Page 72 of Tessa's Trust

“So that contract was found in my boxes?” I asked slowly.

Franco nodded. “Not only that...” He pushed another picture across, revealing a six-inch serrated hunting knife with dried blood on it. It had already been bagged.

My stomach sank. “Don’t tell me.”

“Yeah,” he said. “We think this matches the murder weapon for Lenny Johnson. I’ve sent it to the crime lab to find out.”

I cut a look at my sister. She’d gone pale.

Even Clark had stiffened. He shook his head. “You don’t have enough to charge her. She didn’t bring those boxes over, and anybody could have broken into Sadie’s to plant both of these things.”

The sheriff’s eyebrows rose. “But you had the locks changed, didn’t you, Tessa?”

The room swirled around me, and I nodded. I’d definitely had the locks changed.

A timid knock sounded on the door, and it opened. “Hi, Sheriff.” Stuart Nerden poked his head in.

I gulped. “Hi, Stuey.”

“Hi, Tessa.” Stuart straightened his too-thin purple tie and walked inside. We had graduated school together, and we’d always gotten along. His last name was unfortunate, but I’d never teased him.

He was about my height with curly blond hair, a very red face, and light blue eyes that, at the moment, were bloodshot. His suit was corduroy, his shirt a faded denim, and his lips thin. Besides the wild hair, the most noticeable thing about Stuey were his long and dark eyelashes…and the fact that his name actually fit him.

“Congrats on being hired by the new prosecutor,” Anna drawled.

Stuey looked like he’d rather be shot. “Thanks.” He hovered in the doorway.

The sheriff looked over his shoulder. “Well? Are we charging her or not?”

Stuey faltered. “My boss does want to charge her.”

“Then where is he?” Sheriff Franco snarled.

“He’s spending the holidays with family in California,” Stuey said, somehow paling beneath his ruddy cheeks.

The sheriff shook his head, and I recognized the look. Somehow, Brad Backleboff, a guy who’d only moved to town a couple of years ago, had won the election in November to be the prosecuting attorney for Gem County. In other words, nobody had been paying attention.

Stuey gulped and looked directly at me. “I can hold off until he returns to Idaho New Year’s Day, but I think he’ll press charges, Tessa. For now, if you, um, surrender your passport, I’ll try to appease him. Maybe some exonerating evidence will be found soon.” He sounded like he really wanted to find that evidence.

My passport? “Sure.” If I wanted to flee, I’d head to the mountains in Montana.

Chapter 26

It was after ten that night when I rode in the back seat of Clark’s truck. The wonderful scent of new-car hung in the air, making the ride feel luxurious. “I like the new rig,” I said.

“Thanks.” Clark carefully took the icy ramp to I-90.

Anna sat in the passenger side, typing on her phone.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“I’m calling in reinforcements,” she said.

Oh, no. I shook my head and tapped her shoulder. “It’s too late. Everyone’s in bed.”

“Ha.” She pressed a button.

“Hello, Anna.” A cheerful voice came through the speakers immediately.

---