Page 17 of Final Escape
“What if he was just scoping things out, and came back last night?”
“Maybe.”
She pulled a cell phone from the pocket of her khaki slacks and offered it to him. “You should call the sheriff’s department.”
He sighed, thinking of the other suspicious events on the rafting company property and his cabin over the past twelve months. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not? You’ll need a police report to file an insurance claim, right?”
He laughed at that. “I took photos, but my insurance company has become a little testy when I call.”
“But that’s theirjob.Answering your calls. Taking care of your claims.”
“Within reason.”
“Well, if I were you—” Her eyes widened with sudden understanding. “This isn’t the first time you’ve had trouble.”
“No, ma’am.”
“But...why?” Her gaze swept the dense forest of pines crowding in on three sides of the clearing. “And why doesn’t the sheriff’s department help?”
He thought about all the ways they’d failed to properly investigate. The morning after someone shot out a window in his cabin. Or the day he’d found his tires slashed. Or the other, more subtle events that illustrated exactly what local opinion was regarding his character.
Given the offhand attitude and smirk on the face of the deputy who’d responded to his calls, any amount of trouble at Wolf River Rafting Company was what Logan deserved, and more.
“I’m sure they’re busy enough as it is,” he said finally. “And what are they going to do? A little vandalism won’t warrant some big investigation.”
“I think there’s more to all of this than just that.” She regarded him for a long moment. “Since I moved to town, two deputies and a teacher have hinted that I should be worried about living here. I ignored them, because I think you and your sister seem like nice people. But now Robbie and Danny’s mom acted like she didn’t want them to ever come out here, no matter what. So what’s going on?”
No wonder she hadn’t packed her bags and fled to town after her first day here. She didn’t know.
“Well?”
He felt the old, familiar weight of sadness and regrets crush his heart. “Probably because everyone in the county, barring a few jurors, still believes I murdered Sheryl Colwell.”
CHAPTER FOUR
