Page 50 of Exposure of Murder

What a mess. Ethan cursed himself for being complacent for so long. Crime was everywhere today, and his little town of Beaver Creek wasn’t exempt.

Rosie stood. “I’ll keep digging, see who bought those underpriced properties.”

“Good idea,” Ethan said. “There’s still a lead I need to follow up with—Jane’s handyman, Bucky, is hiding something. I plan on having coffee with her and see if I can get any information.”

“Hmm.” Rose smirked. “Are you sure that’s all you want from her?”

“It’s not like that,” he huffed. “I just want to make sure she’s safe.”

Rosie chuckled. “Riiight. Good luck with that.” She gathered her papers. The sound of rustling papers reminded Ethan he still had work on his desk to do.

Ethan stared at her back. His jaw tightened. Making sure Jane was safe was just a tiny white lie. He wanted her safe, but there was more. He was attracted to her. However, Rosie was right. He needed to stay focused.

Thornton’s death was part of something bigger, and if Sean was right, danger was closer than he realized.

An hour later,Ethan found himself at the Harvest Moon Diner, waiting for Jane. He’d decided to call her right after Rosie left his office. He sat in a window booth, watching townspeople walk by. The afternoon sun cast long shadows on the wooden table. The trees were barren, the wind causing small branches to sway.

“Sheriff, what brings you here midafternoon?” asked Flo, interrupting his thoughts. She stood by the booth, holding acoffee carafe, a dusting of flour on her apron. “I usually only see you early in the morning.”

“I’m meeting someone.”

“Coffee?” she asked, already reaching for his cup.

“Yes, please.” He inhaled the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and wished for a moment it smelled like that at the station and not like burnt dirty socks. But his deputies were busy, and he wouldn’t ask Nora to make it, so he sucked it up. It would be a treat to get a good cup of coffee today, maybe even a piece of that caramel apple pie that Leah made. He had a slice or two just last night when she brought over a pie for him and Tanner.

He closed his eyes, listening to the murmurs of conversations, the clinking of glasses and silverware, and inhaling the beefy scent of grilled burgers.

His stomach growled.

“Well, hello to you too,” came a familiar voice.

Ethan opened his eyes to see Jane standing there, her cheeks pink from the cold.

She removed her green pea coat and scarf and hung both on the rack by the side of the booth. Today she had on an oversize black-and-white striped sweater that looked soft and a pair of jeans that hugged her curves just right.

“Hi,” he said, his heart racing a little. “I was debating whether to have a piece of pie or a burger. Have you eaten yet?”

“Hmm.” She slid into the booth across from him. “I had lunch, but a piece of pie sounds wonderful with a cup of coffee.” She smiled at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “But you have whatever you want.”

Flo returned with the coffee carafe. “Jane, good to see you. Everything okay on the farm?”

“Yes. Thanks for asking.”

She filled both their cups, the steam rising as she set them down, took their order, and turned to leave. “That nice man who works for you was in earlier. I’m glad he’s working out.”

Jane nodded. “He’s been a terrific help.”

Ethan sipped his coffee, thinking that was a perfect segue to ask Jane about Bucky. He set his cup down and filled her in on some of what had been happening. Jane listened intently.

“So, you have no suspects at this time?”

“No. We have other avenues we’re pursuing.” He hesitated. “I wanted to ask you about Bucky. What do you really know about him?”

Jane’s expression darkened; her brow furrowed. “You don’t believe he had anything to do with Thornton’s death, do you?”

“Well …”

“Here you go, folks.” Flo placed a burger down in front of Ethan and the pie for Jane. “I’ll bring you pie when you finish the burger, Sheriff.” She winked and turned to wait on a couple at the next table over.

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