Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Jackson

I woke up bright and early the next morning to squeeze in a run before I headed in to work. Running was more than good for my body; it gave me time to let my mind wander. It was usually during that time that I would think of an angle I hadn’t yet considered and crack whatever case I was working on.

When Sheriff Morrison had started an investigative division, more than a few people had laughed at the idea. We were a small county with a small budget to match. Detectives were for big cities, everyone protested. It would be a meaningless title here in Rosemary Mountain, where there was supposedly nothing to investigate—nothing that required a deputy’s full attention, anyway.

But they had been proven wrong, and as they had begun to realize just how useful I could be, I had gotten busier and busier. Sure, most of my investigations were for minor, petty stuff. A lot of them were drug related. But we had worked a few homicides, and I had even helped out on a high-profile case involving a senator from California. I was proud of my work and grateful the sheriff had seen fit to pick me for the responsibility.

But today as I ran, my mind wasn’t on my official cases. I couldn’t stop thinking about how Russell kept popping up. Last night, when I had walked Allison to her car, someone had slipped behind the building into the shadows. I didn’t get a close look, but my gut said it had to be him again. He was following me—and had potentially broken into Allison’s car while we ate. But why?

He had asked for money, but I had made it clear I wouldn’t give it. He had too much pride to keep pushing for it. If he was ready for me to hook him up with a job, he wouldn’t go slinking around in the shadows.

The words he’d spoken to me last time came back. “ You’ll get what’s coming to you, boy.” When I was a kid, those words had meant there was going to be pain—and lots of it.

But things were different now. Truth was, I knew he was at least a little afraid of me. He had to fear that, if he ever gave me the chance, I’d gladly give him a taste of his own medicine. That’s what he would do in my shoes. Revenge was Russell’s middle name, and like he always said—his blood ran through my veins.

He was getting older, and a lifetime of drugs and alcohol had left him looking thin and frail. I, on the other hand, had turned to exercise as the very best free therapy, so I would easily outmatch him in a fight—especially now that I regularly trained with Cole Hawkins, a special forces veteran and martial arts expert Greg had brought on to train all of his deputies. The local news had done a special feature on Cole’s training sessions with us. Russell would have heard about it. He had to know he didn’t stand a chance against me in a fight these days.

He was probably just trying to scare me.

I hated that he still could.

I kept my guard up all day, knowing that if Russell really did want revenge, he’d probably try to get it by cutting my brake lines or something equally cowardly. Something hands off that he could do without getting caught. That or he’d offer to trade jobs with someone younger and fitter, maybe get me called out to a situation that was really a trap.

I was deep in thought when Greg stopped by my desk.

“Earth to Jackson,” he said in a voice that showed amusement instead of annoyance.

“Sorry,” I said, looking up from the paperwork I hadn’t even really been seeing. “What’s up?”

“Were you planning on going to the dance at town hall tonight?”

I shook my head. “Not really. Why? Need me to clock some extra hours?”

“Well, sort of,” he said, looking pained. “I was actually hoping you’d go to the dance, make an appearance.”

“Are you not going?” I asked, suddenly curious. Sheriff Morrison thought it was important to attend as many events as possible to show that he was part of the community and working to make it better for everyone.

He shook his head. “Janet’s got a bad cold. I want to stay home and take care of her, but I had already promised the mayor I would call out the raffle winners. I’d owe you one if you covered for me.”

“No problem. I’ll handle it.”

“Thank you.” He breathed a sigh of relief.

“Tell Janet to feel better soon.”

“I will. And seriously, I owe you one.”

He moved away from the desk and my mind drifted again. Did Allison know about the dance? She might not, since she had just gotten to town and wasn’t really in the know yet. But it would be a great opportunity for her to start showing up as a member of the community and building rapport, just like Greg had.

But I didn’t want to invite her in a way that would make it seem like I was asking her on a date. Even though we had made our pact the night before, inviting someone to a dance was different. In fact, I had made a point of always attending these things alone so I didn’t give anyone the wrong impression.

We didn’t have to go together though. I could just shoot her a message and let her know about it. I grabbed my phone before I overthought the whole thing.

Jackson: Hey, has anyone told you about the dance at town hall tonight?

Allison: Oh my goodness, are they still having those things?

Jackson: Yep. Every quarter.

Allison: Wow. Some things never change. Well, to answer your question, no, I didn’t know about it. Why?

Jackson: Might be good for you to make an appearance. Greg—Sheriff Morrison—was an outsider too. Replaced Sheriff Joe Hemsworth. Remember him?

Allison: Ah, good old Sheriff Joe. Of course I remember him.

Jackson: Then you know he was as beloved as Doc Rogers. Greg faced the same kind of battle you are, but he’s gained acceptance and respect. Part of how he did it was showing up at every town function he could, proving he cared about the community.

Allison: Ugh. I always hated those things. But you’re right. What time does it start?

Jackson: Six.

Allison: Will you be there?

Jackson: I’ll be there.

Allison: Then I’ll see you tonight. ??

I stared at my phone for a minute. It wasn’t a date. We weren’t even going together. But her little smile when I said I’d be there felt more important than it should.

As a kid, I’d been half in love with Allison Bell.

As an adult, I couldn’t let that happen again.