Page 36 of Shadow Sabotage
But that didn’t make me feel better.
This list I’d made for her this morning caught my eye—a list of research tasks she could complete, meant to make her feel like she was doing something on the case while keeping her out of my hair.
Not one of them really mattered. I’d kept everything that did for myself.
I shook my head, more annoyed with myself at that point than I was with her. I took a deep breath and focused on the situation at hand.
“Tell me about the leads you explored this morning,” I directed. “Leave nothing out.”
She nodded, then explained how she had talked to Tony’s ex-girlfriend and what she had learned. I watched carefully, looking for any sign that she was changing anything to make herself look better. But she was honest. Thorough. Clear.
And she hadn’t done a damn thing that would hurt the investigation, I admitted to myself.
“So Elsa didn’t seem to know that Tony is connected to Katelyn?” I confirmed.
“Obviously, I didn’t ask. But no. She seemed to think he has a current girlfriend and she’s happy about it because it means he’s leaving her alone.”
I weighed it. “You think he hurt her, even though she blew it off. Why?”
She shrugged. “Partially because of her demeanor. I’m the only female deputy here, so I’m usually the one to talk to anyfemale victims of domestic assault. I’ve seen that look before. And also because of things I’ve heard about Tony.”
“Like what?”
“Rumors.”
I raised an eyebrow, willing her to go on.
She sighed. “Tony’s younger than me. Not someone I ever hung around with. But my kid brother, Jonathan, was just one year behind him in school. Let’s just say Tony had a reputation.”
I frowned. “A reputation for what?”
“Getting handsy with the girls. Maybe more.”
I shot her a look. “How much more? There wasn’t anything on his record.”
“There wouldn’t be, would there? His dad’s the mayor. You know how it is.” She shrugged again. “From what I remember, a couple of girls were uncomfortable with Tony because he wouldn’t keep his hands off of them. One of the girls came to Jonathan and said she was scared of Tony, that he’d taken her into an empty room at a party and tried to get her to have sex with him.”
“Shit.”
“He didn’t rape her,” Claire clarified. “But he was verbally pushy. Stuck his tongue down her throat even when she was pushing him away. It scared her, and she was worried he might not stop next time.”
“Did she report it?”
“I’ll have to ask Jonathan, but I don’t think so. She went to him because she knew he’d do something about it—unlike the school.”
My brows rose. “What did Jonathan do?”
She bit her lip and looked away. “I’m not saying he did anything at all. But the next day, Tony had a broken nose.” She shrugged. “Must have fallen or something.”
I blinked twice, trying not to laugh.
I failed.
When I chuckled, Claire did, too. The tension faded, along with that defeated look she’d had ever since I’d threatened her badge. Seeing her smile again made my heart twist in a way I wasn’t at all comfortable with.
“I’m starting to think all of you Hawkins kids are rule breakers,” I commented.
“Maybe we are. Ranching is a hard life. You have to make things happen.”
