Page 5 of Sadie's Guarded Harbor

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Frustration simmered in Sadie’s bones. She might not have been on shift when she’d stumbled upon the death scene, but that was no reason not to make her the deputy in charge.

The only deputy.

She kept her narrowed gaze locked on the Millerton County Logo dominating the back of Tommy’s jacket as he spoke with the coroner by the now-loaded van. Just her luck the sheriff’s son was called to the scene. The last person on the force she’d want to be stuck with.

A gust of wind swept over her. She should have at least taken his coat when she’d had the chance. But dammit, she didn’t want anything handed to her—even if her own pride was now the reason she couldn’t feel her arms anymore.

Tommy broke away from the white-haired man by the road and stomped toward her with his mouth set in a grim line. She studied the angles of his face, the rough edges softened by the deep dimples that usually accompanied his almost constant smile. His happy-go-lucky attitude grated on her nerves withevery encounter they had. Proof, in her mind, life had gone easy on him.

She tore away her gaze and followed the barely visible tracks in the still-falling snow. Wasting time being bitter about Tommy Wells’ perfect life wouldn’t get her anywhere and wouldn’t do anything to soften the blows of her own past. She needed to do what she always did—keep her mind on-task and focus on the job. Prove her worth. Advance through hard work and dedication.

She cast a quick glance over her shoulder, hating the flutter in the pit of her stomach as Tommy came closer. No, spending any amount of time thinking about Tommy would lead to nothing but trouble.

“Talked to Doc. The coroner’s office is swamped, but he’ll try to get Shawn’s autopsy done as quick as possible. Getting the details on the gun used to kill him could be critical.” Tommy shoved his hands in his pocket and dropped his gaze to the imprint of Shawn’s body on the crumpled grass.

Sadie made an exaggerated show of glancing at her watch. “Your shift’s over. I can take it from here.”

“We both know that won’t happen. Not when the order to work together came from the sheriff.”

“You mean your dad.” Mumbling under her breath, she spun toward the tree line, tracking the fading footprints. Life had handed her a deadbeat dad who’d taken off before she’d said her first word, had taken Amelia’s own father from them before her daughter had even been born. Knowing Tommy had probably been handed his job on a shiny platter by his father scratched at the constant bitterness always trying to break through the surface.

“Excuse me?” Tommy quickened his pace to match hers.

“Nothing.” She stopped, crouching low to study the thin blanket of snow. “Two sets of tracks. Treads are different, butthe size is similar. Male, most likely. Did Shawn have any known enemies?”

Tommy shook his head. “The guy was a harmless drunk. Never hurt anyone. Kept mostly to himself.”

She rose to her full height, which at five foot six was a full head shorter than Tommy. “Any idea why he’d be out here last night?” If she was forced to work with Tommy, she had to make sure he saw her as a leader. Though it probably wouldn’t be long before he tossed his weight—and name—around to get things done his way.

Tommy shrugged. “He liked to hunt with his buddies. But I don’t see a rifle. Could have dropped it if he was running.”

“Then let’s check the woods.” She made her way toward the trees, close to the path she abandoned when she’d found Shawn’s body. She kept her gaze to the ground, searching for anything out of the ordinary.

Tommy stayed by her side. “I heard what you said.”

Her spine went rigid, but she didn’t respond.

“You think my dad pulled strings to get me on the case, don’t you?” A hint of laughter laced through his voice.

She stopped and studied him. A faint smile curved his wide mouth but a hardness in his hazel eyes told a different story. A hundred words about nepotism and laughing your way through life danced on the tip of her tongue, but she held them back. Her opinion about how Tommy landed his job and the helping hand he got along the way wouldn’t change anything.

“What I think doesn’t matter.” She stepped forward, but a hand on her arm stopped her.

“It matters to me.” Tommy’s unflinching scrutiny made her hesitate.

Shivering, she yanked away. “My opinion shouldn’t matter.”

Pivoting, Tommy blocked her path. “You don’t like me. Fine. I’m not too fond of you either. But we’re stuck together until this is over. Might as well play nice.”

She pressed her lips together and made sure not to stop and admire the broad set of his shoulders. “Fine.” If nothing else, the Army taught her how to keep her mouth shut and get along with people she didn’t like. Wasn’t that a lesson she tried to teach Amelia? You don’t always have to like everyone, but you have to be kind—or in this case, civil.

She could put up with Tommy until this mess was settled. Besides, this was the type of case that could get her the recognition she’d worked so damn hard for—that sent her up the ladder in a station filled with men who often looked down their fat noses at her.

A glint of silver caught her eye. She sidestepped Tommy and hurried toward it. The familiar logo of a beer company, covered in icy crystals, winked in the sun. “Looks like Shawn was drinking last night.”

The crunching of mangled leaves and snow announced Tommy’s approach. “Shawn was always drinking, but the autopsy will confirm it.” He grabbed a clear evidence bag from his backpack and collected the can. “We’ll check for prints. He might have had a drinking buddy last night.”

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