Page 132 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

He knew that with one word, I’d be turning against the love of my life.

“No.”

My fucking mother. Even in death she was ruining my life.

I was sitting in an interrogation room at the sheriff’s station. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been here, but my ass was sore from sitting in this metal chair for so long. My head was pounding and my back ached.

“Fuck.” I dropped my head into my hands and closed my eyes.

This was not how I’d planned on spending my day.

I’d stopped at the bar this morning to say hello to Thea, who’d been working on payroll. I needed some ideas on what to get Charlie for Christmas since I was going to do some shopping in Kalispell after I got Willa’s car cleaned.

When Sheriff Magee came through the door, I assumed it was just to say hello. He came in every now and again to make sure we knew he and his team were always available if there was trouble.

I certainly didn’t expect the sheriff to “invite” me down to the station for questioning—and request that I ride in the back of his cruiser.

At least he didn’t put me in cuffs or throw me in a jail cell. He just brought me into this room and explained that my mother had been found murdered. Then he told me that, at the moment, I was their number one suspect.

I was a murder suspect.

That was not a concept I could grasp. What I did know for certain was that I never should have answered Mom’s phone call three weeks ago.

My skull felt like it was going to split in two at any moment, so I rubbed the back of my neck, hoping to work out some of the kinks and get my headache to disappear. The pain was just beginning to let up when the door to the interrogation room opened and Sheriff Magee stepped inside.

He looked as tired as I felt.

We’d spent most of the day in here. He’d ask me questions and I’d answer into the recorder. Then I’d ask questions and he’d tell me what he could.

The only reason I’d agreed to talk to him without a lawyer present was because I trusted him. More importantly, Hazel trusted him. Those two butted heads all the damn time, but if she were in my shoes, she’d work with Sheriff Magee, not against him.

I just hoped my cooperation would be the key to my release, not my incarceration.

“Are you charging me?” I asked.

He shook his head and sank into the chair across from me. “Not today.”

My shoulders fell. “I didn’t do it.”

“That’s what everyone says.”

“You don’t believe me.”

He thumbed through a pad of paper he’d brought in with him. “I’m not sure what to believe. The evidence I had this morning only pointed to you. But I’m still collecting puzzle pieces. Good news for you is that the more I get, the less the picture resembles your face.”

That was the best news I’d had all day. “So what now?”

“You go home for the night. I keep working until I have all the pieces.” He blew out a long breath and kept his seat. I was ready to bolt, but the sheriff had something more to say. “You’ve got a lot of people who love you. I hope you’re grateful for them.”

“I am.”

“And you’ve got a smart woman who pays attention to details.”

The hairs on my arms stood up. “You talked to Willa?”

“In that room.” He pointed to the wall at my back.

I nearly shot out of my chair to go next door. The last place I wanted her was in an interrogation room, but I kept my seat. “What did she say?”