Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
“ E than, I have some information for you,” called out Rosie, her brow furrowed. “Your office?”
He nodded. Warm sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting strips of light and shadow in the bullpen. The familiar faint scent of burnt coffee teased his senses as he walked past the row of desks to his office.
Thankfully, today was quiet. They had a couple of loud drunks in the holding cells the other night that caused quite the commotion.
The door to his office creaked slightly. Ethan groaned when he saw the stack of papers and envelopes on his desk.
The t’s had been crossed. Tanner and Jim Jenkins were off the suspect list. Their guns weren’t a match. He couldn’t find any record of Jane, Maggie, Annabelle or Vanessa buying guns, plus in his mind he’d already scratched them off the list.
As for new people in town, even with a town population of less than ten thousand people, plus visitors who came to ski, pick apples or fish, there was no way to know who was new or just visiting. He was at a loss. Bucky Marsh was the only new person he knew. The ex-con could easily have duped Jane and come here for nefarious reasons.
Ethan remembered he asked Jane out for coffee and hadn’t called her yet. Perhaps it was time. Then he could discreetly ask her what she knew about the man.
He also wanted to get to know her better. Everything he heard and saw about Jane was glowing. She challenged him, wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself, and was certainly making her way in his town. Ethan didn’t think she’d be moving away anytime soon.
Rosie walked in and plunked herself in a chair.
“Whatcha got?” he asked. “Anything to point us in the right direction?”
“Pshaw. If only,” replied Rosie. “I looked into Thornton’s financials. For a while, he was making good money selling properties.” She shifted in her chair and leaned forward. “About six months ago, something strange happened. His income took a nosedive. Then a large sum—about half a mil—was transferred to an offshore account in the Caymans.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Offshore, huh?”
“Not only that, but he also sold property below market value without reporting the proceeds. Then bingo, he ends up dead.”
“So, Thornton was in deep trouble.” Ethan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. “I bet he got involved with the wrong people, stole from them, and they finally caught up with him.”
Rosie nodded. “That’s what I’m thinking. It’s too much of a coincidence to think that the offshore account didn’t have something to do with his murder.”
“We need to find out who he was dealing with.” Ethan sighed. “If there is missing money and they killed Thornton over it, they won’t stop.”
What a mess. Ethan cursed himself for being complacent for so long. Crime was everywhere today, and his little town of Beaver Creek wasn’t exempt.
Rosie stood. “I’ll keep digging, see who bought those underpriced properties.”
“Good idea,” Ethan said. “There’s still a lead I need to follow up with—Jane’s handyman, Bucky, is hiding something. I plan on having coffee with her and see if I can get any information.”
“Hmm.” Rose smirked. “Are you sure that’s all you want from her?”
“It’s not like that,” he huffed. “I just want to make sure she’s safe.”
Rosie chuckled. “Riiight. Good luck with that.” She gathered her papers. The sound of rustling papers reminded Ethan he still had work on his desk to do.
Ethan stared at her back. His jaw tightened. Making sure Jane was safe was just a tiny white lie. He wanted her safe, but there was more. He was attracted to her. However, Rosie was right. He needed to stay focused.
Thornton’s death was part of something bigger, and if Sean was right, danger was closer than he realized.
An hour later, Ethan found himself at the Harvest Moon Diner, waiting for Jane. He’d decided to call her right after Rosie left his office. He sat in a window booth, watching townspeople walk by. The afternoon sun cast long shadows on the wooden table. The trees were barren, the wind causing small branches to sway.
“Sheriff, what brings you here midafternoon?” asked Flo, interrupting his thoughts. She stood by the booth, holding a coffee carafe, a dusting of flour on her apron. “I usually only see you early in the morning.”
“I’m meeting someone.”
“Coffee?” she asked, already reaching for his cup.
“Yes, please.” He inhaled the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and wished for a moment it smelled like that at the station and not like burnt dirty socks. But his deputies were busy, and he wouldn’t ask Nora to make it, so he sucked it up. It would be a treat to get a good cup of coffee today, maybe even a piece of that caramel apple pie that Leah made. He had a slice or two just last night when she brought over a pie for him and Tanner.
He closed his eyes, listening to the murmurs of conversations, the clinking of glasses and silverware, and inhaling the beefy scent of grilled burgers.
His stomach growled.
“Well, hello to you too,” came a familiar voice.
Ethan opened his eyes to see Jane standing there, her cheeks pink from the cold.
She removed her green pea coat and scarf and hung both on the rack by the side of the booth. Today she had on an oversize black-and-white striped sweater that looked soft and a pair of jeans that hugged her curves just right.
“Hi,” he said, his heart racing a little. “I was debating whether to have a piece of pie or a burger. Have you eaten yet?”
“Hmm.” She slid into the booth across from him. “I had lunch, but a piece of pie sounds wonderful with a cup of coffee.” She smiled at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “But you have whatever you want.”
Flo returned with the coffee carafe. “Jane, good to see you. Everything okay on the farm?”
“Yes. Thanks for asking.”
She filled both their cups, the steam rising as she set them down, took their order, and turned to leave. “That nice man who works for you was in earlier. I’m glad he’s working out.”
Jane nodded. “He’s been a terrific help.”
Ethan sipped his coffee, thinking that was a perfect segue to ask Jane about Bucky. He set his cup down and filled her in on some of what had been happening. Jane listened intently.
“So, you have no suspects at this time?”
“No. We have other avenues we’re pursuing.” He hesitated. “I wanted to ask you about Bucky. What do you really know about him?”
Jane’s expression darkened; her brow furrowed. “You don’t believe he had anything to do with Thornton’s death, do you?”
“Well …”
“Here you go, folks.” Flo placed a burger down in front of Ethan and the pie for Jane. “I’ll bring you pie when you finish the burger, Sheriff.” She winked and turned to wait on a couple at the next table over.
“Well?”
“I told you that Sean, my brother, is investigating shady land dealings that Thornton was involved in.” He squirted ketchup on the burger and took a bite.
She nodded, took a sip of coffee, then popped a bite of pie into her mouth and groaned.
Ethan’s heart skipped a beat. Would she groan like that if they were having sex? His pulse quickened. God, he wanted to think so. He shook his head. He needed to focus on the case, not on the dark-haired beauty sitting across from him.
“That pie is so good,” she said.
“I know,” he replied. “Anyhow, Sean warned me to be on the lookout for someone new in town.”
Her brow furrowed. “So, you think just because Bucky’s new in town and an ex-con that he is involved in these shady deals and maybe killed Thornton?”
“It’s crossed my mind.” Ethan shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.”
Jane took a deep breath and exhaled. “Is this why you asked me to have coffee with you?” Her voice was edged with disappointment.
Oh boy. Jane was a little upset. How could he explain that he not only wanted to keep her safe but also wanted to get to know her better—a lot better?
“Um, no, not the only reason,” he replied. “But as sheriff of this town, I need to know who’s in it and if they are here to commit crimes. What do you know about Bucky? He did just show up out of the blue.”
Jane put her elbows on the table, clasped her hands, sighed, and then leaned forward. “So, what’s the other reason?”
Could he tell her? Should he tell her was a better question. Ethan debated for a minute. Now or never.
“I’d also like to get to know you better. Perhaps even have a date.”
Silence.
“Oh.” She nodded to herself. “I wouldn’t be opposed to going out on a date.”
Ethan snorted. “Good to know.”
“Now would you answer my question about Bucky? Please,” he asked.
Was she going to answer him? Did she even know the reason?
“I hate to betray confidences, but I’ll give you a little on Bucky’s background,” she replied in a tight voice. “Bucky and my husband, Mike, were in foster care together.”
Well, that wasn’t what he expected to hear. “Were they close?”
“Apparently.”
“But you hadn’t met Bucky before he came to Beaver Creek.”
She shook her head. “He was in prison. When he got out, he read Mike’s obituary. There was something that belonged to a woman he loved, and he hoped Mike still had it.”
“What was it?”
“A diary,” she continued. “She was in foster care with them, and someone raped her after she aged out.”
“Damn. That’s awful.”
“Yeah. Bucky found her, but she didn’t want to see him. She was embarrassed. He learned she’d committed suicide. In college, Mike met someone who knew them in foster care and told him who raped her.”
Ethan closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head. Dang, that was sad.
“This part is private, and I will deny I ever told you.” Jane glared at him. “I will make your life miserable if I hear you repeat it. Understood?”
“You know I’m an officer of the law, right?” He raised his brow and smirked.
“Maybe so.” She narrowed her eyes. “However, you asked me to meet here for coffee, as friends, correct?
Damn, she threw that right back at him. Feisty and sharp.
He nodded. “Let’s hear it. I won’t say a word.”
Jane huffed, then leaned in closer as she told him how Bucky found and beat up the man who raped his girlfriend, and while the rapist hadn’t murdered her, he was the impetus for events that unfolded.
Ethan hung his head and shook it. What would he do in a similar circumstance? Probably kill the bastard and throw his body in the woods for the animals to find. Women were supposed to be cherished and protected.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Me too,” she added. “I’m a firm believer in redemption and second chances, and if anyone needed them, it’s Bucky.”
He nodded slowly. “I don’t disagree. I’m not a judge or jury. However, I am an elected official who has the responsibility to enforce the law. It’s not always fair.” He shrugged. “But there you have it.”
“Maybe,” she conceded. “But life isn’t just black-and-white. It’s shades of gray.” She sighed. “There are always extenuating circumstances, and decisions should be made accordingly.”
Ethan gave her a small smile. “True. But justice doesn’t mean ignoring the law. It’s finding balance, applying law with common sense.”
He picked up his fork to take a piece of pie and put it down. “But to answer your concern, following the law doesn’t mean that I can’t use common sense. If someone acts in self-defense, breaks the speed limit rushing to the hospital or even lashing out in grief, I need to use my best judgment.”
“So, you’re saying there’s room for both, following the law and common sense?”
“Yes.”
“Oh,” she said. “Does that mean you’ve never done anything that skirted the law? Never went to a bar with a fake ID, never toilet-papered someone’s tree, never…”
“Stop.” Ethan chuckled and put his hands up in mock surrender. “I confess.” He grinned at her. “I’m guessing you also did some of those things.”
She zipped her lips. “I’ll never tell.”
“Man, I’m going to keep my eye on you, Jane.” He laughed. “Now that I know you were a juvenile delinquent.”
Jane grinned. “Oh, the stories I could tell you about Savannah and me in our misspent youth.” She winked at him. “But I won’t. You’ll have to keep guessing.”
“I’ll just use my imagination,” he replied. “Sometimes it’s better than the truth anyhow.”
“Hope you have a vivid one?” Her eyes twinkled.
Ethan hoped so too, because he was imagining all sorts of scenarios involving a bad girl and a sheriff. Oh, good lord. That was so not him—not at all.
What was he thinking? He knew what he was thinking. It would be nice to laugh with a woman and have fun again. He and Corrine used to laugh and have fun until she left. He’d been in his self-pity cave for too long. It was time to spread his wings and enjoy life.
And keep the town safe, as well as Jane