Page 12 of Sour Layer

Chapter 7

“How accurate is your…ability?”

“I have a ninety-nine percent success rate,” I said.

“What was the one percent you screwed up on?” Clark asked.

I crossed my legs and folded my arms over my chest. “I was unable to save my high school boyfriend.”

“The lightning?” he asked.

My brows dipped. How dare he? I shot out of my seat. “We’re done here. Just tell me about the Bennetts and I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Sit down, Mercy,” Sheriff Weller growled as he pushed to his feet.

I rested my hand on my hip. Heat coiled in my stomach like a live wire. “You don’t get to order me around. You and your mother promised me information if I helped you. I helped.” I pointed an accusatory finger toward the file. “Tit for tat, isn’t that what you promised, Dorothy?”

“Sit down,” Clark said, a bit sterner, which pissed me off more. The room around me was turning as small as a child’s Easy-Bake oven and just as claustrophobic.

“No, I don’t think I will.” My voice held a hint of annoyance. “Have a good day, Sheriff. I’m sure I can find some of my answers at the cemetery, and if I need help, well, I’ll call in the rest of my sisters. With them in town, it won’t take long before we track down the rest.”

I yanked the door open and strolled through the little room with Brandon and Mavis watching as I left.

I’d been rude to Dorothy. My Grams would have tanned my hide, not that I cared. I might, however, when I got kicked out of the inn and needed to find another place to stay.

I’d made it out the door and a block away before Sheriff Weller pulled up beside me and rolled down the truck window. “Get in.”

“Screw you, Sheriff,” I huffed. I shook my head and quickened my step.

Clark pulled up onto the sidewalk in front of me, blocking my path with his truck and got out.

“I’m sorry,” he held his hands up in surrender. “Don’t go.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and raised my brow.

“I was a jerk ordering you around. I know that, and my mother reminded me that is no way to treat a visitor.”

I dropped my folded arms. “Listen, I helped you. Those two girls are alive somewhere. Shouldn’t you be hunting for them? There’s a Bennett that might need my help. I don’t have time for these games, Sheriff.”

“Clark,” he said. “And you’re right. We do have information on the Bennetts, but before I can tell you what we know, we should talk.”

“Fine,” I said. “But not in your office. It’s a claustrophobic’s nightmare.”

“Fine,” he repeated. “Tonight, after dinner. I’ll explain everything.”

“Not right now?”

He shook his head. “I have to go back out to the Lynnfield family residence to figure out what the hell we missed.”

“Good luck,” I offered and meant it.

“I’m sorry my mom blindsided you,” he said as he climbed back into the truck.

“Like mother, like son.” I waved as I headed back toward the inn. This town had more secrets than they’d ever let me in on. Even as Clark pulled off the sidewalk, some of the patrons from inside their warm businesses were staring at me.

Blending in around town wasn’t going to be an option. Not with what I’d just done by telling them the truth. As small as this town was, my secret would be out before I made my way back through the Mountain View Inn’s doors.

Dorothy caught up with me while Clark had cut off my route. The shovel was clutched in her gloved hand. “I know he can be a bit gruff. He gets that from his father.”

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