Page 83 of Tessa's Trust

The file beckoned me, and I didn’t like it. “Anytime,” I said, meaning it. “What’s in the folder?”

I knew if he had been planning to arrest me for either of the murders, he would’ve made sure my attorneys were present. Since he hadn’t, I was more curious than worried.

He sighed and pushed over a folded piece of paper. “Consider yourself served.”

“Huh?” I unfolded the paper to see an Action for Quiet Title. “Ah, crap.”

He nodded. “Yeah. As the sheriff, I’m tasked with process serving in our sweet little town. Marilyn Brando, Rudy’s widow, has sued you for possession of the building and wants you to vacate and get your, as she put it, crap out.”

I sighed. This was the least worrying of my legal problems. “I’ll take this to Anna.” I really didn’t have time to deal with it right now. “Have we heard any news about the accuracy of the deed or from the handwriting experts in Boise?”

“No. They’re way backed up.” Franco shook his head. “We won’t know about the authenticity for quite a while. I will tell you that I compared the signature on the deed to a couple of other things Sadie has filed through the years, and it looked similar. But I couldn’t tell you if someone traced it or not. It’s just not my expertise.”

“Okay,” I murmured.

His gaze turned sober. “Tessa, you have to know I’m working around the clock to figure out who killed Brando before that nutjob prosecutor gets back to town.”

I was fairly certain a town’s sheriff was not supposed to refer to a prosecuting attorney as a nutjob, but even so, Franco’s bloodline in Silverville ran deep.

“I appreciate that,” I said. “I really don’t want to be arrested for murder, because I didn’t kill anybody.”

“I believe you,” Sheriff Franco told me. “Unfortunately, it’s not up to me whether you’re charged. I’ll just keep gathering evidence. And don’t worry. We’ll find out who killed him.”

That was my fervent hope, but right now, it was hard to see the bright side. “Thanks,” I said, standing. “I need to get back over the pass and check on Smiley’s Diner.”

“How is Mert?” Franco asked. It was no surprise the two knew each other since they had both lived in Idaho for decades upon decades.

“I think he’s going to be okay, but he needs to slow down.”

Franco’s cheek creased. “Is that task on you?”

“I think I’m the only one who can stand up to the guy.” It was beyond me that everyone didn’t see the real Mert Smiley. “I don’t know why. He’s a marshmallow.”

“If he’s a marshmallow, then I’m as hard as a leather saddle.” Franco shook his head. Actually, Sheriff Franco was as hard as a leather saddle to most people.

I smiled. “Keep me informed if you hear anything, will you?” I needed to get on with my life.

“Ditto. And stay out of other people’s homes. No more breaking and entering, Tessa. I’m done.”

That was more than fair. “I understand.”

I stopped and chatted with McCracken for a few moments about his family before I walked out into the December day.

My stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten all day, and apparently, breaking and entering really burned some calories. I figured I should get back to Smiley’s and then eat something, considering it was almost dinnertime. It’d be good to see how everybody had handled the rush without me.

I had almost reached my car when Marilyn Brando emerged from the tea shop across the road. She looked at me, and I looked at her. Wow, the woman really could dress. She wore what appeared to be designer jeans and very cool black combat boots that I swore were Louboutins. Her jacket was Chanel. I didn’t even know they made winter jackets. She had on the same jewelry as the day before.

“You really dressed to go to town,” I murmured.

Taking that as an invitation, she crossed the street and reached me. “Sorry I had to sue you.”

I shrugged. “I think your deed’s fake. I’m going to fight it.” It was only fair to let her know.

“That’s fine. I just want to get out of this Podunk town.” She looked around, her gaze sad. “There is absolutely no shopping.”

Not for Chanel, that was for sure. “Are you staying over here?”

“I’m staying at the resort in Timber City,” she said.

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