Page 87 of Billionaire Protector

His muscles tightened. They needed to catch this guy immediately. “Was anyone hurt?”

“No, thankfully. It’s not that. It’s just… they found a clue.”

“They did? Isn’t that good?”

“No.” Her voice was a thousand shades of anxious. “I’ll explain when you get here.”

“I’ll be right there.” Cole hung up and turned to his dad. “I have to go. Please don’t mention our conversation to anyone. And if I say or do anything in the next few days that doesn’t make sense, don’t question it.”

“Of course.” His father nodded. “Good luck, son.”

He didn’t need luck, because he had strength and determination. He would do whatever it took to protect the woman he loved.

Always.

A single earring.

A tiny stud, not even silver-plated, with a plastic blue pearl in the center. It had been all of a dollar in the clearance bin at Sue’s Jewels.

And now it could cost Sarah her life’s work.

It had been found at the crime scene, the latest arson, where a bale of hay had been set ablaze. Somehow Donovan had found the tiny bauble in the big open field, in a spot Sarah claimed never to have been. She’d worn those earrings every day this week.

She was still wearing the other when the call came in.

Oh, they didn’t accuse her right to her face, and she didn’t expect them to. But doubts lingered in their eyes, suspicion and, in some cases, certainty. Suddenly she was a teenager all over again, defending herself against crimes she didn’t commit. It had ruined her life back then. Was it going to destroy it now?

“I’m here.”

Suddenly, the world brightened, ever so slightly, as the man she loved walked through the door. Dressed casually in jeans and a midnight shirt, he strode forward with his usual strength, not stopping as he headed straight to her. She beckoned him into her office and closed the door.

Cole closed the gap between them and opened his arms. She walked into them, allowing him to hold her for a single minute of respite. Finally, he leaned back. “I’ve seen war zones with less tension than this office. What’s going on? You mentioned a clue that could identify the arsonist.”

She edged back, crossed her arms over the shiny badge that may not be hers for much longer. It was a mirror’s reflection of the past – the endless suspicions, false accusations, self-proclaimed jury and judge convicting her of undeserved guilt. “The suspected arsonist is me.”

A flaring of the eyes was Cole’s only betrayal of emotion. His expression turned hard as a prison’s bars. “What evidence do they have?”

“An earring.” Sarah breathed deeply. “Myearring.The fire occurred in a neighboring farm, where I’d never been. Just as I was explaining that, Donovan found one of my earrings.”

“Are you sure it’s yours?”

His benefit of the doubt was as meaningful as it was unexpected, yet ultimately it changed nothing. “I was wearing the other one at the time.”

“The little blue one?”

How had he noticed something so small? She nodded. “No one is saying anything, but they don’t have to. Even Zoe and Scott are suspicious, and of course Donovan thinks I did it. But Cole, you have to believe me. I haven’t been there before today. Why would I jeopardize my job to set random fires? It doesn’t make sense.”

“No, it doesn’t,” a new voice agreed. The visitor walked in without knocking, but Sarah couldn’t complain. After all, the older woman could fire her with a single word.

“Hi Carol.” Her voice sounded strangely emotionless as she addressed the mayor of Harmony Creek. She gestured to the chair. “Please take a seat.”

“Thank you, Sarah, but I’ll stand.” Carol pivoted, her normally joyful face set in a grim line. The rest of the deputies looked in behind her with unguarded curiosity and suspicion, yet when Cole took a step towards the door, the mayor stopped him. “Please stay. Since this affects the entire department, I want all of you to hear. Everyone, come in.”

Sarah exhaled. So this was it. She was going to be fired, and in front of the entire squad. She stood silently as Scott, Donovan and the other deputies filed in.

“I’m sure you know why I’m here.” The mayor turned to the group. “These fires have frightened our entire community, turning everyday lives into a police television serial. Even without injuries or substantial property damage, the effect has been tremendous. People expect to be safe in our town, and when they start feeling otherwise, things change. Just the other day, a retiree backed out of buying a home because she’d heard about the crimes. Others are talking about relocating.”

Sarah closed and opened her eyes. Even if she wasn’t the criminal, she was allowing this to happen by not catching him. This was not the job she set out to do when she became sheriff.

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