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“Personal stuff.” He looked away from Ash’s piercing gaze to watch the last of the courtroom clear out.
“Personal stuff,” Ash repeated as if tasting the words and scowled even deeper at their flavor. “You told her about the girl. About Hope.”
Cal turned back to Ash, meeting his gaze head-on. “You’re right, I did.” He wasn’t going to lie to the Ash, a man he respected despite their differing views on most matters. “She deserved to know.”
The sheriff shook his head, rubbing his temples in frustration. “This is a criminal investigation, Cal.”
“I thought you said there was nothing criminal to investigate.”
“Yeah, I was wrong. And—” He bit off whatever he’d been about to say. “Just stay away from this.” He nodded toward the door Ellie had exited through. “And keep her away.”
“Did you forget who we’re talking about?” Cal shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned back on his heels. “She’s not going to back off. You should know that about her by now.”
“Listen, Cal. This has the potential to get ugly fast. I don’t want either of you tangled up in this mess.” The sheriff held his gaze for a moment, then sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “But you’re gonna do whatever you want anyway.” It wasn’t a question.
Cal grinned. “I’m glad we understand each other.”
“We never understand each other,” Ash muttered as he walked away. At the door to the courtroom, he paused and looked back. “Keep her safe. If anything happens to her, I’m holding you responsible.”
chapter
eight
The Mad Dog Pub was packed, as usual. Business had picked up a lot since that whole mess with Rose Rawlings and the white supremacists who tried to take her bar. The uptick had probably started with morbid curiosity as people wanted to visit the only place in town that had experienced a drive-by shooting. But then everyone started to realize what Cal had known all along—the beer was good, and the food was better.
Rose always had a smile for everyone who walked in, even when the place was packed, and today was no different. When the bell over the door chimed, she glanced over from the taps behind the bar, where she was filling several tall glasses with ale.
“Hey, Cal. Your usual table is open.”
“Thanks. Ellie’s meeting me.”
Rose’s smile widened. “Oh, really? Have you two finally kissed and made up?”
I wish. “Strictly professional, I’m afraid.”
She clucked her tongue. “That’s too bad. Well, I’ll send her over when she gets here. Want your usual?”
“That’d be great. I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving, Holden.”
That was true, but mainly because he often forgot to eat while at work. He crossed the room and slid into the booth that had become “his” over the last few years. He’d spent as many hours working in this booth as he did in his office. It was where he met friends for drinks and sometimes clients. It was where he and Ellie had their first date.
He liked the comfortable familiarity of it.
Rose came by a moment later with his stout. He nursed the dark beer while he opened his briefcase and flipped through the file he’d compiled on Hope’s disappearance. It was sadly thin. After a year of investigating, he thought he’d have more to show for it.
The only new information he’d found in months was the girl. Her picture lay right on top, and he picked it up, studied it. Now that he knew she was Ellie’s niece, he could see the resemblance. Same face shape. Same cute button nose. And they both had curly hair, though the girl’s curls were dark and much looser than Ellie’s tight blond ringlets.
He set the picture down just as Ellie slid into the seat across from him. As always when he saw her, his heart did a little boogie in his chest. “Hi. You made it.”
“Hey.” She looked at him over the rim of her glasses, and he was momentarily struck by how damn pretty her blue eyes were. They constantly changed shades. Sometimes, they were dark like a lake at sunrise, and other times, they were light and clear like the midday sky. Today, they were a stormy mix of the two, emotion swirling in their depths.
She nervously twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “You’re looking at me like I’m a puzzle you’re trying to solve.”
You are.
He shrugged, suppressing the feelings that always fluttered in his stomach when she was near. It was a battle he constantly lost.
