Page 55 of Redeeming Melodies

"Yeah." I started the coffee maker again, this time filling my travel mug. Regular routine, normal morning. Except nothing felt normal anymore. “Caleb’s great though. He'll make sure you don't miss anything worth seeing."

Tommy pushed his pancake around his plate, shoulders slumped. "But you know everything about this place."

"Tell you what." I crouched down to his level, this protective instinct I couldn't fight taking over. "How about I write down all the best spots? You can be the expedition leader, show your dad all the secret places."

His face brightened slightly. "Like a treasure map?"

"Exactly like a treasure map." I grabbed a notepad from the counter, sketching out quick directions.

"Really?" The hope in his voice made my chest ache.

"Really." I caught Elliot's eye over Tommy's head, making sure it was okay. He nodded, something warm in his expression that I couldn't let myself think about.

"Better get moving," I said, standing up and grabbing my badge from the counter. The weight of it felt heavier today, a reminder of responsibilities that couldn't be ignored, no matter how much I wanted to spend the day showing them my town. "Lock up when you head out?"

"Of course." Elliot's hand brushed my arm as he took the spare key. Just a casual touch, but it sent electricity through my skin. "Thanks for breakfast. And everything else."

"Anytime." The word carried more weight than I meant it to.

The station hitme with its familiar mix of coffee and cleaning supplies - Evangeline's war against germs never ended. Ramirez lounged against the front desk, probably sharing some story about last night's patrol, but Evangeline's raised eyebrow said she wasn't buying whatever he was selling.

"Morning, Sheriff." Evangeline's voice cut through my lingering thoughts of breakfast and green eyes. She had that look - the one that said she noticed everything and judged accordingly. "Richard called in. Something about his kid being sick."

"Again?" Ramirez straightened up. "That's the third time this month."

"Not our business." I kept walking, though privately I agreed. Richard's excuses were getting thin. "Handle his patrol route?"

"Already on it, boss." Ramirez went to work though he looked to be on edge. From what? I don’t know.

My office welcomed me with its organized chaos - case files stacked precisely, coffee mug collection telling stories of years on the force. Normal stuff. Routine stuff. Except nothing felt routine anymore, not with my house full of life and laughter and-

Focus, Thompson.

The incident reports from my days off created a neat pile on my desk, Evangeline's handwriting crisp and clear on the labels. Small stuff mostly - noise complaints, Miller kids racing their trucks again, old man Jenkins forgetting to lock up. Regular small-town problems that usually centered me, reminded me why I loved this job.

Today they just reminded me what I was missing. What Elliot and Tommy might be discovering without me.

My phone's shrill ring yanked me back to reality. Liam's name flashed on the screen, and something in my gut tightened. Liam never called during business hours unless-

"Jake." His voice cracked on my name. "I need- fuck, I need you at the ranch. Now."

Every protective instinct I'd been trying to suppress snapped to attention. "What happened?"

"It's Jimmy." The fear in Liam's voice made my skin crawl. "Someone- they hurt him bad, Jake. Really bad."

The chair scraped against the floor as I stood. "Where?"

"By the old stables. Caleb found him when he went to feed the horses." Liam's breath hitched. "There's so much blood."

"Don't touch anything." Sheriff mode kicked in, pushing everything else aside. "Keep everyone back. I'm on my way."

The cruiser's engine roared to life as I peeled out of the station lot. Evangeline would handle dispatch, would know from my expression not to send anyone else yet. Jimmy hurt. Jimmy, who'd been there through everything - my mistakes, my redemption, every step of building a life here.

The ranch materialized through my windshield, and my heart sank. Liam and Caleb stood by the barn like sentinels, their stances screaming that something was deeply wrong. Liam's shoulders hunched forward, his usual easy confidence shattered. Caleb stood close, one hand pressed against Liam's back - steady as always, even in crisis.

Gravel crunched under my boots as I approached. The morning air carried the metallic tang of blood mixed with hay and horse sweat. Wrong. All wrong for this peaceful place.

"Jake." Liam's voice cracked on my name. His eyes were red-rimmed, jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping. "They found him at three in the morning. Security camera caught the timestamp but not-" He stopped, swallowing hard.

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