Chapter 18 Never Again #2
Calm steps squeaked on the vinyl as their visitor made his way to them, then came to a stop. “Is … everything okay here?”
What the fuck do you think? But Jon didn’t want to assume the reason for the visit, either, so he visibly eased his hold, paused to drop a kiss on Jenna’s head, and turned the both of them around enough to face the stranger in her apartment.
And as they moved, Jon wondered if the deputy had noticed the gun tucked into his waistband or if he’d been too distracted.
The uniformed man standing across from them was definitely not Parker, or the beta-coded partner Parker had shown up with when they’d arrived at Jenna’s bakery.
This man held himself properly, actually looked fit, and didn’t look back at them with a predisposition of disdain in his green eyes.
He was tall, almost as tall as Jon, and kept his black hair at least trimmed enough that it couldn’t fall into his eyes.
Under normal circumstances, Jon would have given the man the respect of his station by default merely from the way he presented.
Jenna sniffled before Jon could find an answer and stood up a little straighter, her fingers clenching in his shirt.
“I’m not sure what you’re doing here, deputy, but I’ll be frank.
Not twenty-four hours ago Drew Parker told me to cease contact with the sheriff’s department or he’d have me arrested for harassment and whatever other nonsense he could think of.
So, if you’ve come here to further Drew’s ‘ruin Jenna’s life’ agenda, kindly get out of my home. ”
The deputy’s eyes widened and he hooked his thumbs into his belt.
“Forgive me, Ms. Hodge, but that’s the first I’m hearing about any problems.” His gaze flicked to Jon, then past them both, toward the shattered window.
“Though it does seem like you might have had cause to make a call. I notice you haven’t answered my question. ”
“Why would I lean on a department that’s already holding my livelihood in lockup and refusing to so much as answer questions about an estimation on a timeline of when I might get it back?
” Jenna snapped. “My boyfriend was here when that freaking football-sized rock came through the window a few minutes ago and about took my head off. He went out and looked around while I tried not to have a panic attack. Didn’t see the point in calling 9-1-1. ”
Jon had to bite back his smile. He hated the necessity, but she was doing a damn good job. Of course, it undoubtedly helped that her anger was real.
The deputy again looked to him. “That could have been dangerous.”
Jon held the stare. “For the asshole responsible. I did seventeen years with the Marine Corps, and this dipshit was throwing rocks through windows for kicks.” There were always bored kids in rural areas like these—he knew, because he’d been one once. That was why the lie would sell.
The deputy rocked back on his heels and let out a short whistle. “Seventeen? That’s impressive. Thank you for your service, mister…?”
It was a struggle to keep the suspicion from becoming a glare. “Johnson. And it’s Officer. Warrant Officer Johnson.”
The deputy smiled. “Apologies.” His smile faded. “Did you find the culprit?”
“Couple of punk kids,” Jon replied smoothly.
“Caught one with another rock in his hand. I chased ‘em off, told them I’d beat their asses if I heard they got up to this kinda shit again.” He rubbed his hand up and down Jenna’s side just enough to catch their guest’s eye. “They’re lucky I don’t hit kids.”
The deputy let out a sigh and shook his head. “Shame I didn’t get here a few minutes sooner, I could’ve written them up properly. Maybe taught them something.”
Right.
“That’s not why you’re here,” Jenna said. “And it better not be to arrest me, because I left when Drew kicked me out and I have no intention of ever calling again. Not without a lawyer.”
In the beat it took Jon to debate whether or not to mention the people he knew who were, or had connections to, some powerful people, the deputy across from them lifted his hands as if to ward off the accusation.
“I’m not here for either reason, ma’am. I was not aware of any altercation between you and Deputy Parker.
” He pinched the bridge of his nose and settled his other hand on his hip.
“That does explain it, though.” His arms dropped and he said, “Let’s start again.
I’m Raph Dennison, deputy sheriff for the Leeland County Sheriff’s Department.
” He made no effort to shake their hands, clearly reading the room.
“I’ve been with the department a couple of years, but I don’t usually work the Misty Glades beat. ”
Jon let his eyes narrow. “And?”
Dennison inclined his head. “This morning Deputy Parker popped into my office while I was making some other calls and slapped a note on my desk. Seemed a call had come in out this way and the sheriff wanted me to follow up on it. Other than the message contained in that call, that’s all I know.”
Warning bells went off in Jon’s head.
Jenna drew a breath. “You’re saying they tossed you at us rather than find their balls?”
He actually had to bite his tongue not to laugh.
Dennison did a poor job stowing his own brief amusement. “Pretty much, apparently.” He faced Jenna again. “Which brings me to why I’m here. Dispatch received a report earlier this morning about a break-in at your bakery, Sweet Stop.”
Her morning had started so wonderfully, it really had.
That should probably have been her first warning.
For a moment, for one singular moment, she stared at Deputy Dennison as though he’d suddenly started speaking Chinese. Then the sounds of his words connected with their meaning in her brain and her temper erupted.
“Are you freaking kidding me? What happened? And you’re coming to me about it?
” Jenna stomped up to the man she didn’t know, too angry to be wary of him, and jabbed a finger into his perfectly straight tie.
“I’m not even sure what you’re here for!
You assholes have had sole custody of my bakery all damn week!
I’ve been barred from stepping foot on the property, no one will talk to me about it, and when I push, they slam doors in my face or hang up on me.
And now you’ve allowed my poor, neglected, place of business—my sole source of income—to be what, vandalized?
Robbed?” Her voice rose with every sentence and she couldn’t stop herself.
“That’s on you!” Fresh tears burned her eyes, these tears born from helpless anger and frustration.
If her business had been broken into and further damaged, that would mean more money out of pocket to make right.
She wasn’t sure the insurance would cover it.
She’d fight to have it covered. She’d sue the department for negligence if it came to that, but it might all come down to a matter of pride and principle.
“The sheriff’s department has been responsible for securing my property since Monday!”
“Ma’am,” Dennison said, taking a step back and raising his hands as if to ward her off.
Her knees buckled.
Jon was there, catching her and lowering her gently to the floor, tilting her into his chest. He laid a hand on her head as the emotion overwhelmed her. She let her forehead rest on his shoulder, let the vibration of his voice soothe her when he spoke.
“She’s right, deputy. Your office has stonewalled her from the start.
I was there at the initial scene, and it shouldn’t have gone down like it did.
They know it. Whether they’re just doing this to fuck with someone they think they can push around or to try and stall while they cover their asses, I can’t say.
But you’re the ones with possession of that property right now.
You took it, you’ve refused to return it, and that means whatever has happened is your responsibility. ”
Silence held for several seconds before the deputy blew out a hard breath. “Obviously, I need to have a conversation with my superiors. In the meantime, it’s probably best you continue staying away from the bakery, at least until you receive a more formal notification.”
Jenna squeezed her eyes shut and tried to focus on her breathing, tried to steady herself. It didn’t serve any purpose to explode like she had. It didn’t even feel good.
Jon’s voice was calm, like the still waters that hid a monster underneath. “Why bother coming out here at all if that’s your recommendation?”
“That’s my advice in light of the circumstance as I now understand it,” Dennison said. “I was going to request Ms. Hodge accompany me to the bakery, do a careful walk-through, to take stock of the scene. I’m unfamiliar with the bakery, so I would only be able to notice the obvious things.”
Jenna eased off of Jon, feeling as though she should be facing forward.
Jon silently lifted them both back to their feet.
Dennison kept talking. “However, I think the wisest course of action—given your situation with the department, and the Parkers specifically—is to stay away. Keep your head down. Give them nothing they could potentially twist to their advantage if things escalate further.”
Jenna frowned. “But I’d be going in the company of one of their own. Someone they sent.”
Dennison nodded. “Yes, and you should be right that that’s fine.
But if they’re already being unreasonable, then just having confirmation or concrete evidence that you returned to the bakery after they locked it down could be enough for them to slap on the handcuffs.
” He held up a hand when he saw her open her mouth again.
“The request I got came on an index card. Handwritten, easily deniable, entirely informal. It’s not our usual system. It’d be my word against theirs.”
Jon rubbed a hand over her back. “That’s why they sent you, and not the other guy Parker was paired with on Monday, I’m guessing?”
“Yeah,” Dennison said. “I know who you mean. He doesn’t leave the office without Senior or Junior unless he’s clocked off for the day.
” He rested one hand on his belt and raised the other to scratch at the back of his head, visibly bothered.
“If they’re giving you this kind of trouble …
fuck, I hate to have to say this, but you might want to look into a lawyer. ”
Jenna’s eyes widened.
Jon’s hand slid around to her hip. “Why offer that?”
Dennison tapped the star pinned to his shirt. “Because I’m not like those pricks. This means something to me, and it needs to mean something to the people we’re supposed to serve, too.” His arm fell and he shook his head. “But I’m still the new guy in the office, I don’t have a lot of influence.”
Jenna rolled her lips between her teeth, exhaled, and said, “If you aren’t like them, then I hope you don’t go down with them.” He met her gaze again. “We already have one.” She wouldn’t give him more than that, because she didn’t know him, let alone well enough to trust him.
Deputy Dennison smiled, revealing a dimple in one cheek.
“Good.” He looked past them again. “You probably have a better idea who to call around here for that than I do, but”—he dug into a pouch, extracted a business card, then tugged a pen free from another pocket and scribbled something on the back before handing the card to Jon—“if you do need a badge in your corner, that’s my cell.
Just because Misty Glades isn’t my beat doesn’t mean it’s not my jurisdiction. ”
Jenna watched Jon take the card with his free hand, her gaze lingering on the emblazoned rectangle with the black ink across the plain side. Maybe he isn’t so bad…
Jon pocketed the card. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Sorry to dump on your already difficult morning.” Dennison inclined his head. “You two take care, and try and stay away from people named Parker.”
Jon held her still as the deputy walked away. She held her breath when he disappeared from view, until she heard the door close.
In the silence, Jenna was sure they both heard the sound of an engine rolling over.
She slumped against Jon, too exhausted to care how pathetic it was. “I can’t believe it’s not even ten yet.”
He made a huffing sound, somewhere between a grunt and a laugh, and turned into her so she was leaning entirely against his chest. “It will be in a few minutes,” he said, his hands tucking in at her hips.
Jenna dropped her head to his shoulder. She was going to have an emotionally frazzled day, there was no getting around it.
That had been unavoidable from the moment her ex had hurled a rock through her window.
That was too bad. They still had shit to do.
More shit to do, because her window was still a mess all over her kitchen. “Can I have that coffee now, please?”