AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I spent the rest of yesterday chopping wood in the backyard, cleaning limbs off the top of the house, mowing the lawn with the old push mower, basically anything I could do to burn the anger, the frustration, theacheout of my body.
It wasn’t only in my chest this time, it was everywhere. It was in my hands that had touched her, my lips that had tasted her beautiful skin, my ears that wouldn’t stop hearing her broken voice begging me,Don’t leave…
Adam brought Owen home from the beach with Edward, and he took one look at my face and offered to return the dog to Britt. I managed to hold it together as I listened to my son tell me all about his fun day with “the best dog ever” at the beach.
I did my best not to show that it was like nails driving into my chest hearing his little-boy voice so happy and in love with another woman who ripped my trust to shreds.
Then, when he finally went to sleep, I polished off the rest of the Stone Cold single barrel I’d been keeping in the cabinet.
Now my head is pounding, and my anger is back full-force, and the last thing I want to see is a bright little blonde with a sexy little backside and a sunshine face who says I’m safe with her that she’s different, when in reality she’s just like them.
“Aiden, I know you’re emotional.” Edna leans back in her chair, folding her hands. “But we don’t know enough about the case to make a causal connection.”
Of course, her grandmother would take Britt’s side.
“Don’t patronize me, Edna.” Ice is in my tone, and I’m done playing nice. “I want her off my team.”
“You need to remember your place, Sheriff.” Edna’s steely gaze clashes with mine. “I’m the mayor. I signed Birgitte’s contract. We have a dead body on our hands, and we need to find out who did it. She can work with Doug and report to me.”
Frustration climbs up my shoulders. I know the chain of command. Edna is my boss, even though she’s elected and I’m not. Still, she’s the CEO of the town, and I’m her first in command. Can’t change the facts.
“Fine.” My jaw is set, and I stand. “I’ll keep you informed of developments in the case, and I’ll converse with Doug about what I need done.”
I snatch the door open and stride out into the office area, keeping my eyes away from the corner where her desk is located. Doug, as usual, is hanging around Holly’s desk laughing and eating a donut.
“Doug.” My voice is clipped, and he hops to attention, hustling over to where I’m standing.
“Morning, Boss.” Doug has that permanent smile on his face. “What can I do you for today?”
“You’re working with Britt now. I want you to take her to Gary Blue’s place and process the scene. Take the dog, and see if he picks up any scents.”
“Yes, sir.” He polishes off his donut and wipes his hands with the paper napkin.
I’m headed back to the fairground to see what I can find in the corn maze. In the meantime, we’re waiting on ballistics. Pausing at the back hall, my eyes are drawn to Britt at her desk, collecting her camera and supplies.
She’s dressed in simple khaki pants and a green sweater. Her hair hangs down her back, and her long bangs obscure her eyes. Still, I can read her body language. Her lips are tight, and her shoulders are rounded.
If she feels bad, I don’t care. She should feel bad.
Anger tightens my throat, and I redirect my eyes to Doug. “Also, collect Gwen Bailey’s firearm for ballistics testing.”
I feel her eyes snap to me, but I turn on my heel and leave the room. We’ve got work to do, and if she has a problem with it, she can talk to her grandmother.
Workers are dismantling the remainder of the festival equipment when I arrive at the fairgrounds. It’s odd doing this alone. In the past, I had Doug with me to inspect a crime scene, then I had her.
Now, walking down what was the midway, I’m assaulted by memories of strolling hand in hand, stopping at the booths, dunking Doug. Her mood had been mixed leading up to the day, and I’d been worried it was something I had done. My chest heats when I remember texting her, asking that very question.
It wasn’t me.
A loud noise overhead draws my attention, and like a gut punch, I see the remainder of the Ferris wheel slowly being dismantled. I don’t want to remember her straddling my lap, my face buried in her tits, her hips rocking against my hand. I don’t want to think about how good it felt to have her in my arms. I believed we had something real, but it was only hormones and chemistry.
Steeling my resolve, I continue to what was the corn maze. Now it’s an empty space roped off with yellow crime scene tape. Most of our documentation is complete, but the scene is still ours for a few more days to investigate.
I walk to the spot where the body was found, and I inspect the area behind it, where Edward had picked up the scent of the boot we found at Terra’s. A flat path disappears into the stalks, and just as Britt said, a trail of narrow tire tracks leads towards the road.
I can’t tell if they were made by a car or a trailer, and it doesn’t take long before they’re lost in the mix of tracks from all the vehicles used to haul in the equipment for the large children’s area.
Whoever dumped Gary’s body planned it so we wouldn’t be able to follow him or her. I’ll ask the Beaufort guys to inspect the tracks and see if there’s any way to make sense of them. I’ll tell Doug they need to come out here and be sure every little detail is documented.
