poker. If I catch him, he’ll get flustered and say yes to whatever I ask.”
“I really appreciate your help.”
“It’s the least I could do. Pay it forward I always say.” She jumped up and went to tap on Fallon’s door before she entered. When she came out, she gave Tara a thumbs-up. “The chief will see you now,” she said in an official tone.
It was ridiculous to have to play games to talk to an officer of the law, but she hadn’t really expected better. She was glad to learn she’d helped Robin. Thinking about it, she realized the girl would likely tell her brother that Tara had come in to talk to the police. Word would spread and soon the whole town would know. She hadn’t thought about that. She’d always hated living in the fishbowl of Wharton.
Chief Fallon came around his desk and clasped her hand in both of his. “So sorry for your loss,” he said, holding her gaze too long, as if to impress her with the enormity of his sympathy. He was a big man with a barrel chest, gray hair in a military cut and a florid face. “How’s your mother holding up?”
“She’s doing fine,” Tara said, knowing that was the image her mother wanted to present, though Tara was worried about how much she’d been sleeping. “I know she appreciates everything you sent her. That was above and beyond the call of duty.”
She watched his face. Sure enough, the red in his face deepened to magenta. Something was up with him and her mother. She prayed it was just a harmless flirtation.
“It’s the least I could do.” He cleared his throat. “Please have a seat.” He motioned toward a chair, then sat behind his desk, sizing her up like a suspect.
“So, this has to feel strange, huh? You being in my office and not in trouble.” He gave her a self-satisfied smile. “Glad to see you cleaned up your act. Maybe those little talks we had did you some good.”
She had the urge to grab the World’s Best Cop mug on his desk and chuck it at his head, but she only smiled.
“I know your mother used to worry herself sick over you.” How long had he had a thing for her mother? Now that she thought about it, he had always patted her mother’s arm and consoled her over Tara’s screw-ups. Ick. “So what can I do for you? One of my guys give you a speeding ticket you need fixed?”
“No. No tickets.”
“You haven’t been in town long, though, have you?” He chuckled.
She supposed she deserved the dig, considering all the mischief she’d gotten into, but did he have to be such a patronizing jerk about it?
“Actually, Chief Fallon, I hoped you’d tell me a little more about what happened that night...about the accident. The sequence of events...how you came to find them—” She stopped before she said at suspiciously the right moment. She didn’t dare push too hard.
“I know what you’re after,” he said solemnly, leaning across the desk. For a second, she thought he might help her. Then he rested his elbows on the desk, hands clasped as if in prayer, a gesture that often meant, I’m holding back what you want because I know best. “You want peace of mind. But this won’t give you that.” He smiled a knowing smile. “Go home, comfort your mother, let time do its duty. That’s what you need. Believe me. I’ve seen this many, many times.”
Stay calm. Be easy. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m prepared for whatever you can tell me.” She hoped she was. She’d been afraid to look down the embankment or peek at her sister’s clothes. If the details were gruesome...
She braced herself. Be strong. This is for Faye and Dad.
He stared at her, irritated, but trying to hide it.
“If you’d prefer, I could simply read the accident report,” she threw in.
“That’s not possible.” The way his eyes slid side to side suggested he was dodging the truth. “The report’s still in process.”
“So you’re still investigating the accident?” Her heart skipped a beat. Maybe he was handling it, after all.
“You know...cops and paperwork. These things take time. Hunt and peck even on the computer.” His smile invited sympathy. “We want to get the i’s dotted and the t’s all crossed. With everyone so lawsuit-happy these days, we have to be awfully careful, don’t we? In the meantime, your insurance agent took my statement, so that’s all cleared up.