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“Oh, of course,” she chuckled. “We don’t want the already grumpy knave to become even more cantankerous, right?”
“Lordie me, it’s one of those,” Claire mumbled under her breath as she straightened in the chair. “As I said, you don’t have an appointment, so...” She gestured toward the door.
“I’m sorry,” Daphne leaned closer and conspiratorially whispered, “I didn’t make an appointment since this is supposed to be a surprise. I’m in town on business from New York, and when I heard that he’s also here, I thought to pop in and say hi to my cousin, but if that’s inappropriate, I’ll just drive out to his house later—”
“You’re his cousin?” Claire’s frown turned so deep that her eyebrows formed one single line.
“Yes!” Daphne smiled brightly as she stuck out her hand. “Daphne Fowler.” She tilted her head sideways as she suppressed a smug smile at the receptionist’s clear disbelief. She leaned in closer as if sharing a secret. “He’s never mentioned me, has he?”
“No, can’t say that he has,” Claire said, still not convinced.
“I’m not surprised.” She plastered a sad look on her face. “Big C,” she laughed. “That’s what I called him as a kid, and I guess it stuck. My cousin takes his job too seriously. I think he’s forgotten how to have fun.”
Claire’s eyebrows remained locked in a skeptical position, creasing her forehead like tractor tracks across a field. She glanced between Daphne and the solid wooden door leading to the sheriff's office, clearly debating with herself. With a shrug, she pivoted on her stylish boots to head for the elevator.
“I’m sorry I bothered you. Oh! Please don’t tell him I was here. As I said, I want to surprise him.”
“Ms. Fowler!” Claire's voice rang out just as Daphne’s finger hovered over the elevator call button.
Daphne suppressed the desire to pump a fist of victory into the air, but she didn’t waste time walking back to the office. It was a challenge to keep back the smug smile tugging at her lips.
“Yes?” With her hands clasped innocently in front of her, she trotted back to the desk. “You called?”
“I guess since you’re family, it’s okay.” Claire gestured to the door. “He’s using the sheriff’s office for the time being. Our newly appointed sheriff hasn’t arrived yet. Carter is currently in a meeting with the mayor. You can wait inside. I’m sure he won’t be much longer.”
“Oh, are you sure?” Daphne blinked in faux surprise. “I truly don’t mean to impose.”
“I’m sure it’s no trouble,” Claire replied briskly. “In fact, I’ll arrange for some coffee to be brought in while you wait.”
“Now, that would be delightful. Thanks so much.” Daphne made a beeline for the office before Sheriff Scott’s self-appointed bodyguard changed her mind.
“And that, dear Daphne, is how it’s done.” With a self-satisfied smile, she settled into a deep bucket chair in front of the window to wait.
Now to convince the stubborn sheriff to let her join the case. She had her ways of being persuasive when she wanted something.
“And I definitely want in on the action. This story is huge.”
Chapter Seven
“There’s a surprise waiting for you.”
Carter grunted at Claire’s announcement as he walked toward the office thirty minutes later than intended.
Sebastian Kirk, Provo’s mayor, stood squarely behind the Utah County Attorney, Bob McCarthy, who was demanding his resignation in lieu of him being implicated in the ritualistic sexual abuse and child sex trafficking investigation. Kirk used every opportunity possible to force Carter to drop the case, but there was nothing he or anyone could say that would change his mind. He took this matter very seriously. That such a heinous crime happened under the noses of the community for so long, where their children were victimized, was incomprehensible to Carter.
“You know how I feel about surprises,” he grumbled but waved away her intended response. He visited Provo often enough for her to know by now he abhorred anything that would disrupt his day.
That the package he had expected to find waiting on his desk turned out to be the enticing brunette sprawled in the bucket chair caused a check in his stride. She was slouched low with one leg hooked over the arm of the chair, swinging it gently back and forth. Humming a lively tune, she scribbled in a notebook that was perched precariously on her raised leg. “Hmm,” she cooed as she sipped on what he perceived to be coffee since the deep-roasted aroma of the beverage filled his nostrils as he drew a breath.
Since Kirk already took up so much of his time, he didn’t have more to waste on chit-chatting with the bothersome woman. More specifically since she had made her intentions toward him abundantly clear. Fighting off a woman with an overactive libido wasn’t new to him, but there was something about Daphne Fowler that had resonated with him from their first meeting. It was disappointing that she proved to be one of those after all.
Patience was a virtue, he reminded himself as he pushed his hands into his pockets and studied her. He had expected more from her. Professionalism, for one, rather than using feminine wiles to get her way.
Her reputation as a radical investigative journalist preceded her, so he had known who she was the moment she had mentioned her name. Nonetheless, he had done a thorough background check on her, which was why her presence here today didn’t come as that much of a surprise. He had read numerous of her articles over the years and was well aware that she had played helpful roles in cracking open many of the investigations she had assisted in. It was commendable, but the last thing he needed was a nosy and over-eager reporter looking for her next big story, especially since there was already too much public opinion in their findings.
“It appears you’re lost. This isn’t the public library, Miss Lovebug.” He kept his tone even but ensured a tinge of sharpness warned her not to push her luck.
“Oh, freaking moss balls,” she cried. The unexpected deepness of his voice gave her such a fright that instead of taking a sip, the cup toppled, and the coffee spilled all over her soft peach-colored sweater. Glowering at him, she jumped to her feet. “Now look at what you’ve done!”
