Walker finally sees the badge and rears his head back. “Where did you get that?”
“Jolene gave it to me,” Santiago responds proudly.
“Of course she did.” Walker rubs his eyes with his hand, then looks to Levi. “Do you have one too?”
Levi just nods, a gleam of mischievous satisfaction in his eyes.
“You two were deputized? When?” I ask, stepping around Walker.
“A while ago.” Levi waves like it’s an everyday occurrence.
“The car?” Santiago prompts Walker again.
Walker answers like it’s second nature. “Black lifted truck. Couldn’t make out the license plate. Tinted windows.”
“Anyone who might want you dead?”
Santiago’s question pulls all the air from my lungs, and my pulse turns hard and quick in my throat.
“I’m the sheriff. Plenty of people are angry with me.” Walker’s eyebrows arch high, mocking Santiago.
There’s one person in particular…but I still don’t know their name.
Levi amends the question. “But how many would actually make an attempt on your life?”
“Who knows?” The corners of Walker’s mouth pinch. “That’s enough with the questions.” He moves to leave, pushing between Levi and Santiago.
Levi’s hand on Walker’s shoulder stops the escape. “If this were anyone else, you wouldn’t stop interrogating until you got what you want. Santiago got in two questions.”
Walker’s expression shutters minutely as he takes a breath. “That’s two more than anyone else would’ve gotten.”
I dart around the three of them, moving in front of Walker with my hands raised, signaling him to stop. “How can we help?”
Walker points a finger at me like I’m a disobedient child. “You need to go back to Moose Gap Lodge. I don’t want you anywhere near this.”
“I’m a big girl. I can make my own choices.” My arms fold across my chest, and the heels of my boots dig into the ground.
Walker bends, getting in my face. “If you try to help, I’ll arrest you for impeding an investigation.”
My teeth grind together. “Is that your only solution? I piss you off, so you arrest me. Sounds like achildish game, don’t you think?” I use his own words against him.
The muscles in Walker’s jaw tighten as he grits his teeth.
“Butterfly, he’s right,” Levi chimes in, crowding me from the side.
My head flinches as if I was just slapped. “Excuse me?”
“You can wait at my place,” Santiago proposes, approaching the other side. The whisper of space between the four of us charges, ready to blow.
“I’m good. I know when I’m not wanted.” My response is for Santiago, but I don’t take my eyes off Walker.
We seem to end up here every time we’re around each other—trying to wear the other down with a glare. And I’m tired of it.
Giving them my back, I march heavily in the opposite direction.
“Wait.” Santiago calls after me, but I don’t slow down.
The next moment, I’m flanked on either side by Levi and Santiago. They each easily keep pace with me and my long strides.
