Page 39 of Jonathan

*****

“You’re saying that there is an active warrant out for his arrest?”

Sheriff Gladstone had been with the department for thirty years and before that, it was his father who had worn the badge. His face was craggy with wear, his body soft and his belly hanging over his belt.

His sandy hair was thinning in the middle, where he made a valiant but woefully failed effort to hide it with a comb over. He loved his job. Being in a small town meant that there were hardly anything going on. Except now. And it did not sit well with him.

The fact that the trouble was on the big man’s ranch was cause for a lot of concerns.

“In three towns.!” He responded nervously, hitching up his trousers and staring around the table. The meeting was being held in some fancy yellow and green parlor, with leather sofas and pretty throw cushions in various colors.

A maid had discreetly brought in a tray of refreshments that was making the saliva pool inside his mouth. As soon as he finished the report, he was going to help himself to some of the goodies.

“Real name is Michael Goodman. Assault and battery, home invasion, attempted murder, you name it.” His light blue eyes swiveled towards the woman of the house as she uttered a cry of dismay.

“We’re doing everything we can to find him.”

“You think he’s still in town?” Jon asked harshly.

“There’s a good chance of that. A few of the men were saying how he was bad mouthing you and passing it off as a joke.” He cleared his throat. “They said he was especially ticked off when you took the little lady away from him while they were dancing.”

Jon went still. “You think he might be retaliating? That he might go after Kamilah?”

“I am certain, he would not be that foolish.”

“Excuse me.” Turning away, Jon reached for his phone and dialed her number. Leaning against the wall to support his weakened knees, he let out a sigh of relief when she answered.

“Jon, what’s going on?”

“We have some disturbances. The guy you were dancing with last night is not who he said he was. I just wanted to make sure you were okay and that you remember to lock the doors. I will be there as soon as I am able.”

“What…?”

“I cannot discuss it right now. I promise to give you a full update as soon as I see you.” He hesitated briefly and moving further away from the people in the room, he resumed. “I love you.”

“Jon…”“Just wanted to say it. See you later and lock the doors.”

He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. His mind was running through all possible scenarios, each more alarming than the last. Sheriff Gladstone noticed the worry etched on Jon’s face and stepped closer, his voice low. “I have instructed the men to set up a perimeter at the edge of town. In case he’s still here.”

“You should get outside help. If he’s as dangerous as you reported, you are going to need the assistance.”

“I don’t appreciate outsiders coming in and sticking their noses in…”

“This is not about you, Sheriff! And if you stand here shuffling your feet and something happens while you’re pissing away the time, it will be your job on the line. Am I clear?”

“Of course, sir.” Turning away, he dragged out his phone to make the call.

“Darling…,” Leonie touched his arm lightly. “It’s not your fault.”

“Isn’t it?” He asked grimly, his mind going back to the senseless loss outside. “Kamilah asked me a question last night. She wanted to know whether or not we do background checks on the men dropping by for temp work and I laughed it off and told her that this was not some big city.”

“Well, it’s not.”

“Perhaps we have been too trusting. I have to get back out there.”

*****

Rubbing her hands over the raised goosebumps on her flesh, Kamilah tried to settle and take her mind off the situation going on. Telling herself that this was a small town and as far as she knew, nothing much happened, she went into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.

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