Chapter 5
Chapter Five
SHERIFF HUDSON
The cut is clean. I thought as much, but I wanted to get the tire off to be certain.
I was really hoping she clipped a curb or ran over a nail.
Kindred hasn't had the Bronco I'd gotten for her long, so I also hope it might be a faulty tire.
I knew I was lying to myself on that one.
We'd have come across this problem months ago.
"It's been cut for sure." Rusty owns the local auto repair shop.
"You keep that to yourself," I tell him. I don't need this spreading through town. Not until I can get more information. I still need to check over camera footage, which I'll get to. I'd gone straight back to Kindred's Bronco to take the tire off and over to the shop.
"Shit, man." Rusty glances around to see how close his other mechanics are to us. He's shaking his head. I'm sure wondering who the hell would cut Kindred's tire. Rusty starts to inspect the tire again.
"It's been cut," I say again, knowing he's trying to figure out a way that there is another option than a person slashing her tire.
"I know." Rusty scratches his graying beard. "I have one on this side if you'd rather put that on it than a spare."
It's not the time of year to be driving around New Hope with a spare on. "Order a proper replacement, and if Kindred calls—"
"Are you asking me to lie and say that I don't have a tire to give her to hold her over?" Rusty takes a step back, grabbing the straps of his overalls to assess me. Good fucking luck with that.
When I was a Ranger, I ran squads and teams, and at one point, a whole platoon. In the Army, we are always the first on the ground.
My unit was even before that. I did a whole lot of recon, slipping in and out of enemy territory. A single wrong step could lead to disaster in that situation. It didn't matter how fucked a mission was; I had to maintain my composure. All of them were looking at me.
"Yes." I want to tell him it's an order.
"When is Ethan coming back? He'll be here for Christmas?"
"I don't know Ethan's plans." I'm not his keeper anymore.
"But you've stepped into that big brother role."
"No, I'm not Kindred’s brother."
Rusty rocks back on his heels, still assessing me with each question he asks.
"I suppose you're not." He smirks, dropping his hand from the straps of his overalls. "All right, but you've got me worried."
"I'm doing this to protect her." Kindred would launch a full investigation of her own if she knew someone purposely targeted her, and who knows what that would get her into.
Rusty waves me off with his hand. "I don't mean that. I know you won't harm a hair on her head. I'm worried because someone slashed her tire. No one has it out for Kindred. How could they? She’s the biggest sweetheart.”
"We often don't know or understand people's intentions," I tell him.
He clicks his tongue. "I hear you. If you need anything—"
"I'll reach out." I grab the tire.
"I can dispose of it," Rusty offers. I shake my head no. I likely won't need it for anything, but I also don't need to toss it. Not yet. I throw it into the back of my cruiser.
I pull out my phone as I get into my cruiser to check on Kindred. She’s been at the same spot for far too long. It might be her office, but she comes and goes, always flitting around this town. Maybe the wedding planning has her fully occupied.
I make sure I pass by there on my way to the station. I can see her inside through the window at her desk. Candy is with her, which means Hollis is likely there too. It puts me partly at ease. I know for the next few hours she’s tucked away, safe.
When I pull into the station's parking lot, I see a patrol vehicle parked next to my normal spot. I park next to it, seeing a woman inside, wearing a uniform. She steps out of her cruiser when I do. I don’t recognize her. I know most of the other sheriffs that butt up against my county.
“Morning,” I say. She’s not in just any uniform but a deputy one. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I hope so.” Her tone is stiff, like she’s speaking to a drill sergeant.
She's even got her hair slicked back in a tight bun, but I don't get the sense she's served, and my senses are correct ninety-nine times out of a hundred.
It's why I moved up quickly in rank and was one of the youngest Rangers in history. “I’m your new deputy.”
Fuck me.
“No, you’re not.” I turn, heading toward the building. I can hear her feet running to catch up to me. She appears vaguely familiar, but I can’t place her.
“What do you mean I’m not?” She follows me inside. I want to shut the door in her face, but this is an official police station, to a degree.
Our 911 calls go to a dispatch that covers several counties.
If you need backup or if it’s an off-time, they’ll alert other sheriffs to respond.
I have never had that issue. I keep my radio on at night.
I have had to be a backup for others, but it’s rare and, truthfully, nothing that’s a real issue.
“I am. I have my papers.” I stop, turning to face her. She almost runs right into me, but I step back. Her shiny gold name tag reads Beckett. “Here.” She hands them to me. “I’m sure you got an email too.”
“I’ll have to check. Been busy this morning.” I walk over to my desk, dropping the paper down. “I didn’t appoint you.”
“They said you were having problems appointing someone, and since I’m from two towns over, they thought—”
“They thought wrong.” I run my hand down my face, not having time for this shit today. That might be why I thought she appeared familiar. I might have crossed paths with her before. I’m good with faces, but in this town, during the busy season, a lot of people are coming and going.
“So you’re firing me?” Her thin brows pull together. I’d guess her to be in her late twenties.
“Sit,” I order her, turning on my computer.
I pull up my emails, seeing that I have in fact been appointed a deputy, and so have a few other counties.
It was a mandate the governor issued. I keep reading the email from Chuck.
He covers Bells County and was in the Air Force.
We get along well. Both of us are straight to the point kind of people.
He does, however, point out that it might not be the worst thing to have a deputy. It could free up time. I rather like that idea. Today, I have been keeping busier. That makes the days go faster while I try to figure Kindred out, but that isn't working.
I need a new plan, and not having to drop everything for a call could help with that.
"All right, I need to go over a few items, and then I can show you around town."
"I know the town."
"But do you know the people?" She shakes her head, her lips slightly pursed. "Then you don’t know the town. Are you sure you want this job?"
"Yes."
"Then you need to get to know the people." My attention is on the computer as I go over her background. She attended college for a few years, then went to the academy, and afterward spent several years patrolling in the city before coming here.
"Why?"
"This is a small town. It's different from the city."
“I grew up in a small town. I know how they operate.”
“Then you know that knowing the people makes things a whole lot easier.”
“If you say so.” She shrugs.
“You can use that desk.” I nod toward the one pushed up against the far wall.
“I’m Beckett, by the way.”
I merely nod, pulling up the camera footage I’ve yet to get a chance to look over.
If I do that, it might settle my nerves, and I'll stop being a dick because right now the new deputy isn't being helpful. She's bothering me. I can feel her stare on me, but I stay focused on my task, knowing she will eventually give up and return to her desk.
I go back and forth on different camera angles and realize that corner is just out of view and Kindred hadn’t pulled all the way into her normal spot last night. I need more cameras.
The ten I’d installed were clearly not enough. I only have myself to blame. I knew ten wouldn’t be enough. When it comes to Kindred, it never is.