Page 71 of Her Wild Coast Promise

After a deep breath, I give her what I can. “It’s clear from the leads we’re following that we’re up against what looks a lot like organized crime. They’re using our valley as a link in their chain. They prey on girls already vulnerable from poverty or difficult family situations and force them into the sex trade, both here and abroad.”

“Oh Seth, that’s so awful.”

I raise an eyebrow. “And that’s just the start of it. I have three unsolved murders, another death I’m pretty sure is a cover for yet another murder, and though I have some solid forensics to tie them together, nothing that’s getting me closer to an arrest. Oh, and two arson fires that are related but I have no idea how.”

Cora pulls up to a red light, her face stricken. “That’s a lot, Seth.”

I glance out the window at the rain-slicked sidewalks and the wind buffeting the trees. Two people wait at the stop light, both dressed in raincoats and rain boots. One of them is wielding a colorful umbrella, but it’s not doing much good in the wind.

“How about we use a little history to deal with this question?” Cora asks, her tone brightening.

“What do you mean?”

She gives me a cunning glance. “I’m remembering a case study. A small town in Virginia. An unprepared police force who didn’t realize what they were up against until it was too late. When the feds finally got involved, the cute little town became a battlefield. Even though the bad guys were brought to justice, the town was never the same.”

“That’s sounding all too real,” I reply, running my hand through my hair to grip the back of my neck. Anything to stop the headache throbbing at the base of my skull.

“Exactly,” she says. “It might be a good way to counter your opponent’s idea to go around shaking people’s hands, reassuring them that everything is okay.”

“I think both are important. We just don’t have enough manpower. Or the specialized training we need.”

The light turns and Cora accelerates. “Which is why an increase in staffing and development is part of your plans for future betterment of this valley.”

“It doesn’t help me right now, though,” I say as Cora turns left at the next light, where a handful of people in matching navy-blue rain gear are holding up signs that say “Vote For Peyton” in bold red letters. What’s worse is several passing cars honk in support. I try not to sink lower in my seat.

“Ignore them,” Cora sings. “They’re paid to do that.”

I whip my head around so fast my neck cracks. “Seriously?”

Cora nods. “Yep.”

“How did you find that out?”

“Probably better if you don’t know.”

“The fuck?”

With a sigh, she turns toward the capitol building. “It’s important that I know everything about your opponent’s campaign. Including anything shady.”

“Shady, as in she’s cheating?” I should table this sidebar until later, when I’m less distracted, but I have no idea when that might be.

“Hiring people to hold up her signs doesn’t break any campaign rules.” She gives me a pointed glance. “But there’s a pattern emerging in regards to her campaign funding sources. I’m working that angle in case it becomes important, but it’s a risk.”

“You’re trying to protect me in case she comes after you,” I grit out. “Damn it, Cora. That’s my job.”

Her eyes tense, and she sighs. “Is it?”

The words sting. I hate that she feels this way, but can I blame her? “I’m not okay with you taking some kind of fall for me. I’d rather lose the election.”

She swipes at her cheeks, but doesn’t look at me. “I can handle myself, Seth, okay? Question five, please.”

Reluctantly, I skim to it, but my brain feels foggy. How can I turn this conversation around? This isn’t the time or the place to try to explain what’s going on inside me, but I’m riled up and the messages firing in my brain won’t quit.

“What do you think?” Cora asks, glancing down at the page in my lap.

I force my brain to comprehend the words she wants me to read. “Okay, her ninety percent conviction rate is because of my department’s good policework. We’re the ones who obtain and process the forensic evidence, interview the witnesses, build the crime scene chrono.”

“She’s going to use her success as an example of how she’s tough on crime, and because your case clearance rate is only sixty percent, that experience doesn’t, in fact, matter.”

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