Page 40 of Search for the Truth
“So even the high school has its own rumor mill about the rest of us,” Liam mused.
Price nodded to that.
“Based on what I’ve heard since Winnie started, it’s way more vicious than this fluff we have out here.” He sat straighter and leaned forward a little. “And they get some of theirs from eavesdropping on their parents, which makes the new theory floating around the school more interesting than it already is.”
Liam couldn’t help it. He leaned in a little too. “Theory?”
Price’s retelling of the news he had heard from his daughter was delivered in his own voice this time.
“No one at that school thinks that the guys were going after a friend but instead trying to mess with—drumroll please—you.”
“Me?”
Price nodded.
“Apparently a lot of the parents have been talking and, when they found out Blake was helping you with looking into Missy’s death, they all decided that Ray and Chase went after her to scare her off or maybe send you a message.” Price held up his hands in defense before Liam could start in. “This is just what Winnie said she heard from a group of seniors. The word is that Blake went back to her old ways of being an outcast sheriff and teamed up with you,anotheroutcast sheriff, to dig into the Missy thing.”
Liam balled his fist.
“Why would they even care? Ray and Chase, I mean.” He was trying very hard not to go on a tangent. “Were they friends with Missy?”
Price’s expression tightened a bit. He was annoyed at his own words.
“I asked Winnie, and she said the only friend Chase ever really hangs around is Cooper Han. He’s a senior, I’ve met him once or twice. Good kid, as far as I can tell, a whiz with computers too. Not exactly on brand for someone who might want to send the sheriff a threatening message. Ray was acquainted with Missy, but they never ran in the same social circles. But their fathers...”
Liam nearly growled. He remembered Blake’s words from the week before when they were sitting out on the porch.
“They’re fans of Jonathan Clearwater, Missy’s dad,” he finished.
Price nodded.
“Bingo,” he said. “Winnie said she’s heard the theory that Ray and Chase were following their dads’ orders, or they were trying to win some points with them. Both men have been pretty vocal about you being a problem since word got around that you were still investigating on the sly.”
Liam took the pen he had in his hand and slammed it down on the desktop.
“This is absolutely ridiculous,” he said.
“It’s also just a bundle of rumors from teenagers who were eavesdropping on adults, probably just shooting the breeze to pass the time. Either way, it doesn’t look good on the boys’ intelligence.” He held up two fingers. “If their story about thinking they were messing with a friend is true, that was an absolutely ridiculous plan. If the story about them trying to mess with you and Blake because of the Missy investigation? Well, that’s a special kind of stupid if you ask me.”
Liam had to agree with that.
“I think Blake is the kind of woman who digs her heels in when someone tries to make her stop doing something she wants to do,” Liam added after a moment. He shook his head. “That would have been a really bad plan on their part for sure.”
Price nodded his agreement. Then he was all sighs.
“I know Seven Roads is a small town, but when you start seeing how everyone is connected, it sure feels smaller.” He stood and stretched. “Either way, I thought you should hear what’s going around. I’m not sure it holds any water, but I wanted you to know just in case. I’m heading out for now, though, unless you need me for something else.”
“I appreciate it, but, no, I’m good here.”
A smile stretched wide across Price’s face.
“Good. I’m doing a movie night with Winnie, and those have become rare since she hit teenagehood. You have any plans on this fine Friday, Sheriff?”
Liam motioned to the paperwork piled in his inbox tray.
“You’re looking at it.”
Price whistled, already moving to the door.
