Page 9 of In Her Path

“She hasn’t finished her report,” Jenna said. “I’m sure she’ll send you information when she can.”

The mayor’s composure slipped further. “I found out about it when I arrived here this morning. Now the building’s practically empty—people either called in or left when the news spread.” She leaned forward. “Jenna, am I in danger?”

Jenna chose her words carefully. “We don’t have any reason to think you’re a specific target, Claire. But until we know more about what happened to Councilman Paige, we’ll be increasing security at City Hall and for all council members.”

Relief flashed across Claire’s face, quickly replaced by something sharper. “These murders—they keep on happening, one right after another.” Her gaze fixed on Jenna. “It wasn’t like this when Frank Doyle was in charge …but since you became sheriff …”

Claire’s voice faded, but the implication was all too familiar from prior conversations. Claire wasn’t the only person in Trentville to wonder if Jenna was somehow connected—or even vaguely responsible—for the mayhem that had broken out during the last few months. Jenna’s strange and unexplained methods of investigation had generated rumors about her.

As always Jenna felt a flare of irritation. “We’ve been over this before. And I don’t like what you’re suggesting.”

“You have your... ways of doing things,” Claire replied, her voice wavering. “They’re unconventional, and I know it isn’t rational, but sometimes I wonder if all these results—good and bad—come with a price. I can’t help feeling like there are consequences we can’t see.”

“Correlation isn’t causation.” Jenna kept her voice level. “These recent murders aren’t evidence of a supernatural conspiracy.”

“Sheriff Graves has an exceptional solve rate,” Jake added, his calm voice a counterpoint to the tension. “That’s why the voters keep electing her.”

The mayor took a deep breath, visibly regrouping. “Of course. I apologize if my concern came across as... We’re all on edge. Curtis was my colleague for fifteen years.”

Jenna let the moment pass, though the sting of the accusation lingered. “Speaking of colleagues, who on the council had issues with Curtis Paige?”

“Where to begin? Curtis made enemies the way some people make friends,” Claire said, rolling her eyes “I can’t think of anyone in city government who got along with him. And that includes me. But I didn’t do this. I’m sure that goes without saying.”

Jenna couldn’t disagree. For all her differences with Mayor Simmons, Jenna felt sure that she was no killer.

“Anyone outside city government?” Jenna pressed.

Claire hesitated, her gaze dropping to her desk. “There were rumors about development deals. Curtis had connections with several construction companies. Not all of them aboveboard.” She looked up. “But that’s just talk. I couldn’t possibly confirm anything.” She shrugged and added, “Of course as everybody knows, Curtis’s name has shown up in too many scandals to count.”

“And yet, somehow, he always managed to slip by untouched.”

“That’s the truth.” Claire’s expression tightened. “I’ve told you what I know, Sheriff. Curtis had enemies. Many of them. But I can’t point to any one person and say, ‘they might have done it.’” She straightened her already immaculate blazer. “Meanwhile, the people of Trentville will want reassurance. I’m going to schedule a public announcement for later today. We’ll hold outside City Hall, since the council chamber is, well …”

“A crime scene,” Jenna said, completing her thought.

“That’s right. I hope you’ll be there with me Sheriff Graves. And I hope you’ll have something helpful to say by then. I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve set a time. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”

It was a clear dismissal. Jenna rose, Jake following suit. “We’ll need access to Curtis’s office and files,” she said.

“I’ll tell his assistant to take care of everything you need.” Claire reached for her phone. “And Sheriff? Please tell me … there won’t be any more murders.”

Jenna couldn’t help bristle at the question. Of course, given all that had happened in recent months, she couldn’t assure Claire of any such thing. And the mayor knew that.

“We’ll do everything we can to stop that from happening,” she said. “I hope you know that.”

When Jenna and Jake left the mayor’s office, the hallway outside was deserted, the usual morning bustle of City Hall reduced to hushed whispers and cautious glances.

“That went well,” Jake said dryly as they reached the stairwell.

“About as well as it usually goes with Claire Simmons.”

They descended the stairs in silence, passing Dr. Stark and her team as they carefully maneuvered Paige’s body on a gurney toward the exit. The parking lot was half-empty as Jenna and Jake left the building, several spaces conspicuously vacant as employees opted to work from home rather than share a building with a murder scene.

“I’ll see you back at the station,” Jake said, already heading for the parking lot.

“We’ll regroup there and figure out our next steps.” They each headed to their own cars, the unsettled morning weighing on them both.

Jenna paused beside her vehicle. The morning had already stretched into a complex tangle of political grudges, professional rivalries, and unexplained fears. Curtis Paige had been a difficult man who made powerful enemies—any one of whom might have decided that a well-placed ice pick was the solution to their problems.