him, Deputy Graham sure took a long time taking her seat. She rubbed her hands over her knees, her gaze aimed at the floor.
He’d never see the woman nervous, and Beau straightened at the anomaly and leaned his forearms on the wood. “Whatever it is, just spit it out, Felicity.”
Her eyes flicked to his, shimmering with emotion. “When my little sister needed me the most, I turned my back on her. She was the spunkiest kid I’d ever seen, but I was so filled with self-loathing, I couldn’t see past my own hurt. So, when she called me four-and-a-half years ago and asked a favor from me, the firstever, I jumped at the chance to redeem myself.” Her voice had dropped to a harsh whisper, and her chest heaved, her eyes blinking furiously.
