Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

J oe was called into work before the sun rose. It was a short, clipped call that resulted in him getting up and throwing on his uniform.

"What's goin' on?" I asked, sitting up in bed while he went into the bathroom.

"Don't worry about it, darlin'."

I followed him into the bathroom. "Don't do that, Joe," I said, disappointment heavy in my voice. "I'm not a child. Tell me what's goin' on."

He turned at the waist to face me as he brushed his teeth, then spat toothpaste into the sink. "I can't, Rose. I'm in full media lockdown."

"I'm not media, Joe."

He pushed out a sigh and started brushing again. "I know," he said with his toothbrush in his mouth.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm not going to tell anyone. I didn't tell Neely Kate about the second murder, and I suspect she's still holding a grudge because she had to find out from someone else."

He spat again, then rinsed his toothbrush under running water and rinsed out his mouth. When he stood upright, he turned sideways and leaned his hip against the counter. "There was another murder."

My stomach dropped. "What happened?"

"Someone was shot." He paused. "In the head. But it wasn't a woman, Rose," he said quickly, moving toward me and gripping my upper arms lightly. "It was a man. Someone found him in the woods by Schute Creek."

Nausea struck me again. "Someone shot him in the woods?"

"I don't know yet. The forensic team's on their way, and I want to meet them there."

"Did you ask Randy to try to find the guy in my vision?"

"He put out some feelers, but so far, nothing," Joe said.

"Ashley brought up something I hadn't considered," I said. "She said the woman looked a little bit like Violet too. She wondered if the woman could be a cousin, but I told her I don't have any cousins."

His face went slack. "You told Ashley about your vision?"

My mouth dropped open. "You think I would do that?"

"How does she know about the woman?"

I took a step back out of his reach. "She's a very bright girl," I said in an icy tone. "She asked me if the people that Tony drew were from my nightmare. Mikey was the one who noticed a resemblance to me. And when I checked on Ash, she mentioned the way people sometimes think she and Hope are sisters." I took another step back. "So to answer your question, Joe. No , I didn't tell her anything about my nightmare or vision. She just put it together."

He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up everywhere. "I'm sorry. I'm just tired. I don't know why my question came out the way it did."

I walked over and wrapped him up in a forward-facing hug, resting my cheek on his chest. "I know. I'm sorry that I got so defensive. I'm just worried. And scared." I glanced up at him. "Three murders in as many days." I couldn't get the saying trouble comes in threes out of my head.

He frowned. "I know, and we're no closer to solving the first two than we were when we discovered the first body."

"Did Harvey Smith's sister get ahold of you?"

He pulled away and narrowed his eyes. "How do you know Harvey Smith's sister?" His eyes widened. "How do you even know his name? We haven't released it to the public yet."

"Neely Kate and I met her at Dena's Bakery. Dena was talking about the first murder, and Darlene was in line behind us. She mentioned her brother was the victim."

His eyes darkened. "Is that so?"

"You think I'm lyin'?" I whisper-shouted.

"It's just awfully strange that the sister of one of the murder victims just happened to be behind you in line and chose to volunteer the information that her brother was killed."

"I can't help if you find it hard to believe. If you're doubting my recollection, then perhaps you should ask Neely Kate."

"She's just going to corroborate your story."

I wanted to get angrier that he was questioning me, but the fact that I was meeting Darlene later and not telling him made it feel too hypocritical. "So call Dena, Joe," I said tightly. "You know she doesn't feel an ounce of loyalty to me or Neely Kate, yet she'll back me up."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Rose, I'm so sorry."

"I gave Darlene one of your cards and told her to call you, but I got the impression she wasn't going to." My irritation made me push it a step farther. "I'm discovering the citizens of Pickle Junction don't care much for the sheriff's department."

His lips pressed into a tight line before he said, "I'm tryin', Rose, but change doesn't happen overnight."

"Treating people with respect shouldn't be that hard," I countered. "And while I know you treat people that way, I can't say the same for some of your deputies."

He dropped his hand to his side and gave me a defeated look. "I won't be able to help you get the kids to church."

"We'll be fine," I said, my tone shorter than I'd intended.

"But you've got Daisy too."

"So we might be a little late to church," I said, softer this time. "It's not the end of the world."

Joe studied me as he took a step toward me, gauging if I was open to him giving me a hug. I held out my arms, and he pulled me into a tight embrace.

"I hate when we fight," he said into my hair.

"I hate it too." Especially since it didn't happen very often. Yet we'd had multiple disagreements in only a few days.

"I love you and the kids so much," he said, his voice breaking. "I don't want to lose any of you."

I leaned back to look up at him. "I'm not goin' anywhere, Joe." I gave him an ornery smile. "You can't get rid of me that easily."

He kissed me hard, and I could taste his apology and his fear. Was he afraid I'd leave him or that something would happen to me or the kids?

"I haven't brushed my teeth yet," I said as he pulled away. "My breath has to stink."

"I don't care," he said, giving me another kiss, this one gentler and lingering. "I miss you."

"I miss you too. The kids and I will be here when you get home, so go to work, and don't worry about us. We'll be just fine."

He gave me a long glance, then headed for the bedroom door.

"Joe?" I called after him.

He stopped in the doorway, his hair all askew as he turned back to me.

"Be careful."

Worry covered his face. "You too," he said and walked out the door.