Chapter 12 Michael #2
“Assignment to light duty or other agency. 7-32-2114. Whenever, in the opinion of the county and supported by a health care provider’s opinion, the deputy sheriff is able to perform specified types of light duty, payment of the officer’s partial salary amount under 7-32-2113 must be discontinued if the deputy sheriff refuses to perform light duty when it is available and offered to the deputy sheriff. ”
He stared at me, slack-jawed.
“Section two. The deputy sheriff may be transferred to another department or agency within the county.”
Snapping the book shut, he tossed it on the desk. “Showoff.”
“So, any other tests you want to perform on me before we get to work? Would you like to test my shooting skills at the range?”
He kicked his feet off the desk and scowled at me. “Let’s just get to work. You’re with me today.”
“Great. I look forward to all the tests you’ll put me through.”
“No tests,” he muttered. “Just some coffee.”
Coffee? No, that couldn’t be right. Bea said he was working something up. But I’d go with him on this until I could figure out what the hell he had in store for me.
“Sure. I’ll buy.”
“Damn straight you’ll buy. We’re walking, so bundle up.”
Chuckling, I pulled my hat out of my pocket and tucked it over my head.
I wasn’t new to working in bad conditions, nor was I unaware of what cold weather in Montana did to a person.
I’d been away from it long enough that my body had adjusted to warmer climates, but I still remembered what freezing fingers felt like.
“We’ll cut behind Seafood & More.”
“That’s new. Since when do we have seafood in town?”
“Since someone moved in a few years ago, and decided that’s what this town needed.”
“Is it any good?”
He shrugged, zipping up his coat. “Does alright. Though I doubt anyone goes there for the seafood.”
We cut through the parking lot and came out on Whisper Lane, then headed east around the bend, past the park. There were no kids out at this hour, but once it warmed up a little, the whole damn park would be filled with the daycare center kids, from what I remembered.
“So, Blake’s working the Dakota Walker murder,” I said, hoping to find out some more information on the way to the coffee shop.
“Yeah, Mayor Cameron informed me she was hiring her. Don’t suppose they worked out any kind of financial arrangement?”
“I’m not sure Blake took the case for money.”
“And that doesn’t bother you?” he asked, cocking his head at me.
“She does what she likes. There’s no stopping her.”
“Yeah, I got that about her,” he grumbled.
“Still upset over the whole window incident?” I grinned, trying not to laugh at the man.
“Hey, you would be upset, too, if you had been tossed through a window!”
“I was tossed through a window. That’s how I met her.”
“Still…it’s just not right.”
“The case?” I asked, redirecting him.
“I don’t know what you want me to say. She can have access to all the records, but I’m not sure she’ll figure anything out twenty-five years later.”
“Blake doesn’t give up easily. Once she’s got the bit between her teeth, there’s no stopping her.”
He halted and slapped his hand against my arm, stopping me. “Just keep an eye out.”
“For what?”
“This is a small town, Parker. You know as well as I do that some people in this town, you just don’t fuck with.”
My eyes narrowed at his implication. “Are you referring to the Callahans?”
“I don’t know. Honestly, I’m not trying to lead you down any one path, but there are only two access points to Murky Falls, and I can’t see anyone in your family doing that to a little girl.”
“Austin was too young,” I pointed out.
“He’s not the only Callahan in town.”
I frowned at that, not liking the direction he was taking. “His old man would never have done something like that.”
“I used to think the same thing, but the old man has changed. There’s hardly a single person in this town he hasn’t made an enemy of.”
“But that’s now.”
“Yeah? And where do you think that rage has been hiding? Do you honestly believe it just showed up one day?”
I did, but that was because I knew him growing up.
“Look, I’m not saying it’s him, but you have to keep him in mind. This town is small, and if word gets around that Blake is digging too deep into something, it could stir up trouble. I don’t think I have to remind you that she’s pregnant.”
No, he didn’t have to. But I also couldn’t be with her every second of the day. She’d kick my ass if she even suspected I was trying to protect her.
“Just tell her to watch her back. She’s digging up old bones.”
I nodded and continued down the road, wondering if the killer could actually still be walking among us.
“You don’t think it was just an out-of-towner?”
“No, I don’t. To get that little girl up to Murky Falls in the middle of a snowstorm takes some serious knowledge of the area.”
That was true. Fuck, I’d been away too long. I’d forgotten just how rough the terrain could be around here. He was right. No one could just stumble up to the falls without prior knowledge.
“How have you done it all these years?”
“What’s that?”
“Walk around town knowing there’s a killer amongst the people.”
“I keep my eyes peeled. I make friendly chatter with everyone, making sure people think I’m always on their side.”
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” I murmured.
“You think it was hell over there?” he said, referring to the war zone I had been stationed at. “This whole place is a war zone. You just don’t always know who’s coming at you until it’s too late.”
I snorted in amusement. “Yeah, totally legitimate comparison.”
“I’m like George Bailey, fighting the battle of Bedford Falls.”
“Yeah, you’re a regular hero,” I chuckled.
He pulled the door open to the coffee shop and we strode inside, but the moment I looked up, I froze in place. My soon-to-be father-in-law was sitting at a table, along with all of Blake’s brothers.
“I feel like there was something I was going to tell you,” Mav said, cocking his head thoughtfully.
“You mean, the fact that Blake’s family is here?” I gritted out.
Snapping his fingers, he smiled at me. “Oh, yeah. I was calling for references about you—you know, just to make sure you were on the up and up—”
“I grew up with you!”
“And I thought, who better to give you a good reference than your own father-in-law? Well, he will be when you’re married.”
Snarling, I nearly punched him in the face, but since I was already in the shitter with Blake’s family, hitting my boss didn’t seem like a good idea.
“I should probably warn you that I accidentally let it slip that Blake’s knocked up.”
“Accidentally, huh?”
“Well, we got to talking, and he wanted to know how I knew Blake. I mentioned that she pushed me through a window—which they weren’t at all surprised about—by the way, and then I may have said that she was fine, even in her condition.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet you were doing it out of the goodness of your heart.”
He shrugged playfully. “Well, should we go say hello? It seems someone really wants to talk to you.”
I grabbed his arm as he started to walk away. “Mav—”
“Yeah, buddy?”
“I quit.”
He laughed in my face before striding over to say hello to Dean Collins, Blake’s dad. I was so fucking screwed.
“Hey, you must be Dean! It’s good to see you out here,” Mav laughed. “And you must all be Blake’s brothers.”
“Minus one,” Doug said, his eyes focusing on me. “Our brother Sam isn’t here.”
“Work?”
“Boxing,” he nodded. “So, Parker,” Doug snapped, his eyes growing heated.
I wasn’t worrying about him beating me up.
I could take all of them with one hand tied behind my back.
But I couldn’t do that and still marry Blake.
And all of them knew it. I was so screwed right now, and if they wanted to tie me to the back of their pickup truck and drive around town, I’d have to let them.
“Guys, it’s good to see you.”
“Yeah, you got something you want to tell us?” Todd asked, stepping forward.
“Yeah, like maybe some pending nuptials?” Adam asked.
Clearing my throat, I laid it all out for them. “Well, actually, yeah. We are getting married, but we haven’t set a date yet.”
“That’s good,” Adam said, cracking his knuckles. “Because I don’t think I need to remind you that I asked for a three-month grace period to plan accordingly for a date.”
“I did not forget about that.”
“Anything else you want to tell us, son?” Dean asked.
Shit. Her old man was staring me down like he was going to beat me up. He was really pissed at me.
“Uh…actually, I do. When we got out here a little over a week ago, we found out Blake is pregnant.”
Mav chuckled beside me as he felt the shit rise around my feet, knowing he’d dropped me in it.
Gritting my teeth, I waited for the onslaught that I knew was coming.
“I’m gonna be an uncle!” Matt shouted, letting out a whoop as he leapt in the air. Doug wrapped his arms around his brother in a hug, and they started dancing and jumping in a circle, which quickly expanded to include the other two brothers.
Dean walked over and clapped me on the shoulder, shaking my hand. “That’s great news. I always knew you were good for my Blake.”
“What?” Mav shouted over the whooping and hollering. “That’s your reaction?”
Dean pulled me in for a hug, smacking my back a little harder than necessary. “Glad you got out of that jam. I know you were up against the world, but you came out swinging. That’s exactly the man I need for my little girl.”
“Well, she’s not so little, sir. In fact, she’s already shoved two people through windows.”
He chuckled loudly. “Yep, that sounds like Blake.”
“Hold on a minute,” Mav cut in. “This guy knocked up your daughter! And he didn’t tell you! Aren’t you going to get pissed? Maybe beat him up a little bit?”
Dean eyed my former friend. “Didn’t you say you were the sheriff?”
“Yes, but—”
“Son, what the hell is wrong with you?”
Mav actually looked confused by the question, which was fucking hilarious to me.
“So, you’re not gonna tie me to the bed of the truck and drive around town?”
“Are you kidding?” Dean laughed. “I’ve been waiting for you to finally pull your head out of your ass and marry my girl.”
“It’s only been like four months since I last saw you.”
“And that’s four months too long. Now, where is my little girl?”
“Uh…at home. She’s actually investigating a murder.”
The man laughed, slapping me on the back again. “Of course she is. Let’s go see her.”
When Mav started to follow me, Dean turned and glared at him. “Not you.”
“Seriously? What the hell did I do?” he asked.
“Well, I think setting me up to take the fall probably did the trick.”
“Fucking ridiculous,” he muttered. “You’re the one who knocked up his baby girl.”
Grinning, I followed my new family outside. “Well, let this be a lesson to you.”
“To find a woman and knock her up?”
I shrugged. “It worked for me.”
As the door swung shut, he shouted, “Yeah? Out here, that would get me shot!”