Chapter 3
Ifucking jinxed it.
Garrett and Ian are standing over my desk relaying the call that was just called in about a body.
We haven’t had a case like this since I first started. Other than missing hikers, we don’t get a lot of action in regard to bodies being found.
“A young female in her twenties. The caller was on a hike to the falls when his dog went ballistic and took off. According to the man on the phone, he could smell her before he even found her.”
I rub the bridge of my nose. “Did he say anything about the cause of death?” I ask the deputies.
“He was out of sorts and in shock when he called, so we couldn’t gather much. But he said it looks like she’d been attacked. Didn’t say by what, but we’ll figure it out when we get there.”
“Christ. Okay, Garrett? You wanna tag along with me? Let’s head out. Ian, call the coroner and get him there, and page Cade for me, will you?”
“Sure thing, boss.”
Ian leaves, and I open my drawer, grabbing my keys and holstering my gun. “Well, let’s go.”
We arrive at the scene and find a young woman brutally stabbed. She looks to be between twenty-five and twenty-seven with blonde hair. By the looks and smell, I’d guess she’s been here for a day or two. She looks familiar, and I think I know why.
I wait for the caller to finish giving his statement, thank him, then head over to Cade and Garrett. “Do any of you have a photo of that missing woman Ian was putting up posters for?”
Cade reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. “Hold on. I think I might have a picture of the flyer on here.”
Garrett and I watch as he scrolls through his phone.
“Bingo.” He holds it up for us to inspect, and I look from the screen to the woman.
“It’s definitely her,” I confirm.
On the way back to the station, I can’t stop thinking about that poor woman. It’s not often we get a call about murder here in Lavender Falls.
Named after the lavender fields surrounding our most famous waterfall, our town is a quaint little place nestled in the valley of the Hadley River.
With a population of about 7,000, the crime rate to this extent is pretty low.
The last time a murder took place, I was a fresh twenty-five-year-old working my first, and only, big case.
It was a domestic abuse case, and I’ll never forget it.
“Think we’re going to find the guy that did it?
” Garrett glances at me from the corner of his eye, his face white as a ghost. This is probably his first encounter with a murder, and I feel for the poor guy.
The scene we just left behind was not a pretty one.
That woman will be stuck in his head for a very long time.
“I sure hope so,” I say, pulling away from the parking lot.
We’re silent the rest of the way back. By noon, Garrett is jittery and out of sorts, and I send him home.
After getting a hold of the victim’s family, I’m ready to call it a day. It’s always tough having to be the bearer of bad news. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a child. Especially in such a brutal way.
As I begin to pack things up, my ears perk at a soft, familiar feminine voice coming from the lobby.
My lips curve into a smile at the recognition of Jade’s voice, and I pull at my uniform, straightening it out, before heading out to see what she’s doing here.
“Jade,” I greet, tipping my hat in her direction.
I watch her cheeks flush, and I roll back a smile at how fucking cute she is.
This morning when I stopped by the bakery, she had on an apron, so I wasn’t able to see the little lavender stock stitched into the pockets of her cardigan.
Something tells me she added those little details herself, and it makes me smile.
“Afternoon, Sheriff. I was just stopping by to bring over this box of cookies. We had extra, and it’s been a while since I’ve come dropping anything off.” She smiles nervously, holding up the purple box in offering.
“You gotta try one, Sheriff,” my receptionist, Beatrice, says holding up the cookie in her hand. “They’re delicious.”
I saunter over to Jade and peek inside the box. They look and smell divine. “What kind?” I ask, grabbing one.
“White chocolate chip with lavender.” Jade tells me as I hold back a groan as the flavour hits my tongue.
My eyes meet hers, and the flush of her cheeks gets darker. “Beatrice is right. This is fucking delicious.”
She smiles, and I swear to God the dim room shines. “Sarah made them.” she tells us, setting the box on Beatrice’s desk.
“Thank her for us, will you?” I ask her, reaching for a second cookie.
“Of course. Well, I need to get going, but I hope you two have a good rest of your day.” She turns on her heels to leave, and my eyes snag on her perfect heart-shaped ass, noticing the added floral stitching on her back pockets as well.
When I turn to head back to my office, Beatrice is smiling and shaking her head at me.
“When are you going to ask her out, Sheriff? It’s painful watching you lust after that sweet girl.”
I turn around and give her a wink, tipping my hat. “I’m getting there, don’t you worry.” I yell back with a smile on my face.
“You know,” Ian says, sliding up next to me. “I’ve never noticed it before, but do you know where Jade is from?”
“I’m assuming she’s from Vancouver. That’s where Sarah went to school. Why?” I narrow my eyes, wondering why he wants to know.
“No reason. She just looks familiar and I can’t place why.”
I relax a little, knowing it’s not because he’s interested in her like that. “She’s only been here four years and it’s not like you ever leave, so I’m not sure how she’d look familiar to you.”
“You got a point.” He shrugs.
“Just so we’re clear, I call dibs.”
Ian tips his head back laughing and slaps my shoulder. “Don’t worry, lover boy. She’s all yours.”