Chapter Ten
An eerie quiet filled the sheriff’s station, Dusty being the only one there this early.
He’d come in a couple of hours before his shift was scheduled because he couldn’t sleep, thinking about Sharon and their talk the night before.
His past wasn’t something he talked about, not with anybody.
He’d never even discussed it with the Boudreaus, and they knew pretty much everything about everybody in Shiloh Springs.
There wasn’t a doubt in his mind Ms. Patti would be hurt when she found out he’d kept something that big from her.
He leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on the computer screen before him.
The image of Madison—wealthy philanthropist, political donor, and suspected criminal mastermind—stared back at him from the society page of a Chicago newspaper.
The man’s polished smile revealed nothing of the darkness Dusty suspected lay beneath the veneer of sophistication.
The front door of the station opened and Rafe stepped inside, stopping short when he spotted Dusty.
“What brings you out this early? You’re not due to start for a couple more hours.”
“Couldn’t sleep, so I decided to come in and do a little more digging on Cooper Madison. Something about the guy has my hackles up.” Dusty leaned back in his chair and rubbed his hand across his face.
“That might have something to do with the pretty blonde you picked up a week ago. The one who’s neck-deep in trouble in Chicago.
” Rafe perched on the edge of Dusty’s desk, crossing his arms over his chest, watching Dusty with eyes that seemed to take in everything.
Dusty didn’t want to admit Rafe was right, but he acknowledged Sharon was at the heart of everything he’d thought about for the last several days.
“Antonio’s intel checks out,” Dusty said, rubbing his temple. “Madison hasn’t left his estate in three weeks. Didn’t go into the office. Canceled speaking engagements, charity functions—all declined with vague excuses about ‘pressing business matters’.”
“Man like that doesn’t go to ground unless he’s scared or planning something.”
“Or both.” Dusty clicked through another series of reports Antonio had forwarded to him the night before. “His security team has doubled. Private contractors with military backgrounds.”
“Sounds like he’s preparing for war.”
Dusty nodded. “And Shiloh Springs—specifically Sharon—is in his crosshairs.”
The weight of responsibility pressed down on Dusty’s shoulders.
Just a month ago, he’d been thinking about his life in Shiloh Springs.
A simple sheriff’s deputy, he liked his job even though there wasn’t much chance of advancement.
Rafe was young and had many more years in the role of sheriff, as long as he won reelection, and he was popular and well-liked, a member of a prominent Shiloh Springs family.
Dusty didn’t mind; he didn’t want or need the responsibility of running the small town.
He was more than happy to deal with the day-to-day issues of helping people and hunting down the occasional bad guy.
Then Sharon had stumbled into his path, and it was like the piece of the puzzle that had been missing slid into place, a perfect fit.
It was apparent she’d been hiding something, because she was running scared.
Thankfully, Ms. Patti had worked her magic, and Sharon had stuck around.
Now her past had caught up to her—professional hunters, paid too well to give up easily.
“We got lucky with the first crew,” Rafe said, echoing Dusty’s thoughts. “Next time, Madison might send professionals who won’t leave so easily.”
Dusty closed the laptop. “Sharon hid evidence that could put Madison away for decades. Corporate fraud, money laundering, maybe worse.”
“That’s what Antonio told me. Of course, that’s all he told me. Said he promised Sharon he wouldn’t say anything until he had investigated everything, verified her information was true and factual.” The disgruntled expression on Rafe’s face almost made Dusty laugh.
“She hid the evidence in San Antonio. She won’t tell me exactly what it is or where she hid it. Trust issues.” Dusty managed a wry smile. “Can’t blame her.”
Rafe paced the small front office space, boots heavy on the wooden floor. “Christmas is a week away. Town will be packed with tourists and out of town folks coming to visit relatives. If Madison’s men show up, then…”
“Collateral damage waiting to happen.” Dusty stood, decision made.
“I need to take her back to San Antonio. Retrieve whatever she hid, get her to turn it over to Antonio and Brian. She knows Antonio, trusts him. Ms. Patti can vouch for Brian. That’s two FBI agents who aren’t in Chicago, can’t be on Madison’s payroll.
That evidence can’t mysteriously disappear if it’s in the chain of command. ”
“Timeline?”
“Today. Now. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it gets.”
Rafe stopped pacing, fixing Dusty with a hard stare. “You care about her.”
It wasn’t a question, and Dusty didn’t treat it as one. “I’ll keep her safe.”
“See that you do.” Rafe clapped him on the shoulder, before handing him a set of keys. “Take my truck. It’s got a full tank of gas. I’ll use the cruiser until you get back.”
“Thanks, boss.”
Without saying anything else, Dusty grabbed his coat and hat and headed for the door.
Inside, he felt a sense of urgency, almost like a ticking time bomb.
He needed to get Sharon, convince her they needed the hidden evidence, and get on the road as quickly as possible, because he had a feeling time was running out.
The big picture window in front of Daisy’s Diner had been frosted, and now sported painted snowflakes and twinkling lights. The scents of warm coffee and cinnamon enveloped Dusty as he stepped through the door, the tinkle of the overhead bell announcing his arrival.
Sharon moved between tables with practiced ease, coffee pot in hand, laughing at something an elderly customer said. When she spotted Dusty, her smile faltered briefly before returning, more reserved. She knew him well enough now to read his expression.
Dusty took a seat at the counter, nodding at Daisy, the flirty pink-haired owner who ruled her domain with friendly authority.
She’d changed a lot since getting married to Derrick Williamson, as well as becoming a surrogate mother to his son, Ian.
Dusty had always considered her a friend, somebody he could talk to and count on when he needed a confidant.
“Black coffee?” Daisy asked, already reaching for a mug.
“Please.”
Sharon finished her rounds and approached, setting down her coffee pot on the burner. “You look serious,” she said quietly.
“We need to talk.” Dusty glanced around the half-full diner. “Privately.”
“I’m off at two. Can it wait until then?”
“It can’t wait.” He lowered his voice. “Madison’s gone to ground. He’s increased his security. It’s only a matter of time before more people show up here looking for you—looking for what you took.”
Sharon’s face paled, her expression horrified. “I should have known. I’ve deluded myself into thinking I’d have a little more time.”
“Time’s up. I talked with Rafe, and he agrees we need to go to San Antonio.
Today. Retrieve what you hid and get it to Antonio and Brian.
” At her puzzled expression, he explained, “Brian is part of the Boudreau clan by extension. What folks around here call Ms. Patti’s ‘Lost Boys.’ It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you all about it, but Brian is a good man, and Douglas and Ms. Patti will both vouch for him. ”
“I can’t just leave my shift—”
“Sure you can,” Daisy interrupted, wiping her hands on her apron.
She’d approached silently, her instincts as sharp as ever.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed something’s wrong, Sharon.
Since you started here, you’ve been jumping at shadows.
It only got worse when those goons showed up looking for you. ”
Sharon opened her mouth to protest, but Daisy waved her off.
“Don’t insult me by denying it. Whatever trouble’s following you, I want it gone before Christmas.” She untied Sharon’s apron strings herself. “Go. Do whatever you need to do. Consider it paid leave.”
Tears welled in Sharon’s eyes. “Daisy—”
“No arguments. I had my own share of trouble once too, you know.” The woman’s eyes flickered briefly to Dusty. “He knows what he’s doing. I’ve known him a long time. You can trust him.”
“I do,” Sharon whispered.
They stopped by Sharon’s rented cottage, where she packed quickly, efficiently, a skill Dusty recognized from people accustomed to leaving places in a hurry.
“Only the essentials,” she muttered, zipping a duffel bag. “Just in case I can’t come back right away.” Dusty heard the unspoken ‘if ever’ in her tone.
He double-checked his weapon, then secured it in his shoulder holster. “Rafe loaned us his truck. We’ll take back roads where we can.”
“You think Cooper has people watching the highways?”
“I think Madison has the resources to do whatever he wants.” Dusty met her gaze directly. “Which is why we need to stay one step ahead of him.”
Sharon nodded, then disappeared into the bathroom. When she emerged, she’d changed into jeans, boots, and a heavy sweater. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail, and Dusty noticed she’d removed the small amount of makeup she normally wore.
“Ready,” she said.
As they climbed into Rafe’s truck, Sharon cast a long look back at the cottage and the town beyond.
Dusty caught the wistful look, understanding it on a gut deep level.
He’d felt the same when he’d first moved to Shiloh Springs, discovering the quiet small town quickly became home, and now held the key to his heart.
“We’ll come back,” Dusty said, reaching over and squeezing her hand. “Once we’ve retrieved the evidence and turned it over to the FBI.”
She buckled her seatbelt. “Cooper doesn’t give up easily. He thinks he owns me.”
“He doesn’t.”