Chapter Fourteen
Beau set his laptop on the coffee table in front of one of two couches forming an L in the living area of the new cabin where he and Sierra were staying now.
On the far wall was a big-screen TV, framed by two large windows with the morning sun peeking through slits in the blinds.
He clicked the remote, turning it on. The meeting was planned to start soon so he brought up the meeting software and began the log-in process.
When he heard footsteps, he glanced toward the opening to the hallway.
Sierra rounded the corner, padding across the hardwood floor in pink ankle socks.
But it wasn’t the socks that had his breath hitching in his throat, it was those long slim legs encased in tight blue denim that made his body harden uncomfortably.
And her curves revealed by the low cut white blouse that highlighted the gorgeous color of her skin.
He was going to have to tell Fletcher to order Sierra more clothes that didn’t reveal so much or flatter her curves so well.
Heck, who was he kidding? She could be wearing a sack from neck to ankles and she’d still be gorgeous.
She stopped a few feet away. Then her lips curved in a sexy smile. “You like?” She winked.
He cleared his throat and tore his gaze away from her, focusing instead on the laptop. “Did Fletcher manage to get everything you needed?”
She huffed as if in disappointment and plopped down on the couch beside him.
“She did an amazing job. Even the leather loafers fit perfectly. I still can’t believe she managed to order all of those clothes the night we reached the safe house, overnighted them to her home, then already dropped them off here at the cabin this morning. That was so sweet of her.”
“It’s her job. You’re a protected witness while our investigation is in progress. She’ll be reimbursed by the department.”
“Well, still. It was nice of her to go to all that trouble. And how she guessed my sizes so well is beyond me. Maybe she went online and looked at pictures of me with my family or something.”
He cleared his throat. “Or, after you went to bed last night, I checked your sizes in the laundry basket and passed that information to her. I wouldn’t have done it, but she pushed me, saying she needed the exact sizes or I’d have to wake you.
I almost did wake you, but you’d conked right out and seemed exhausted.
I apologize for the invasion of privacy of looking through your clothes.
It seemed like the best decision at the time. But you may feel otherwise.”
She bumped him with her elbow. “You’re sweet to worry. But I don’t mind at all. Having showered, slept and now wearing clean clothes makes up for everything. I don’t think I’ll be cranky at all today.”
He started to teasingly disagree, but her warning look had him keeping his mouth firmly shut.
“You know,” she continued, “I’d have been fine with us sharing the bed last night if you’d wanted to instead of you sleeping on the couch. I’m fine sharing it tonight if you want.” She gave him a suggestive look.
He couldn’t help but laugh. “Careful, Sierra. I might take you seriously sometime and call your bluff.”
“Oh, honey. It’s not a bluff. Call it. I dare you.”
The sound of laughter had both of them looking up at the TV screen. Beau groaned when he saw that his team had joined the online meeting already.
Fletcher grinned and leaned close to the camera.
“I’d say get a room, you two, but you already have that cabin all to yourselves.
” She giggled, and Collier grinned right along with her.
Officer O’Brien, his other female officer, rolled her eyes at her fellow officers as if they were misbehaving children.
Beau wished he was still the chief right this minute.
He’d have given her a big fat bonus for being the only mature one in the room.
Sierra crossed her legs on the couch cushion and settled back as if their teasing didn’t bother her in the slightest.
It probably didn’t.
“Officer Fletcher,” she said, “thanks again for the clothes. It makes being cooped up in a rental cabin with Beau that much more bearable. And thanks, sincerely, for getting us such a nice place to stay. I didn’t even know they had cabins this large and fancy right on Mystic Lake or I’d have rented one myself. ”
Fletcher grinned. “Yeah, I see you’re really suffering there.
You’re extremely welcome for the clothes.
As to the cabin, the chief, as in Chief Dawson, is the one who arranged the rental, including the boat at the dock out front.
One of his friends out of town rented it on his behalf so there wasn’t a way to trace it electronically back to the police, or you specifically. ”
Beau tapped his hand on the coffee table. “If you two are finished becoming fast friends, I’d like to get this meeting started.”
“Don’t be so grumpy, Beau.” Sierra patted his thigh.
He winced even before he saw the shocked looks on his former officers’ faces.
He’d never tolerated such teasing or familiarity from anyone else.
But he’d failed miserably in making Sierra respect him and treat him the way he was used to as an officer of the law.
Or at least treat him seriously instead of so cavalierly.
He cleared his throat again. “Sierra Covington, you’ve met Officer Fletcher of course, and Officer Collier beside her.
The third officer is O’Brien. They’re in a room at Stella’s B and B so there wasn’t any worry about it potentially being bugged or any hidden cameras.
The last officer who used to work under me is Ortiz.
He’s manning the police station right now and couldn’t be on the call. ”
“Let’s see,” Sierra said. “So it’s Liza, Chris and—I’m sorry, what should I call you, Officer O’Brien?”
“You’ll call them Officers Fletcher, Collier and O’Brien,” Beau instructed. “And if you ever speak to my fourth officer, it’s Officer Ortiz.”
Sierra frowned at him. “Fine. I can do that. But how long have you known them that you still use their last names?”
Collier’s eyes widened.
Fletcher laughed.
O’Brien smiled, barely.
“It’s called respect,” Beau said. He waved his hand in the air.
“Enough of this nonsense. Let’s address the issues at hand, specifically the shooting at my home and the subsequent shootings on the main exit road and at the safe house.
But before that, I know Collier was acting chief initially.
But has the mayor appointed you officially as acting chief or are you all sharing those duties going forward? At least until Sumner comes on board.”
Collier grimaced. “I hope that never happens. As for officially in charge, that would be me. No one else wanted the job.”
Fletcher rolled her eyes. “He’s being modest. I hate to even say this out loud around him, but we all know he’s our best option right now.”
Collier blinked. “A compliment? From you?”
“Don’t get used to it.”
Collier grinned.
“Congratulations,” Beau said. “I’m sure you’ll do a fine job. I assume you updated the mayor about the recent events. What did he have to say about it?”
Collier’s neck flushed a dull red. “Um, not much. He said to keep him informed if I needed anything.”
Beau stared at his former officers, noting that all of them seemed uncomfortable. His stomach sank. “Please tell me I’m wrong in thinking that none of you reported the shootings to your boss, the mayor?”
Collier straightened. “As acting chief, it was my opinion that keeping this as quiet as possible until we knew the mayor’s role in it was the best course of action.”
“Until you knew the mayor’s role? What the heck, Collier? What are you basing that suspicion on?”
He motioned to the others. “We discussed the secret meeting he arranged at the station, the one where he tried to fire you. And everything else going on. We’re all in agreement, including Danny—Officer Ortiz.
Something doesn’t smell right. We’ve added the mayor to our list of people who need to be investigated to see if he’s received some kind of outside pressure to railroad you out of a job. ”
“Well, of course he has. It’s called an expensive lawsuit, and being fiscally responsible.
Tanya Jericho’s parents have launched a multimillion dollar lawsuit against our town.
If you were the mayor and you discovered you could get the lawsuit settled for a fraction of that amount if you got rid of the police chief, what would you do? ”
Collier’s jaw set. “Not what you think I’d do, apparently.
I wouldn’t throw an innocent man to the wolves, let alone one who has done so much for our community, just to avoid going to court over a frivolous lawsuit that should have been dismissed the moment it was filed.
Whether you agree with me or not, Chief—and I mean that, you’re still the chief in my eyes—that’s our decision.
All four of us. We’re going to get justice for you, Ms. Covington and our town.
And it won’t be at the expense of people who’ve done absolutely nothing wrong. ”
“Way to go, Chris.” Sierra did a fist pump.
Beau slowly turned his head to look at her. “Just when did you get a personality transplant and start being so warm and cozy with cops?”
She rolled her eyes. “I guess since one of them got me nice clean clothes, a soft bed and a warm shower. Being with you is teaching me that not all cops are bad. But, hey, if it really bothers you, I’ll be more formal. Way to go Officer Collier.” She winked.
“Ms. Covington, maybe you should retire to your room for the duration of this meeting.”
She crossed her arms, all signs of amusement gone. “Not a chance in hell, Chief Dawson. And don’t talk down to me like I’m a child or one of your officers. This is my future we’re going to discuss, my safety. And yours. I’m not going anywhere.”