Connor came back in with Mary beside him.Mary’s face was wet, but her breathing had steadied.His gaze moved from Janet to Renee to Selena.
“What’s going on?”
Janet jabbed a finger toward Selena.“If there are any more questions, we’ll deal with you, Connor.Not this one.”
The words cut through the room.
Mary looked mortified.“Mom.”
Janet ignored her.
Selena picked up her file bag.“I think I have everything I need for now.”
Sandra’s sobs grew harder.Renee sat back down beside her and put both arms around her.Janet stayed upright, guarding the sofa as if Selena might push past her.
“Leave,” Janet said.
Connor looked as though he wanted to say something, but Selena gave him the smallest shake of her head.This room would not give them anything more today.
Mary walked them to the front door.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.“It’s a hard time for the family.”
“I understand,” Selena said.
Mary touched the doorframe with one hand.“My Mom isn’t usually that abrupt.She’s just upset for her sister.”
Selena studied the young woman.“Did your Uncle Warren ever talk to you about anyone he was meeting?”
Mary shook her head.“No.He didn’t talk to me much about anything.”
“Did you believe he was having an affair?”
Mary looked back down the hall.Voices murmured in the sitting room.Janet’s, then Renee’s, then Sandra crying again.
“I always thought he was a stand-up guy.I don’t know what to believe anymore,” Mary said.“I better go.”
“Goodbye.”
Outside, the sun hit Selena’s face with fresh force.
Connor waited until they had crossed the porch and started down the path before speaking.
“That wasn’t procedure, Connor,” Selena said.
“Look, before you get on your high horse.I get it.I just don’t want Sandra upset any more than she already is.If she needs support there with her, so be it.It’s not a big deal.”
"Connor, you have to remember.You're the Sheriff in all of this, not their friend."
“Can’t I be both?”he asked.
She heard a softness in his voice.“Maybe.But your duty has to come first.You know that.”
“All right,” he said with a sigh.“Maybe next time you should console the crying lady and I’ll continue with the questions.”
Selena stepped around the mud patch this time.“Maybe next time the crying lady shouldn’t have three people protecting her from basic procedure.”
“She just lost her husband.”
