Chapter 17
Piper
I was relieved to see Meg come in. She is a great distraction and helps keep me centered. That happens when you know someone for over half of your life. She asked the same question that has been echoing through my mind for the last hour. Who would throw a brick at my window? Why?
“Oh thank god, this is so good,” Meg groans. I chuckle. We are both very pro-coffee and caffeine.
“Thanks for the help, I should put you on the payroll,” I mutter. She shakes her head as she swallows a sip of her latte.
“No way, what are best friends for,” she says. I laugh and nod. I’m glad that Holt made the executive decision to have me close a couple of hours early today. Going home to shower and rot on the couch for a few hours sounds heavenly. I just want to disassociate for a bit.
“The Sheriff is coming by in about 20 minutes to get my statement,” I tell her. She looks over at me. Her dark eyebrow arching above her thick framed glasses.
“Statement? What are you going to say,” she asks me. I chuckle because it is like hearing a rerun of my previous conversation with Holt.
“I guess I’ll just tell him what happened. I don’t have any idea what is going on,” Meg nods at my answer.
“Never a dull moment,” she comments and smirks at me. I nod in agreement. Lately, it seems like we jump from one dumpster fire to another.
“How many cups of coffee have you had today,” I jump and look up at Sterling. He seems to have just appeared there. The question is directed at Meg, who snorts.
“This is my third,” she says in a pitch that gives away her lie. Sterling crosses his impressive arms and stares her down.
“Want to revise that answer? You know what happens when you lie,” Sterling’s voice takes on a tone that I’m not sure I should be hearing. Meg’s cheeks go red and I know that this is not a conversation I want to be part of.
“Sterling! Ugh, fine! Add two to my previous answer,” she exasperatedly states. I can’t help but giggle. Meg glares in my direction. Before I can respond the door opens again. Sheriff Williams walks in. Holt comes over to me before the Sheriff does.
“Hey there, would you like a cup of coffee and something to eat,” I ask him cheerily. He nods quickly.
“That would be great Piper, thank you,” he stands there as I get his food together. Sheriff Williams is a shorter man with grey-white hair. He has been sheriff for as long as I can remember here in this town. He must be close to retirement but he isn’t ready to hang it up yet.
His wife comes in every Wednesday morning with her book club. They meet in the back corner. His family is well known and well liked in the area, so I am relatively relaxed at the thought of talking to him.
I turn around and put the plate with his apple turnover and the mug with his black coffee down in front of him. He is reaching into his jacket and pulling out an old school note pad and pen.
His lack of technology use has been a point of contention for Holt and Carter in the past and I almost chuckle.
Not much happens in High Ridge, and it is a good thing.
There is a time and place for old school methods, but sometimes technology gives you an edge, and it is something that our small local law enforcement is sorely lacking.
“So, tell me what happened Piper,” he asks gently. I go back to the events that transpired this morning and re-tell them. He makes notes in his notepad and asks a few questions in between.
“Piper, have you had any strange interactions with anyone lately or even any strange occurrences,” he asks me.
“Honestly, I can’t really think of any. I have been thinking all morning about this. Everything has been pretty standard,” I respond and then amend my answer when Meg clears her throat.
“Well, except for that whole thing with Meg a few weeks ago,” the Sheriff nods knowingly.
“I think you should take the evening to go home and relax. Sometimes things pop into our brains when we aren’t trying to think of them,” he offers kindly. Holt has been standing next to me this whole time. His hand goes to my shoulder and squeezes gently.
“Sheriff, I’ll be staying with her for a while to make sure she is safe. I would like to request a patrol car drive by the house and the cafe every now and then,” I can’t stop my mouth from dropping open. He is going to stay with ME? Why?
“Until we figure this out, it is probably best that she isn’t alone. I can have someone ride by a few times a day. You know I don’t have the man power for more than that,” he tells Holt. Holt nods.
“Piper, if you think of anything that may be useful let Holt know. He will get the word to us down at the station,” Sheriff Williamson stands as he says this. Apparently that is all he needs from me.
“You all be smart,” he says as he shows himself out. Meg is standing getting her bag and pulling her jacket on. Sterling is already by her side with his keys. Carter is packing up his laptop. It is like they all have somewhere to be.
I spin around and look at Holt who has started shutting off the coffee pots. I decide not to argue.
“Sterling and I are going to head out, Piper. Let us know if you need anything,” she says impishly as if she knows something I don’t.
“Holt, call me if you need anything. Let’s meet up tomorrow to see if we can come up with something,” Sterling says before they are out the door.
Carter is pulling a black hoodie over his head. As he slings his backpack over his shoulder he starts speaking.
“I’m going to do some digging on current and new customers tonight, if I find anything I’ll give you a call,” Carter says on his way by.
In the span of 5 minutes the room has cleared and Holt has shut down my business operation. Not sure what to say, I turn around and Holt is right there. Gasping, I take a step back. He is holding my sweater and bag in his outstretched hands.
“Ready to go,” he asks me. Though it sounds more like a statement, than asking for my permission to leave.
I nod and put my sweater on. Slinging my crossbody over my shoulder.
I follow him out the back where everything has been turned off.
I shrug, I can always come by tomorrow to check on some things if I need to.