Page 43 of First Surrender

“Mr. Dane, sorry to come out here and disturb your day. We had another anonymous call to check on the parolees.” I shake his hand, not bothering to waste any time with ego checks.

“I figured. The guys are in the barn.” He accompanies me down to one of the larger barns on the property and stands idle while I do what I need. Weapons checks, drug checks, the usual. As with each time, there are no issues, but checking their bunks and living spaces is time-consuming. It takes me half the afternoon.

“Thanks for your cooperation, as always. Hopefully, I won’t see you for a while.” I turn to get back in my cruiser, already calculating how fast I need to drive to make it back to the courthouse in time but he clears his throat, stopping me.

“We’ve had some issues with harassment, not sure it’s a problem but since you’re here.” He shrugs, not giving much of anything else away. He’s a man of few words but I understand his language.

“Violent?”

“Not yet.”

“What’s happened so far?”

“Hate mail. Garbage is being thrown over the fences. One night on the farther side of the property it sounded like someone was trying to pull one of the gates down with a tow chain. They were gone by the time we got there but they left the broken chain behind.”

“You have any idea who it is?”

“We aren’t short on enemies, Sheriff. Anyone who hates what we stand for has made it known.”

I look at him, slightly puzzled, because I wasn’t aware he was receiving any backlash. He rehabilitates felons and bears, it’s not exactly devious.

He notices my confusion and enlightens me. “People in town don’t like rubbing elbows with felons. They hate that I have the largest property in Langston and they don’t get to profit off of it. They hate that they can’t exploit the bears.”

“Ah. Well, you’re doing everything right in my eyes. I’ve got your back if things get worse. If anything else happens document it the best you can. Get some cameras if you don’t have any but call me if there’s a new incident. I’ll keep an official log and if the harassment becomes a bigger issue, we’ll nail down who is responsible.”

He seems surprised by my response. His eyes widen subtly but he quickly covers it and reaches out to shake my hand. “Appreciate it, Sheriff.”

By the time I make it back into town, I’ve broken multiple speed limits. After a quick pit stop in my office, I’m in the clear to get to the courthouse. To Natalie.

Not that she cares if I’m there, but I’ll feel better being there when she hears the bad news. I might have to stop her from hitting someone.

As I pull my office door closed and lock it, I immediately feel someone’s eyes on the back of my head.

“Sheriff, there you are!” The chipper voice belongs to one singular person and I am not in the mood for fake niceties.

“Mrs. Porter.” I acknowledge her with a nod but continue walking past her toward the elevator. I should take the stairs then I’d lose her quickly.

“I know you’re a busy man but I wanted to let you know some exciting news.”

“Yeah, what’s that?” She follows me into the elevator.

“My son is running for Mayor.”

“Of Lawson?” The current mayor is a long-timer who will probably be strong in his position for a few more years. It’d be a losing battle to run against him.

“No, no. Langston.”

“Ah. Okay.” It’s the smallest populated city in the county but has the largest land area. Langston is where I just was at the sanctuary, and Thomas Jameson’s farm was. They were practically neighbors, if you can call it that, with miles between them.

“I would love it if you could back him. Show your support since his daddy is no longer with us.”

We’ve made it outside the Sheriff’s Department building and I’m striding across the walkway to the courthouse when her statement stuns me immobile. Why she would think I would ever align myself with her late husband is beyond me.

“Mrs. Porter-”

“Vanessa, please.”

“Vanessa. No.” That’s the nicest way I could put it.

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