Chapter 40 - Dean
Dean
“She’s gone,” I said after the door closed.
“We don’t have much time, so I’ll be direct. I need your help.”
I scowled. “You could have asked with Lily here.”
His expression hardened. “No. We’re the only people privy to this. Give me your word it stays between us. The comet upset my daughter enough. I don’t want to frighten her more.”
“This conversation stinks worse than a flooded-out drugstore. I don’t keep secrets from her.” I winced. Lily didn’t know about my visits to her apartment yet. “What do you want?”
“I need you to spy for me. To start, everything I said to Lily a moment ago is a lie.”
I crossed my arms and leaned on the desk. “Your daughter is the one who deserves to hear this, not me.”
“That’s where you’re mistaken. I’ll start from the beginning.” He waited for my response. I didn’t give one. “Please. For Lily, if not for me.”
For Lily. The magic words that made me stay. “Be quick.” To be fair, I was curious what Bill Sutton had to say.
“Ryan said you had skills and to use them.” I twisted my neck. He noticed and raised a finger. “Please listen. It reflects his high regard. Passing this on reflects mine as well.”
“I’m not your private soldier, Sutton.”
“No, you’re my daughter’s self-appointed bodyguard. Ryan said to trust you with Lily’s life and mine, so I’m doing that now.”
I’d strangle him if he appeared right now, no matter how deep our friendship went. “Go on.”
“The sheriff made several decisions these past weeks. I pushed back on some and not others. There are deputies in this town. Armed men. Most I know, and some I don’t. If I charge or accuse him without proof, what happens next?”
“What’s he planning?” My doubts about the sheriff grew stronger the longer we remained in Deer Lake. His actions stank, though none added up to any horrible crime I could prove.
“That’s the question we must answer. You heard about the attack on West Lake?”
“The whole damn town knows. We’ve heard reports of scattered thefts, too. It’s not a secret. Are you surprised people resorted to stealing?”
“Do you think this is about common thieves?”
Would Lily forgive me if I punched him? “You wouldn’t be here if it were.”
Bill’s chin lowered as his voice rose. “Thieves stole their food supplies. I was there, Dean. For all of it.”
“You know who did it.” I drew back at the news. “You think he arranged it? You think he plans more, or maybe it’s the same group responsible for the others.” The sheriff never mentioned Bill Sutton’s involvement at the town meeting. “What did you see?”
“Very little. It was at night, and they wore masks. Weapons. One guarded us while the rest loaded trucks. They took off and left us behind like they wanted witnesses.”
“Did you overhear anything?”
“Random phrases. More plans. Where they might go next.”
“Describe the thieves.”
“I never saw them, but I heard a name.” One of Bill’s hands trembled. “You may recognize it.”
“Julian? No, not him.” He’d been in town, with witnesses to vouch for him. “People the sheriff trusted.”
“Zeke. Only the first name, but it’s not especially common, and I don’t believe in coincidences. Eric reassigned Zeke Smythe to other responsibilities. It’s my belief the sheriff planned the robbery.”
“And you can’t prove it.” I didn’t see how I could help him.
“No, I have guesses. I need you to find me proof.”
“I’m not that kind of detective, Bill.”
“You’re heading out there, aren’t you?” Bill waved towards the small window. “You’re in charge. Be on the lookout. You can track. Try to find them before Eric does. Learn whatever you can. Henry will be with you. He doesn’t look like much, but you can trust him. He’s loyal.”
The first statement from Bill I wholly believed. “Smart choice picking him. I guessed the sheriff sent someone to watch me, and it was you instead.”
“I wanted a better understanding of you. Now I have it,” he said without pause or guilt.
“And now that you have it, here we are. I’ll repeat myself. You should tell Lily this. She wants to leave Deer Lake.” Her urgency to do so shocked even me.
Bill Sutton rubbed his temples. His face showed every one of his years.
“Soon. You’ve been outside Deer Lake. You know what it’s like.
Will you subject her to that when this is where she wants to be?
Trust me to protect my daughter. The sheriff believes I’m hoodwinked, and as long as we pretend everything’s normal, it will continue.
Save this town. We both know she wants to stay here.
But for it to work, she needs to believe it’s real.
My daughter is stubborn, as I’m sure you know.
She loves deeply, and she’ll fight us both over this. ”
I knew the world outside Deer Lake, had witnessed it up close. It’d become what Lily feared, a dangerous place, one with opaque rules and constant suspicion. She claimed the risk outside justified leaving Deer Lake, but did it for her?
“Lie to her.” I lied to her once before. How would she react a second time? “How do I know this isn’t you keeping us apart?”
“I admit concern for my children once overrode any consideration for your welfare. I was wrong, and you paid the price. You deserved better. Hate me forever if you must, but please don’t allow that feeling to guide your decision now.”
“Is that your idea of an apology?”
“Telling a person you’re sorry means nothing without action. Cheap words are easy. I’m giving you my trust, Dean. For this town, but for my daughter more, who is dearer to me than you understand. Consider what that says for us both.”
I had plotted how to get her out of Deer Lake since we arrived, and she agreed. She’d walk away, giving up everything she longed for. She’d sacrifice her happiness for me. Isn’t that what I wanted?
For all her protests, Lily would resent me for it. Her entire world resided in Deer Lake, while I was…me.
“She’ll forgive you. Lily loves you. I tried to keep you apart, and you found your way back to each other. It will happen again.”
I was less certain. I also knew he was correct. Deer Lake was her refuge. She’d forgive me for demanding we stay. If we left, her affectation would turn bitter. “For this to work, we’ll need to convince her. And when it’s done, I’ll ask her forgiveness.”
“So will I.”
I shook my head. “That’s not enough. You’ll be the father she deserves. If you’re right about the sheriff, take him down. Undo all of it. Do we have a deal?”
The dim morning light hit Bill’s face as he approached me and offered his hand for the first time. I shook it.