Page 68 of Tessa's Trust

“Isn’t that weird?” He shook his head. “Two murders in Silverville? I mean, we never have murders in Silverville.”

“I know.” And now I was connected to both of them. The door opened again, and Hank waved. I turned to see Eddie Brando sauntering inside with Roxy next to him. He had his arm around her, and she was snuggled up into his neck. “You called your other brother?” I asked.

Hank grinned. “I’m on a date with an Albertini.” He left it at that, as if the statement explained everything. Unfortunately, it did.

I shook my head as the couple went over to the pool table and started playing. “It’s sweet that you brought your brothers for backup.” I often did the same with my sisters.

Hank straightened. “I’m the young one. They look out for me. You did a good thing with Eddie, too. I don’t know Roxy well, but I had a drink with them the other night, and she’s a hoot.”

“Perhaps I have a future as a matchmaker,” I said.

“Maybe you do.” The door opened again, and I turned, wondering what other Brando relative had arrived. The only two left were Sadie and Jonathan as far as I knew. And, man, I hoped it was them. Instead, it was Sheriff Franco. “What in the world is Sheriff Franco doing over the pass?” Hank asked quietly.

“I don’t know.”

Franco looked around and then moved directly toward me. “Hi, Tessa.”

Ah, crap. A fist lodged in my gut. “Sheriff Franco, how did you know I was here?”

“I asked your sister, Donna. You left her a note,” he offered. “I dropped by her house first.” He looked more like Sam Elliott than ever and even wore a weathered brown leather cowboy hat. “You need to come with me, honey.”

I blinked. “What?”

He nodded. “I’m out of my jurisdiction, and you have every right to refuse, but we have additional information on both murders in Silverville, and you need to come with me.”

Hank looked from me to the sheriff. “I really didn’t think the date would end this way,” he murmured.

“Neither did I.” I stood. “Sheriff, what’s going on?”

“I’ll explain when we get to the station.” He nodded at my purse. “You’re going to want to call your lawyer.”

Chapter 25

The sheriff let me ride in the front of his Bronco with him as he drove across the pass instead of in the back like some perp. Another winter storm was coming in, or to be more accurate, the one that had been blasting us for three days hadn’t stopped. Franco was quiet on the way.

“What did you mean I didn’t have to come with you?” I asked softly.

He flicked me a glance and then looked back at the dark road. “You were outside my jurisdiction, so you had every right to refuse and make me go through the extradition process of having the local police pick you up.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” I protested.

“I know,” he said. “That’s why I came to get you myself. I wanted to do this with as little fuss as possible.”

My stomach cramped. “Are you charging me with something?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Honestly, that’s up to the county prosecutor, who’s reviewing the case right now.”

It was probably a good thing that Timber City and Silverville were located in different counties. At least Nick would be kept out of this problem. “So, there’s a chance I could actually be charged tonight?” I couldn’t breathe.

“New evidence has stacked up. We can’t discuss it since you have a lawyer, right?”

“Yes. I texted Anna,” I said.

Sheriff Franco pulled off I-90 at the Silverville exit. “Good. Is she going to meet us at the station?”

“Of course.” I nodded.

“Good,” he said again curtly. “Stop talking now.”

---