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He tapped a foot on the floor and looked to his partner for help, but the big man shrugged, making no attempt to hide his amusement.
A muscle jumped in Bridger’s jaw. “Fine. Partners.”
Close to what she wanted, but she couldn’t let up yet. Not until they spelled it out. “We learn something, we share it.”
He nodded stiffly. “Fine.”
She relaxed against the pillows. “Okay then. Tell me why my brother disappeared. It has nothing to do with the blackmail, does it?”
The two men shared a quick glance, then Tai shrugged helplessly. “She’s obviously got Jay’s brains. We might as well come clean.”
Bridger ran a hand over his chin, his palm rasping against stubble. “It’s a long story.” He tipped his head toward the open doorway. “We’ll tell you once we’re alone.”
Right. Her throat went dry. He didn’t know it, but he’d just answered her biggest question. He didn’t believe Jason’s disappearance had anything to do with the blackmail.
“You’re still going to help the pastor, right?”
“Affirmative. We promised Jay.”
One worry down. The pastor had shown poor judgment in hiding his past from the community, but she had no right to judge him. Only the Lord could do that.
Moving slowly, she folded her arms over her chest and eyed the two big men as if she’d caught them stealing candy bars from the box next to the cash register. “One of you want to tell me why you think that explosion was set on purpose?”
14
Bridger had been hopingJane wouldn’t think to ask about the explosion just yet, but so far today nothing had gone his way. No reason for this to be any different.
He was trying to decide how much to tell her when shadows filled the doorway.
“Hey, Sheriff.” Tai shot out a cheerful greeting.
The short, stout man flanked by two frowning deputies didn’t even pretend to crack a smile. He tapped the edge of a manila envelope against one thigh. “You gents got a minute?”
Despite the polite tone, it wasn’t really a question. Before he or Tai could answer, the sheriff jerked his head toward the hallway.
The deputies lingered in the doorway.
Bridger shoved his hands in his pockets. “We’ll be back in a few minutes,” he told Jane, and headed out, Tai on his heels.
The sheriff was waiting at the far end of the hall. He ushered them into a small conference room. His men waited outside.
The sheriff eyed them with displeasure. “What were you doing, leaving the scene of a crime?”
Bridger met his hard gaze. “Was it a crime?”
The sheriff grunted, his expression souring even more. Not someone who suffered fools. “Let’s cut to the chase. I’m familiar with your files. Bridger North and Tai Kaholo. You’re ex-special forces. Your backgrounds have been wiped so clean they squeak.”
Bridger revised his opinion of the small-town LEO. Just because the man ran a ten-deputy department didn’t make him an idiot. He wished he’d been as thorough in examining the sheriff’s background.
The flicker in Tai’s eyes told him his partner was thinking the same thing.
The man pressed his knuckles into the tabletop, leaning forward until his taut belly rested on the edge of the wood. The overhead light glinted off his name badge. “What brings you to Redemption Creek?”
Tai gestured at the door. “Besides the scenery?”
Sheriff Hammond ignored that. Bridger would have done the same in his position. “I’m guessing your business here has something to do with Jason Reilly’s disappearance.”
“Who says he disappeared?”
