Page 108 of Come Back to Me

“James Fairweather.”

“Fairweather as in Fairweather Tires?” At his nod, I grimace.This is going to be an interminable day.“So, he’ll have more lawyers than we have deputies.”

“Probably.”

“Shit. I know it’s terrible, but I was hoping it was one of the kids on scholarship.” It’d have made sense if it were Amy…

“Maybe they have the good sense to stay away from illegal narcotics.”

“How novel,” I grumble. “Come on. We’ll go to the school and deal with the Fairweather brat.” Before I place my coffee mug down, I call out, “Anyone have anything else for me?”

“Elena Frobisher was found wandering around The General Store in her nightgown,” Katy Crocker informs me, her gaze gentle because she knows of my connection to the Frobisher family.

“Shit! Is she all right?”

“Pretty advanced Alzheimer’s for a woman her age. We said you’d run her back to the Frobishers’ place.”

“Of course. Jesus.” Hell, it’s been too long since I was there anyway.

But, fuck.

Bast never said shit about his mom having Alzheimer’s!

“Okay, we’d better get a move on,” I direct at Marty, who’s eyeing me cautiously.

The bitch of being in a small town isthis.

Everyone knows that Elena Frobisher is part of the reason I’m still goddamn sane.

Of course, more guilt hits me.

Not just because of Elena, but because of the reason it’s been too long since I went to the Frobishers’ place.

Dumping my coffee mug on the nearest desk, I leave, Marty on my heels.

When we make it to the patrol car, both of us are quiet as we ride over to The General Store.

“How bad is it?”

Marty fiddles with his cuffs. The metallic clank is annoying, but I understand his discomfort so I tune it out. “She’s been deteriorating for a while, but the Frobishers have no idea how she gets into town. She shows up some days.

“One time, earlier this summer, she was only wearing underwear. Jill Hutchinson from the RCMP dropped by to loop us in when she heard about Elena.”

“Elena has to be walking into town. That’s the only logical answer.”

“Maybe. It’s a hell of a long walk, and John says he doesn’t want to lock her windows because she isn’t in jail.”

“He always was a stubborn bastard.”

“You haven’t seen him since you got back?”

I can tell he’s edging for more information,gossip, so I shut him down. “No.”

“Thought you and Bast were close in high school.”

I shoot him a disbelieving look. “If you’re fishing for gossip, Marty, then you’re sniffing around the wrong tree.”

Though his cheeks flush and he apologizes, I don’t accept.

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