grew up quite well.”
“That’s not what you thought in DC.”
“Touché.” Rowan’s eyes were sparkling.
If she noticed, she didn’t show it. “I guess you’re here because of...”
“The car.” Rowan stepped aside so she saw Nate.
“Oh,” Stacy said. “You.”
All Nate could do was nod.
Lew Hartman stepped forward. “I don’t think I should do this. This man is not what we want for our town.”
Rowan’s face lost its flirty look and grew hard. “Sir! Do you realize that there is a murder investigation going on? Nathaniel Taggert is more than qualified to be the sheriff. He—”
“Like hell he is!” Lew yelled. “He broke my daughter’s heart.”
“Oh for heaven’s sake,” Stacy said. “My heart is not broken. I’m much more upset over losing the Stanton house than I am about my fiancé. No offense, Nate.”
“None taken.” His eyebrows were raised.
“You know what’s come out of all this?” Stacy said. “Nate opened my eyes to some awful things going on in this town. Things I never thought about. Dad, do you remember years ago when Terri attacked those boys in high school and she was suspended?”
“Yes. Hector’s back has never been the same, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“Everything,” Stacy said. “When I was a teenager I was like everyone else and took the side of those boys. I saw them as victims. As an adult, I see it all differently.” She looked at Nate. “They went after Terri, didn’t they? And she defended herself.”
“Yes,” Nate said.
“And we all blamed her. I think it was because of what we believed Terri’s mother had done. But now we know her mother was innocent. That poor woman. It has all come down onto Terri. What she’s been through because of us, I can’t imagine. Father! You are going to help Nate with whatever he needs.”
“I—” Lew looked at his daughter. “All right.” He turned to Nate and Rowan. “What do you need? My time and whatever I can do to help is yours.”
After Nate had been sworn in, he and Rowan were walking back to the sheriff’s office.
“I like her,” Rowan said.
“I feel bad about what I did to her,” Nate said. “I think I was mad at your dad and—”
“No,” Rowan said, “I mean I really, really like her. Are you sure it’s over between you two?”
Nate was beginning to smile. “Absolutely over.”
Rowan stopped. “Listen, I, uh... They’ll call me when forensics finds anything, so I’m going back. I have, uh, some questions I’d like to ask her.” Turning, he started walking backward. “From what I’ve seen, you need to hire some new deputies. How much is your salary and what’s the town’s budget for your department?”
“How would I know? I’m not the sheriff.”
“You’ve been sworn in now, so you are until someone else takes over. I—” Rowan’s phone buzzed and he looked at it. “It’s Dad. I’ll meet you later.” He put the phone to his ear and turned back to the courthouse, but Nate could hear him. “Yeah, Dad, I met her. Yes! I like her. What about the forensics? Yes, I think she’s quite spunky. Is that a word today? What about the case?”
Smiling, Nate went back to the sheriff’s office. His office.
Chapter 23
The sun was barely rising and Rowan was already at Terri’s house. “I’ll be honest with you,” he said. “I don’t know how we’re going to investigate this. The time is overwhelming.”
“Our one lead was based on Della’s snooping,” Nate said. “We—” He broke off as his phone buzzed and he looked at it. “It’s one of my—” he swallowed “—deputies.” He declined the call and looked back at Terri. “My guess is that it was caused by something that happened in a single moment. Maybe your mother saw a robbery or a—”
“Or a murder,” Rowan said. “We’re running everything through a database to see what went on in this area at that time.”
“He made her write a note?” Terri was skeptical, disbelieving.
“Maybe,” Nate said. “She could have—Holy hell.” His phone had started ringing, then buzzing. Two texts, three emails and a call came through. At the same time, the doorbell rang.
“That will be food and a plea for info,” Terri said. “You two better go or you’ll never get out.”
“You can’t stay here alone,” Nate said. “Your dad—”
“Is a mess,” Terri said. Her phone started ringing, then Rowan’s. Nate’s had never stopped. “Go! Now. Out the back, around the side.”
Nate gave Terri a quick kiss, then left the house, Rowan right behind him. She took a