Page 8 of Silverstorm

Jude thought back to Cat and Levi’s wedding a few months prior. It’d been a simple, beautiful ceremony in the garden surrounding Stargazer, and Jude had been surprised by how moved he’d been by the whole thing. He blamed it on the drugs still circulating through his system from his gunshot wound—he’d only been released from hospital the day before. But he knew that deep down, he was looking for the same thing Cat and Levi had. That special spark, a special bond, a life shared with a soulmate. He hadn’t found that in any woman, but he hadn’t given up on love. Not yet. It was just so hard when he worked such long hours. Married to the job, some people might say.

After the wedding, Penny had taken to subtly remarking about this woman or that one, asking him what he was looking for in a partner, and generally making it obvious she was trying to matchmake him. He bore her efforts with an inward groan and an outward smile, because she meant well. But there just weren’t any women in this little town he was interested in.

Until now. An image of Aria standing by her car, long hair swirling around her shoulders, smiling with delight after she got the job at Stargazer struck him with a jolt that he felt all the way down to his stomach.

“Sure, I’ll borrow one of Dean’s ATVs and go for a drive tomorrow,” Levi said, breaking into his musings. “I’ll let you know what I find.”

Jude shook his head to recover his equilibrium. “Thanks.” But they both knew Levi really had no choice in the matter, because as soon as Cat got home, she’d be in his ear about the missing cattle, and wouldn’t let it rest until he promised to take a look. Dean and Stargazer Ranch meant a lot to her, and she wouldn’t want to see either of them in danger again.

“Do you want to come and join us for a beer before dinner?” Levi offered.

Jude considered his offer for a heartbeat. “Thank you, but I’ve still got a few things to cross off my list before I clock off,” he replied ruefully.

“No rest for the wicked,” Levi said with an understanding smile.

It was par for the course. Jude often worked long hours, especially if there was a big case happening. He and the other deputy sheriff, Susan Nomad, were used to having their lives disrupted. It was part of working in a small sheriff’s office in a large country town. Overworked and underpaid was their silent motto. At least the main police station in Missoula was only forty minutes away if they ever needed help.

Jude hopped back in his car. Half his life seemed to be spent driving around in this damn cruiser. Next was a visit to the local milk bar. Lizzie had filed a report of a shoplifter thieving candy bars from her store. It was a minor crime, and some people might see it as petty, but it shouldn’t go unreported. In Jude’s experience, these things often escalated if they were to let it slide. It was most likely one of the local kids, and a talking to by the deputy and a warning that if it happened again they’d be charged, was usually enough to stop it.

It was already dark by the time he took a spot in the angle parking outside the milk bar. The rest of the shops were shut for the night, only the milk bar and the burger joint farther down the road remained open.

“Hi, Lizzie,” he called, pushing open the door, which jangled the little bell above it to let the owner know someone was coming in. The place was empty, and it looked like Lizzie was cleaning up, getting ready to close. She didn’t always have set closing times, it depended on how busy she was.

“It’s about time. I called the theft in this morning,”

“I know I’m sorry, we’ve been flat out today.”

“Oh, and I guess petty little crime like shoplifting gets pushed to the bottom of the pile,” Lizzie said grumpily.

Jude made no reply, just leaned up against the counter and took out his notebook. Lizzie had obviously had a long day, she wasn’t normally this tetchy. She’d had a spate of things go wrong in the past few weeks. Someone had thrown a rock at her neon sign out front and smashed it. It wasn’t a targeted attack, just a gang of youths, drunk and bored, working their way down Main Street in a frenzy of vandalism. Deputy Nomad had collared the leader, and he was now in jail. Then a pipe in her kitchen out back had burst, flooding the whole shop. Lizzie had taken over the milk bar five years ago and really turned it around. Redecorating in bright colors, adding a countertop and barstools, some tables and chairs on the path outside, and updating the menu to include gourmet milkshakes and hot beverages, it was now a hub for teenagers after school or the older generation to sit outside and gossip.

“Sorry,” Lizzie said eventually, swiping a hand across her brow. “I need to put my feet up with a cup of tea. I didn’t mean to snap.”

“No problems.” Jude liked Lizzie. She was mid-forties, with wild, curly red hair, and had moved to Stevensville after a messy divorce. She’d made a positive impact in the town, with her bright smile and warm welcome. “Can you give me a description of the shoplifter?”

“Not really,” Lizzie admitted. “It was real busy this morning, the Men’s Shed Group was all in buying coffees, and me and Clara were run off our feet. There were a few kids in buying gum and candy before school started, as well. It was Clara who saw the woman stealing, not me.”

Clara helped Lizzie out in the milk bar most mornings. A retired grandmother, she’d decided she needed more stimulation in her life and taken on a part-time job in the new milk bar.

“Clara had her hands full, with a tray of coffees for the guys, so she was too late to stop the woman walking out the door.”

“Yes, and a good thing, too,” Jude replied with a frown. “I’ve already told you not to try and apprehend shoplifters on your own. You could get hurt if someone retaliates.”

“Yes, yes, I know that.” Lizzie waved a hand in the air. “Anyway, she told me all she remembers is the woman was wearing jeans and a crop top, with long flowing hair down her back.”

Jude stopped writing and lifted his head. What? That description sounded an awful lot like…

“Clara said it was a little strange, because this was no teenager, it was definitely a woman, perhaps in her mid-twenties, which isn’t our normal demographic for petty theft, if you know what I mean. And a stranger, too. Clara didn’t recognize her.”

“Right,” Jude replied slowly, his mind spinning. Could this criminal possibly be Aria? Why would she be stealing candy bars? Then he remembered all the stuff in the back of her car. If she were sleeping rough, then perhaps it meant she also had no money. She’d seemed pretty desperate to get that job at Stargazer. “I’ll post the description at the station, and we’ll keep our eyes open. You let me know if you see this woman again.” But would he? Would he post a description that matched Aria so closely?

“Will do,” Lizzie replied tiredly. “And thanks for calling in. I know how busy you are. Give my regards to Sheriff Buchanan.”

Jude tucked his notebook back in his top pocket. “You take care, Lizzie,” he said, raising his voice to be heard over the jingle of the bell above the door. She gave him a distracted wave as he stepped outside.

Letting the cold evening air seep over him, he filled his lungs. Lights twinkled in the distance; Main Street was practically deserted. A couple of cars were parked near the burger joint, but that was it.

Jude sighed and pursed his lips. His leg was beginning to ache from his twelve-hour shift, telling him he still wasn’t completely healed. He should go back to the station and sign off for the night. His shift was supposed to be over an hour ago. But there was one more thing he needed to do. He needed to find Aria and make sure she was okay. But was he trying to track her down because of her petty crimes? Or was he looking for her for more personal reasons?

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