CHAPTER TWELVE #2
She’d have to think about that. They chatted a few minutes more before disconnecting.
Melanie took the junk drawer box out through the slider.
The pumpkin from the garden sat on the little patio table to be carved after school.
Melanie toted the box to her trash cans at the side of the garage.
She dumped the contents in one and then flattened the box and put it in the blue recycling bin.
The sound of a vehicle had her looking up. A large SUV with a light bar across the top pulled to a stop in her driveway. Sawyer McGrath stepped out. Tall, broad-shouldered, and handsome as sin.
He strode up the driveway in his sheriff’s deputy uniform. “Hey, Mel.”
“Hi, Sawyer. I should’ve said the other day how sorry I was when I heard your grandfather passed. He was a good and kind man.”
“He was. Thanks.” He cocked his head as he studied her. “You settling in?”
“I still have boxes from the move. It’s slow going making my way through them, but it’ll happen.” She gave him an inquiring look. “Do you have any more news about the two guys arrested on Monday?”
“Gage didn’t talk to you?”
She shook her head. “He was away on business and when he came back, we, um, didn’t have a chance to talk.” She could feel warmth spreading up her neck.
“We’ve identified them as Darrel Franklin and Keith Boner. Boner was the guy in the Tundra taking pictures. They’re both lawyered up and aren’t talking.”
“Okay.” Something about his expression had her asking, “Is this an official visit or were you in the neighborhood?”
“You got a minute?”
Her stomach dropped. His non-answer meant it was official. “Um, yeah. Would you like to come inside?”
“Sure.”
She led him to the back door and into the kitchen.
Sawyer motioned to the table. “Mind if we sit?”
If this had been a social call, she’d offer him something to drink.
But he was making her nervous, so she sat across from him, her hands clenched under the table.
He glanced around and she chewed her bottom lip.
He’d been there the other day so she wasn’t sure what he was looking for.
There was a fruit bowl on the table with shiny red apples from the farm.
Addy’s colorful drawings were displayed on the refrigerator.
A notepad and pen were on the counter for the grocery list she’d started. Normal stuff.
“You want to call Gage and see if he can come over?”
Call Gage? Fear slammed through her and she felt the blood drain from her face. She gripped the edge of the table. “Did something happen to Addy at school? Is she hurt?” Her lips felt numb as she formed the words even as her heart slammed in her chest.
“No. Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Addy’s fine.”
A sharp rapping had her gaze flying to the glass door.
Relief flooded through her when she saw the tall man on the other side.
She jumped to her feet, then had to grab a hold of the chair as a wave of dizziness washed over her.
Sawyer surged to his feet but Gage pushed open the door and reached her first, immediately putting an arm around her shoulders.
“What the fucking hell, Sawyer?” He bit out the words, but when he spoke to her, his voice was infinitely more gentle. “Sit, sweetheart, before you fall down.”
She sat, Gage’s hand resting on the back of her neck, his thumb stroking into her hair. “I’m fine. I got up too fast.”
He turned on Sawyer. “What’d you say to her?”
“Gage, he didn’t say anything. He was so serious I thought something had happened to Addy. I jumped to conclusions and it’s not his fault.”
Sawyer closed the slider and returned to his seat. “Again, I’m sorry. Can I get you tea or water or something?”
“No, thanks. I’d rather you tell me why you’re here.”
Gage pulled a chair to sit next to her. He took her hand in his. Maybe he thought she’d collapse onto the floor without his support. She hated looking weak.
Sawyer sighed. “Look, I’ll level with you, Mel. There’s been an anonymous complaint against you.”
Melanie shook her head, not sure she’d heard right. “A complaint? About what? I moved in two weeks ago. I can’t imagine what anyone would have to complain about.”
His gaze remained steady. “Child neglect.”
She sucked in a breath and tried to speak, but what felt like an iron fist had gripped her lungs so she couldn’t get her breath.
“Addy’s not being neglected,” Gage growled. “What’s going on, Sawyer?”
“We have to investigate if a complaint’s been filed. Children’s Services got the complaint. They called the sheriff’s office to ask someone to do a check. I know Melanie so I volunteered.”
Finally able to breathe, Mel spoke. “What was in the complaint?”
“That you’re mentally unstable and the child is neglected and living in unsafe conditions.”
Shock was still there, but now there was anger.
The words came out rapid-fire when she spoke, though her voice shook.
“Addy is healthy and loved and cared for. I don’t know how anyone could think otherwise.
And I am not mentally unstable. Talk to her teacher, talk to my mom and stepdad.
Talk to Addy’s father if you want. I’ll give you the number of my therapist in Stockton.
No one will tell you any different. I’m a good mother and my daughter is thriving. ”
“The complaint is bullshit, Sawyer.” Gage glared at the other man.
“Melanie is as steady as they come, and that kid is happy. You were here the other day. Use your goddammed eyes.” He waved his hand toward the kitchen.
“This place is clean and feels like a home. I looked in Addy’s bedroom when I searched the house.
The kid’s got a bed and clothing and toys and every damn thing she needs.
Open the fucking refrigerator and you’ll find the leftover soup her mom made last night. ”
Sawyer held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I believe you.” He sighed. “Like I said, if someone makes a complaint, it has to be investigated. Addy’s at school.”
It didn’t sound like a question. “She is.” Melanie struggled to gain her composure. “The bus will bring her home in about an hour. Poke around my house if you need to, Sawyer, but I’d like you to be gone by the time my daughter gets home.”
“Fair enough, but full disclosure, another officer has gone to the school. They’ll pull Adelyn from class to talk with her.”
Melanie made a supreme effort to contain the rage that was building before it could erupt in a scream of defiance.
Some nameless, faceless person had made a false accusation and now the cops were questioning her daughter and searching their home.
Gage had moved his hand to her back. She focused on the movement of his thumb as he stroked her neck.
“I don’t want my child scared.” Her voice firmed. “I don’t want some person in a uniform pulling her from class and scaring her.”
“We don’t want her scared either. Deputy Beth Guerrero went in plain clothes, and she’ll make sure Adelyn is comfortable.” Sawyer rose to his feet. “I need to take a look around so I can fill out the report.”
She nodded numbly.
“While I do that, give some thought to why someone would call in a bogus complaint of child neglect.”
Gage shadowed Sawyer as he moved through the house.
Their voices carried from the back rooms. Melanie stayed at the table, arms crossed in front of her, the hard knot in her belly making her queasy.
Returning to the kitchen, Sawyer opened cupboards and the refrigerator.
Gage returned to sit next to her, his arm resting across the back of her chair.
Sawyer sat again. “Sorry about all this, Mel. Gage confirms Adelyn is a normal, happy kid and everything I’m seeing here supports that. Once we get Beth’s report, we should be able to close the case.” He frowned, his expression thoughtful. “You’re trying to find the person who assaulted you.”
“I am. You think this complaint has something to do with that?”
“I don’t know, but it’s a possibility. Whoever attacked you all those years ago could still be in Sisters. Finding out you’ve moved back could have him spooked. Add on that you’re asking questions, and he’s got an incentive to try to drive you from town.”
“By having me questioned about child neglect? No one who takes one look at Addy would think I’m neglecting her.”
“It’s harassment,” Gage growled. “Fucker is trying to rattle you.”
“He succeeded.”
Sawyer shook his head. “Shook you for a minute, but you’re steady now. Tell me what Chase Bradford said when you talked with him Friday night.”
“How do you know about that?”
Sawyer nailed Gage with a look. “You didn’t tell her we’d talked?”
“No time.” He turned to Melanie. “I don’t like you going after the person who attacked you on your own. I met with the guys because you need backup.”
Her tone cooled. “Oh really.”
“Yeah, really. I planned to tell you about it but haven’t had the opportunity.”
She raised a brow. “There’s this thing called a phone, which you were using to text me the night before last. You couldn’t have included that tidbit of information sometime in that roughly one-hour period when we were texting?
Or called when you were driving home? Or told me before you left here last night? ”
“I wanted to talk with you in person and last night wasn’t the right time.”
“You screwed up, man,” Sawyer muttered.
Ire fueled Melanie’s clipped tone. There was nothing she disliked more than someone deciding they knew what was best for her. “Sawyer was at this important meeting. Care to share who else was there?”
Gage gave her a look. “Owen and Walker.”
“But not Keeley, or Delaney, or her sisters. Or myself, for that matter. None of the women were invited to discuss my business, which you decided to freely share.”