Page 28 of Ranger Bravery

Were they about to face off with a killer?

FIFTEEN

The tension in the sheriff’s office was thick enough to choke a man.

Jackson stood in the corner of the room. Shawn was seated at a small conference table in the sheriff’s office. He attempted to appear in control, but worry lines bracketed his mouth and his shoulders curved inward. Something about his demeanor resembled a dog that’d been beaten down. His wife, Melanie, was seated next to him, but her body leaned away. As if she couldn’t stand being so close. Her sunny blond hair hung in waves and she was dressed casually in designer jeans and a lace top. She absently twisted her wedding ring with her thumb.

Standing behind Shawn was his father. Paul Kingston’s posture was ramrod straight. His gray hair was cropped short, and he wore an expensive suit tailored to fit his athletic frame perfectly. Looks were very important, and Paul worked out religiously to keep in good health. He was fifty-five but looked a decade younger. His expression was neutral, but Jackson sensed the anger pouring off of him.

“Sheriff, it has come to my attention that you have questions about Shawn’s involvement with a receptionist from our law firm.” Paul’s gaze was sharp enough to cut a man. “We’re here to set the record straight. Although why I wasn’t given the common curtsy of a heads up before investigators questioned my son, I’ll never understand. This entire matter could have been handled quickly.”

Paul was furious. Jackson stepped forward to explain that he was in charge of the investigation, but before he could open his mouth, Derek cut him off.

“Paul, I understand this is difficult for your family, but questioning those closest to the victim is standard procedure.” Derek’s tone brooked no argument. “I won’t treat your family any differently than I would any other citizen.”

“We’ll see how that works out for you when the next election rolls around.”

The Kingstons were a wealthy and influential family. If they backed someone else in the next election for sheriff, it would make things difficult for Derek. It didn’t surprise Jackson that Paul believed he should be treated with special care. The Kingstons had courted favor with the mayor, the city council, and the sheriff for decades. During Shawn’s reckless youth, it had kept him out of trouble.

Apparently, Paul and Shawn were struggling with the idea that they wouldn’t be given special dispensation by the sheriff anymore. To his credit, Derek didn’t blink at the threat. “You are free to do as you please, Paul.” He gave him a relaxed smile. “It’s what makes our country so great. That we can choose which leaders we like. In the meantime, I have a murder investigation to run?—”

“About that.” Paul reached into a leather briefcase and removed a stack of papers, slapping them on Derek’s desk. “There are five affidavits from employees who confirm Shawn was at work during the time the victim was killed. He was at the office until well past eight o’clock that night.

Jackson stiffened. If Shawn had an alibi, why hadn’t he mentioned it during their first interview?

From the crease of Piper’s brow, she was thinking the same thing. She picked up the affidavits and flipped through them. She glanced at Shawn and then at Jackson before handing the papers to Derek. “These appear to be in order.”

Paul scoffed. “Of course they are. It’s preposterous to believe my son murdered anyone.”

“He had a relationship?—”

Paul waved off her comment. “Shawn and Melanie have experienced marital troubles for quite some time. That information isn’t public knowledge, mind you, but his affair with our receptionist is hardly scandalous.”

“Elena,” Piper snapped.

“Excuse me?”

“Your receptionist had a name. It’s Elena.” She turned away from Paul’s smirk and focused on Melanie, softening her voice. “Is that true? Did you know about the affair?”

“I did. Shawn and I have been having marital troubles for some time. We’ve kept it quiet because we aren’t sure how we want to proceed. Our children—” A choke cut her off, and tears appeared at the corners of her eyes. “Our children are the most important things to us.”

“We’ve been sleeping in separate bedrooms for a year,” Shawn added. “Both of us have had relationships outside of the marriage. For obvious reasons, we’ve been discreet. The last thing I want is to cause my wife—or my children—embarrassment. People in town would talk if news about my affair became public knowledge.”

Jackson spotted a box of tissues on the bookshelf and handed it to Melanie. She delicately removed a few and dabbed at her eyes. “Thank you.”

He nodded in silent acknowledgment. Shawn glanced at his wife with concern. She refused to meet his gaze. The interactions were fraught with tension and unspoken conflict. It wasn’t hard to see their marriage was on the rocks. Still, there was something about this entire situation that didn’t feel right. As if they’d rehearsed their parts. Maybe it was his suspicious nature firing overtime, but Jackson wasn’t buying that Melanie knew about the affair before Elena’s death.

“I have a few follow-up questions.” Jackson returned the tissues to the bookshelf.

“Melanie, dear, why don’t you wait outside for us?” Paul’s tone was gentle, his expression sympathetic. “There’s no need for you to hear anything further.”

She quickly rose and scurried from the room like a mouse. The door clicked closed behind her.

Jackson faced Shawn. “We’ve had time to review Elena’s text messages and her phone calls. She broke things off with you about two weeks before she died. Elena was unhappy you wouldn’t get a divorce. You persisted in pursuing her, even after things were over. Honestly, I’m confused. If your wife was aware of the affair, and you and Elena were in love, why didn’t you simply agree to a divorce?”

Paul placed a meaty hand on Shawn’s shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t answer that.”

Shawn flinched. His hands gripped the arms of the chairs and his jaw clenched, as if he had an answer, but was forbidden from saying it. Jackson knew Shawn’s relationship with his dad was fraught with tension. Always had been. Paul expected his orders to be obeyed at all times. The fact that Shawn was a grown man, capable of making his own decisions, didn’t matter in the Kingston family. Paul was the patriarch, and his word was law.

---