that is. No! He couldn’t think that way. When Frank returned.
He listened as Della told him that Leslie Rayburn was at cabin twenty-six because she’d been visiting the widower’s twenty-year-old daughter. She’d been dumped by her boyfriend and was sure her life was over. “Leslie was like a mother to her,” the man had said. “So kind and caring.”
When Nate left the office he was torn between hearing more good about Leslie and having his only lead crushed.
Chapter 22
Nate was sitting behind Frank’s big oak desk when Rowan walked in. He looked around at the wood-paneled walls, the worn wooden floor. There were ledgers on the four desks, but no sign of a computer. “This place looks like a set for a 1950s movie.”
“I think there’s an abacus around here somewhere,” Nate said, frowning.
Rowan sat down on a wooden chair. “How’s Terri?”
Nate’s frown deepened. “Great. She’s decided I’m going to be the town sheriff and arrest bad guys—after I find a murderer, that is.”
Rowan nodded as though he agreed with that. “What’s down the hall?”
“Three jail cells. I think they were used on the Andy Griffith set.”
“The town gossip is that Della is going to be your head deputy.”
“I’m not the sheriff. If Frank doesn’t come back, the town will elect someone else.”
Rowan was looking at Nate in speculation. “You look good behind that desk. Maybe you should consider—”
“Shut up,” Nate said. “You hear anything from forensics yet?”
“Not a word and I couldn’t tell you if I did.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that you’re not officially the sheriff until the mayor swears you in.”
Nate groaned. “In that case, I never will be. He wouldn’t let me be the town road sweeper.”
“Nevertheless, you need to get his say-so before I can tell you anything.”
Nate knew his cousin was lying—or twisting the truth around. “Your dad tell you this?”
“Yeah,” Rowan said with a sigh. “It’s blackmail. No expedited forensics report until you make up with your former fiancée’s father. And I’m to go with you to hold your hand or let her hit you. Not sure which.”
“I’d rather face men with guns,” Nate muttered as he stood up.
Rowan walked to the door. “So what are you going to do to decorate this office? And will you get new uniforms? Hey! I know. Isn’t your ex a designer? Get her to come up with some new uniforms.”
“Right,” Nate said as they walked toward the town hall. “She hates me so much she’d do pink with purple trim. But it doesn’t matter because I am not going to be a sheriff. Not here or anywhere else.”
“I thought you said Terri liked your being the sheriff.”
“Yeah, well, after I make it clear that that’s not what I want to do, she’ll see reason.”
“I bet you’ll have as much success as Dad does when he stands up to Mom.”
This statement started them making declarations about how they would rule their own households. And both men truly believed what they were saying.
It was Rowan who told the mayor’s secretary that they needed to see the man.
“He’s in a meeting,” she said. “And you don’t have an appointment.” Her eyes were on Nate and her distaste was evident.
Rowan held out his credentials. “We do need to see him. If you haven’t heard, there’s been a murder.”
“With that woman who ran away with some man? She—”
Nate stepped forward, but Rowan put himself in front. His face was serious.
“Go on then,” she said, and nodded toward the closed door.
Lew Hartman was sitting behind a mahogany desk the size of a dance platform. He nodded at Rowan, but sneered at Nate. “What is it?”
“The town ordinance says you have to swear a sheriff in,” Rowan said. “Frank Connor turned the office over to Nate, so we need to make it official.”
“I’m not sure this man is right for the job,” the mayor said. “I think I should appoint—”
The door burst open and Stacy came in, her blond prettiness filling the room. She had half a dozen shopping bags in her hands. “I am exhausted!” She sounded happy. “I bought four new outfits, including shoes, and I found the perfect gift for you to give Mom for your anniversary. It’s a necklace with a single pearl and—” She became aware of the silence in the room, then turned to see Rowan. “Hello. I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
“I feel like I’m seeing you for the first time.” Rowan’s voice was not that of an FBI agent on official business. “You