Page 9 of Tough Justice
She could object, but what was the point? “I live in Wyoming, what do you expect? I can’t get away from them, and I can’t tellthe good ones from the bad. I’m starting to think there’s no such thing as a good one anymore. At least not one for me.”
A heaviness settled on her shoulders. She hated how much hope she’d lost over the last few years. How much she’d given over and over to the men she’d fallen for and loved only to be left behind in the dust. Something shinier waiting in the distance.
Heather was quiet, her attention shifting from window to window before stopping and facing Suzy. “Sometimes you have to shuffle the deck for the right one to rise to the top. It can take a while, I know, but I’ve heard it’s worth the wait.” She paused before adding. “Duke is worth the wait.”
Suzy made sure to keep her expression neutral. “I’m sure he is for someone. We’re friends, and that’s all we’ll ever be.”
Heather lifted her palms in surrender. “Okay. I’ve said my piece. I promised myself I wouldn’t sweep in and be a pain in the ass for Duke and, well, I really like you. No need to spout off my opinions and piss you off because then you won’t take me for hot chocolate.”
“Well, good thing for you I can’t say no to chocolate in any form. Let’s grab some before we head back to my car. We’ll call Duke or Lane after I drop off my car to come pick us up and take us back to the house.”
“Deal.”
Comfortable silence settled between them as they walked to Higher Grounds and each ordered a warm, decadent drink. Strolling back to where she’d parked in the alley beside the restaurant, she tilted her face toward the sun and enjoyed the brisk air on her skin. Parker had fallen asleep, and she flipped through everything she needed to get done today.
The list was short. Hopefully she could get some more time with Heather. She liked the other woman a lot. Even if Duke’s sister was a little too insightful for Suzy’s comfort. Fishing herkeys from her pocket, she stopped in front of her trunk. Words scratched into the paint constricted her heart with fear.
I found you.
4
An old-school country song crooned on the radio as Duke drove back into town. He whistled along with the familiar tune. He’d picked a fairly easy security system to install for the Gurlys. Shouldn’t take too long then he could meet up with Heather and spend some time with her before she had to head back home.
She hadn’t mentioned how long she’d be in Hillmore, but he assumed he had a few days with her. At least he hoped so. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed her until he set eyes on her.
His phone trilled, and he pressed the answer button in his steering wheel. “Hey.”
“I need you to meet me at the sheriff’s department,” Lane said, voice calm and steady.
“They figure out who broke the window at the candy store and need our input?” He snorted out a laugh. “When the small-town deputies need input from two newbies in the security business, it’s no wonder we don’t need a license to handle private investigator work in this state. We’re pretty damn good, but in this case, I don’t think we can be of much help.”
“There’s still no leads in the Gurlys’ vandalism. Something else happened with Suzy and Heather. They’re not hurt, but I need you to come to the station.”
Duke’s throat tightened and he pressed his foot harder on the gas pedal. The scenery outside his window flew by in a blur, clouded by fear and concern. “What happened?”
“Someone keyed a threat onto Suzy’s car. They’re both pretty shaken. How far away are you?”
“I’ll be there in a couple minutes.”
He disconnected and fought to keep his hands steady on the steering wheel. Time slowed down the faster he drove, making the five-minute drive feel like it took ten times as long. When the sheriff’s department loomed ahead, a bit of the tension bunching the muscles in his neck loosened. He parked in the lot attached to the standalone building a block away from the town square then catapulted from his truck. He ran for the door, impatience fisting his hands, to find a few people in front of him speaking to the deputy behind the bullet-proof glass.
He tapped his toe against the linoleum floor. Anxiety ricocheted off his ribs like a small rubber ball. Lane said both women weren’t harmed, but that didn’t lessen his need to see them with his own eyes. Verify they were okay before figuring out who the hell had vandalized Suzy’s car and why.
The buzz sounded seconds before the big beige door opened and the person in front of him stepped through. He found himself staring into the big brown eyes of Deputy Wells.
“Morning, Duke,” she said, her light hair pulled back in a low bun. “Your sister’s in the conference room with Lane and Suzy. Head on back.”
He swept his hat off his head and dipped his chin. “Thanks. Appreciate it.”
Once the buzz sounded again, he hurried to the main hub of the sheriff’s station. He marched past the clutter of messy desks—some manned with deputies, most not—and headed straight for the conference room at the back of the station.
He rounded the corner and Heather shot to her feet, hurling herself into his arms. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Came as soon as I could. You okay?” He pulled back to get a good look at her.
“Yeah, just scared.”
He glanced over her head to where Suzy sat behind a long rectangular table with Lane at her side. “And you?”
