Page 17 of Silent Smile

Sheila cocked her head at him, unable to tell whether or not he was joking. "Are you having second thoughts about the house?" she asked.

He raised his eyebrows, looking surprised. "Second thoughts? No, no. It's just… well, it's a lot, you know? A lot at once."

"Right."

A cold knot formed in Sheila's stomach. She'd been so focused on proving herself as sheriff that she hadn't noticed the growing distance at home—how Finn had stopped wrapping his arms around her while she made coffee in the mornings, how their evening debriefs had turned from intimate conversations on the couch to professional updates across the kitchen counter.

Was he having second thoughts about all of it—moving in together, helping raise Star, working under her? The thought made her chest tight. She'd finally found the family she wanted, and it felt like it was slipping through her fingers.

Sheila tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind. Then her phone buzzed again.

"Hollister just sent over the list of park employees," she told Finn, swallowing her personal feelings. "We should go through them, see if anyone stands out."

Finn nodded and signaled a nearby waitress. "Let's get some coffee. I think we're gonna need it."

For the next hour, they pored over the names, searching for any red flags. The familiar routine of working together eased some of the tension, but Sheila could still feel an undercurrent of unease.

As they worked, Sheila found herself stealing glances at Finn, remembering happier times. Late nights spent discussing casesover takeout, quiet mornings sharing coffee before work. When had things become so complicated?

"Nothing stands out," Finn said finally, rubbing his eyes. "They all seem like typical park employees—a mix of long-term staff and seasonal workers. No criminal records, no obvious motive for murder."

Sheila nodded, scrolling through her tablet. "Wait a second. Look at this email thread Hollister forwarded. It's from about six months ago, between him and the park superintendent."

Finn leaned in, squinting at the screen. "What am I looking at?"

"It's about a tour guide named Eric Blackwood. Apparently, there was an incident with a group of tourists. Hollister was recommending disciplinary action."

Finn's brow furrowed. "What kind of incident?"

Sheila skimmed the email. "It says Blackwood got into a heated argument with a visitor who was trying to take sand samples. He physically stopped them and confiscated their equipment."

"That seems excessive," Finn said. "Let's dig deeper into this Blackwood guy."

Sheila pulled up Eric Blackwood's employee file on her tablet. "Okay, let's start with the basics. Eric Blackwood, 32 years old, hired as a tour guide five years ago."

Finn nodded, tapping away at his phone. "I'm checking his social media accounts. Let's see what kind of digital footprint he's left."

As Sheila scrolled through Blackwood's employment history, her brow furrowed. "Finn, look at this. In his first year alone, Blackwood received two formal warnings for 'overzealous enforcement of park rules with visitors.'"

"What does that mean exactly?" Finn asked, glancing up from his screen.

"According to this incident report," Sheila said, tapping on a link, "he physically blocked a group of teenagers from entering a restricted area. Apparently, he grabbed one kid's backpack and refused to let go until a senior ranger intervened."

Finn whistled low. "That's crossing a line. What about more recently?"

Sheila continued scrolling. "It seems like the formal complaints dropped off after the first couple years, but... hold on." She leaned in closer to the screen. "There's a note here from Ranger Hollister. It says, 'Eric's passion for conservation is commendable, but his methods of visitor education remain concerning. Recommend continued monitoring.'"

"Interesting choice of words," Finn mused. "Hey, take a look at this social media post from Blackwood, dated about six months ago."

Sheila moved to peer over Finn's shoulder. The post read: "Another day, another group of entitled tourists treating our fragile ecosystem like their personal playground. When will people learn that their 'perfect shot' isn't worth the destruction of irreplaceable natural wonders? Sometimes I think these dunes would be better off if humans just disappeared entirely."

"That's... intense," Sheila said.

Finn nodded grimly. "And it gets worse. Look at the comments."

Sheila's eyes widened as she read through the thread. Blackwood had engaged in heated arguments with several people, his responses becoming increasingly aggressive and hostile.

"He really seems to have it out for social media influencers and travel bloggers," Finn observed, scrolling through more posts.

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