Page 27 of Sadie's Guarded Harbor

“What are you looking at?” Tommy’s shoulder brushed against hers.

She scrunched her nose, uncertain how much she should confide. “The courthouse. It’s beautiful. It looks like a scene from a snow globe.”

Tommy chuckled. “I guess. I haven’t stopped and appreciated this place in a long time. It’s just part of the town. Something I’ve always known.”

“Well, maybe you should take the time to appreciate what’s around you.” She slid a glance his way, and her heart sputtered. Dammit, those hazel eyes of his blazed with heat and swallowed her whole.

“I’m starting to realize that.”

She dropped her gaze to the ground. “Good to know. Let’s get this over with.” She trudged forward and pulled open the heavy door, slipping through and holding the edge for Tommy to follow.

Large black and white marble tiles sprawled in front of her, leading down a wide hallway. “Do you know which office is the judge’s?” The only time she’d been in the courthouse was to testify in the court room on the second floor.

“All the way at the end on the right. What did you ask Melissa when you saw her yesterday?”

“The basics. We talked about her strained relationship with Shawn. If she knew of anyone who was upset with Shawn, or if Shawn had a history of making trouble.” Discreetly, she shifted her eyes from side to side to take in the high ceilings and gilded lights lining the hall.

Tommy stopped in front of a closed door with a brass nameplate boasting the name Honorable Melissa Downs. He pushed the door open, nodding for her to walk through.

She stepped into a room with plush powder blue carpet and dark mahogany walls. Sleek file cabinets lined the far end of the room, and another door led to what she assumed was Judge Downs’ actual office.

A well-dressed woman with a sleek gray bob and glasses perched on the end of her nose sat behind a desk. Her fingersbusily typed away with her gaze trained on a large computer screen.

“Good morning, Patsy. How’s the prettiest lady in Water’s Edge doing today?” Tommy aimed his lethal smile at the older woman.

Patsy glanced up, fingers still moving, and grinned. “You’ve always had a sweet tongue, haven’t you?” Her lightning quick fingers stopped moving, and she turned her smile to Sadie. “Hello, honey. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

Sadie reached over the pin-neat desk and shook Patsy’s hand. “I’m Deputy Pennel. Nice to meet you.”

With her hand still in Sadie’s, Patsy rose and closed the distance between them.

“Patsy’s worked as the secretary for every county judge in Water’s Edge for the past thirty years.” Tommy winked at Patsy. “She’s a living legend around here.”

“Don’t forget to mention I changed your diapers when your mama needed a little help.” Patsy squeezed his arm. “She was the nicest woman.”

Tommy shifted and gave a little nod. “Is she ready to see us?”

Patsy’s bright red lips turned down. “Should be. Just knock first.”

Sadie hesitated. If Patsy had worked for Melissa Downs the entire time she’d been in office, she might have some insight on the woman. “So, you’ve worked for Judge Downs a long time. How’s she holding up?”

Patsy eyed the closed door before answering. “She’s…fine.”

Sadie furrowed her brow. The inflection of her words bordered on disapproving. “I’m sure coming into work today was difficult for her. Maybe jumping into her normal routine helps.”

Patsy leaned in closer. “You might be right, dear. But it’s just not how things should be done.”

The older woman’s judgement put a sour taste in Sadie’s mouth.

Tommy cupped his hand over the black cardigan covering Patsy’s shoulder. “We all grieve differently.”

Appreciation squeezed Sadie’s chest. So far, her experience with small-town gossip and judgement had been that either people participated in it, or they just let others spew their opinions—no matter how nasty or ill-minded. Tommy’s willingness to gently step in and defend a woman who’d lost her spouse—even if their relationship was strange—showed her not everyone turned a blind eye to such things.

Patsy snorted and pointed a finger at the door closing off the judge from their conversation. “That’s no heartbroken wife in there. That’s a politician acting the part and bothered by the spectacle her husband’s death has brought to her doorstep. I understand their marriage hasn’t been conventional for a while, but there was love there once. She was really there for Shawn when his mom died. It’s a darn shame.”

The door to the inner office swung open and Judge Downs filled the frame. A deep frown pulled down her entire face. “There you two are. I was just coming out to ask Patsy to call you. Please, come into my office. I’d like to get this over with.”

Sadie licked her dry lips and willed her beating heart to stop racing. Melissa hadn’t heard anything. Or at least that’s what she told herself as she stepped in and faced the judge.

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