Page 33 of Naughty by Nature

“You think it was Shipton?”

“Timeline fits. Confirmed by a witness. Is there still a protection order attached to him?”

Sheridan heard papers ruffling on the other end of the line.

“It looks like it expired while he was incarcerated, so, technically, no. I think under the circumstances it would be easy to attach one onto it.”

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind. He sent the victim a box yesterday, and flowers. Note inside was to his girls, who he gave up parental rights to in the divorce. Is there a school restriction on him?”

More shuffling. “Yes, there is a school restriction on him, but he doesn’t have to register as a sex offender because his charge was considered a marital rape.”

Sheridan cursed. “Okay. It was a delivery person that came yesterday.”

Groves heaved a sigh. “Sounds like he’s going to be a problem child, huh? Between not drinking at the bar and skirting the school, he’s going to walk every edge.”

“Yes. Just like he did before he went in. Victim wants nothing to do with him, but I have a feeling she’s going to have to tell him that in person, strongly, before he actually hears it. If he doesn’t we’ll be slapping that protection order back on him.”

“Sounds like a plan. Let me give you my after hours number.”

He reeled off a line of numbers, as well as an email address.

“If you can, Sheriff, keep me posted on what goes on. I feel like it’s a matter of time before he gets arrested again. He still has three years on the original sentence left to serve if he isn’t careful.”

“Okay. I’ll definitely keep you up to date.”

Sheridan felt a lot better about where they stood now. As long as they had boundaries and Wade kept to them, things would be hunky dory.

He called the elementary school and asked Joy if he could talk to Cheyenne. Within a few seconds he was connected to her room.

Kids were laughing in the background, and Cheyenne’s voice echoed a little. “Okay, guys, read quietly while I’m on the phone. We’re going to talk about the story when I’m done. Okay, I’m here.”

Sheridan loved the sound of her voice, even if she did seem a little tense.

“Well, Wade showed up for work at the feed store, and he did check in with his parole officer.”

“Fudge,” she whispered. “I was kind of hoping for an easy way out of this.”

Sheridan sighed. “Well, the old protection order is dead. It expired while he was in prison. If you want a new one attached, I can go to the judge today. I don’t think Wade is going to get it through his head, though, until you actually talk to him in person. Call it a cop’s hunch. He considers you his property. And the girls.”

“I know. I get the same feeling. Like he’s telling me to be compliant, and if I don’t then he’s just going to roll in anyway.”

Something occurred to Sheridan, and option, and a little spurt of excitement went through him, but he tucked the thought away. He would need to cogitate on that when he could focus on it.

“Right now, you guys are safe. He has a school restriction. He can’t be within five hundred feet of the school grounds. Once you finish this week of school, you’ll be done, right?”

“Yes. I’ll have a few teacher days then we’ll be done till August twentieth, when the school year starts.”

“Okay. We can do this, Cheyenne. I think if we give him enough time he’s going to hang himself. He’s already walking the line. I told the parole officer about everything, and he’s very close to being in violation of his parole.”

She heaved a sigh on the other end of the line. “As long as you don’t mind us cluttering up your house for a while more.”

He barked out a laugh. “Are you serious? I love having you and the girls in my house.”

She was quiet for a long moment. “You know, I enjoy being there too. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for everything you’ve done, Sheridan.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I look at it as balancing the books. I didn’t serve you well last time, but I am this time.”

She laughed lightly. “Okay. I need to get going. Kids are going to riot soon.”

“Okay. Later, Cheyenne.”

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