Page 76 of His Virgin Vessel

Dugas waved this off. "It's just an expression. The point is, I can't protect her when she's not living at home."

"What do you want me to do about it?"

"Talk to her."

"I thought we weren't supposed to have any contact!"

"She asked for the three of us to sit down together," Dugas explained.

"Oh, good." That sounded like the weirdest version of 'Meet the Parents' - everyone sat round a table on visiting day, till I got carted back to my cell.

"If you tell her that she should be living back home, then she'll do it." Dugas sounded almost fevered. There was no doubt that almost losing Corinne had turned a protective father into an obsessive one, and I wasn't sure that my playing along was going to be the best thing for anyone.

"I'm just not sure that's what's best for her, Sheriff."

Dugas leaned back. His expression had gone from desperate to sullen and suspicious. His ally had become his adversary, and he was plotting his next move.

"What do you want?"

I frowned. "I'm sorry?"

Dugas waved a hand dismissively. "Don't let's play games. What do you want? A man like you always has his price, certainly when he's inside. I can speak to someone about getting you better meals, or a single cell. Tell me what you want. Let's deal."

I met his gaze. "I think you know me better than that, Sheriff."

Dugas sneered. "I thought I did too. I thought we both wanted what's best for Corinne, but now that's obviously not the case, so I can only assume that you're after something. It was bound to happen at some point. The weeks go by, and you realize you're in here for a long while, and you start to miss some home comforts. So, tell me what you want, so I can get you to do the right thing for my daughter!"

Perhaps there was a brief flicker of concern in me. Was I ignoring what was best for Corinne? But it didn't last. I had faith in my motives and in my decision. I had faith in Dugas's motives too, but absolutely none in his judgment.

"Look, I want to see Corinne more than I want my next breath. But I won't tell her to do something that I think is going to make her miserable."

Dugas seemed to relax. "I'm sorry. I get so stressed about this stuff that it makes me come across badly. I worry about her so much, you know?"

"I know."

"I've explained this badly," Dugas went on. "Let me start again."

To someone who has been in police custody more than a few times, this felt like an old interview tactic, but I let it pass.

"We agree that Corinne is safest at home."

"I suppose, but..."

"Let's just stick to the facts, for now. We agree that living at Fiona's will further associate her with you and with War Cry, yes?"

"I guess that's true." I couldn't really deny that.

"So, we've established that Corinne is safer at home, and that she’s connected to a dangerous world at Fiona's, and yet we still differ. Odd, that." He was trying to warp my words.

"You're not changing my mind on this, Sheriff. I understand your point of view, but Corinne can make her own decisions."

Dugas held up his hands innocently. "Of course. Wouldn't dream of trying to force you to do something you're uncomfortable with. By the way, how's your friend Joseph doing? Joseph Hartman, isn't it?"

"He's good," I said tentatively. No matter how badly Dugas wanted Corinne to stay at home, surely he wouldn't go after my friends, would he? Then again, Joseph had been involved in some criminal activity, including breaking into the Dugas house. I waited to hear what the sheriff would say next.

"You're seeing him regularly?"

"He stops by."

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