Caught by the Sheriff--A Clean Romance

by Rula Sinara

  “Come on, girl. We’re going for a walk.”

  Pepper wagged her black, gray and white “peppered” tail and followed him out the door. One bark and Faye’s head jolted up. Eve’s place was a good five hundred feet away, yet when she looked over at them, he could see her lips part. She started to get up. Didn’t know the sheriff would be your neighbor, did you? He picked up his pace just slightly, making sure not to go any faster than Pepper’s old joints could handle.

  “Hello again,” he called out, not wanting Faye to disappear inside.

  She stopped mid-retreat and turned toward him. Her smile didn’t reach her blue eyes.

  “Sheriff.”

  “Enjoying Turtleback Beach so far?”

  “Absolutely.” Her eyes softened when she spotted his dog. She seemed uncertain about whether to approach them, then rubbed her palms on her jeans and made her way down the steps. “May I pet her?”

  “She’d love it.” He tried to keep his attention on Pepper. It wasn’t working. The officer in him couldn’t tamp down the need to look deeper...past the terse smile and into the thoughts that seemed to be churning behind her eyes. You, the sheriff, are interested. Not you, the man. You’re just doing your job. Staying on top of happenings around town, including who comes and goes. Besides, like you told Jordan, she’s not your type.

  Faye got on her knees and held her hand out for Pepper to sniff, but his dog wasted no time in licking her face and trying to climb into her lap. As large as she was, that was a lot of dog to handle. Faye laughed and gave Pepper a good rub and hug. The lighthearted warmth of her laugh stirred something in his chest and made his voice catch in his throat.

  “She likes you.”

  “What’s her name?” Faye asked. Her smile, real this time.

  “Pepper. You can see why. No clue what breed she is. I haven’t had her that long, actually. Just a few months. My last two didn’t survive long.”

  Her eyes widened in horror.

  “Why?”

  “That didn’t sound right.” Carlos adjusted his sheriff’s hat. “What I mean is that any dog I’ve owned has been an elderly rescue. I’m hoping she does better than my last two. Older dogs—especially if they have expensive health issues—don’t get adopted so easily. I only adopt the older ones. It works out both ways since I’m not home enough for a puppy. She’s past the point of needing much exercise or chewing up a place. Some days it’s not easy getting off shift to walk her or to stop by the house, just so she knows she hasn’t been abandoned again, but I think she’s catching on. You ever have a dog?” he hedged. She’s putting her guard down. You’ll find out more that way.

  “No.” Her brow furrowed.

  Not a dog person, then. She could have fooled him, what with the way she was gushing over his.

  She gave Pepper a kiss and stood looking wistfully at her.

  “I mean, I love them. I’ve worked with them before—just volunteering-type stuff,” she quickly added. “I walked them for cash in college too. I just haven’t had my own. Pepper here looks like she might have some Great Dane and Aussie in her.”

  There were a lot of pauses there. Clearly, she was carefully considering everything she said.

  “Perhaps. Any reason you never got a dog?” he asked, bringing the conversation back to her.

  “I don’t know, really. I just never got one.” She stroked her right hand down Pepper’s back while she knelt in front of the dog, and because of the dog’s height, the action caused the sleeve of her sweater to hike up an inch on her wrist. Carlos stilled. There was a nickel-sized bruise just above her wrist and multiple small wounds that looked like they’d scabbed over. All in a row, as if someone had dug their nails into her while grabbing forcefully. His jacket was suddenly feeling much too hot despite the brisk day. He gritted his teeth to keep from saying more than he should. She was obviously not the most trusting person. Could he blame her? The last thing he needed to do was scare her off, especially if she really was here seeking Eve’s help.

  Instinct was telling him that Faye needed help. Maybe she’d reached out to Eve because of her past work helping abused women. He’d read and heard plenty of reports about women whose complaints regarding domestic abuse were either dismissed after a brief questioning or ignored altogether. There had to be a reason Faye had gone cold when she first saw him at Castaway Books. He rolled his shoulders once and sucked in a breath of cold air. Was this why Nim had been so out of sorts? God help him if that kid had been hurt too. He rubbed his jaw and cleared his throat. He’d be keeping a closer eye on her and her kid. As far as he was concerned, by coming to his town, she’d stepped into his sphere of protection. And if her abuser was out looking for her, well, that meant he’d need to be vigilant about keeping everyone in town safe, along with Faye and her baby.

  “Well, dogs need attention and you have your hands full with your kid and all,” he said, hoping she might volunteer more information about her situation without realizing it.

  “What? Oh, yes. Nim. She’s napping.”

  “Cute kid.”

  “Thanks.”

  One-word answers were going to get him nowhere really fast.

  “Eve probably told you there’s a dog who helps out with her reading hour sometimes. Kids love Laddie and vice versa. He has a way of calming kids down and making them more interested in reading. He’s a rough collie, like Lassie in the movies and books, and belongs to the town veterinarian. I think Gray said he was dropping Laddie off at the bookstore this afternoon. Nim might enjoy the reading hour.”

  “Right. I’ll ask Eve about it. Thanks for letting me know.”

  “Oh, and don’t forget about your registration.” He nodded toward her car.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Your registration expired a week ago.” He figured the last thing she needed was getting pulled over. He had noticed it when she was parked outside Castaway Books, but figured he had plenty of time to point it out. She was lucky she hadn’t been stopped by a cop on the way down here. She paled.

  “Are you here to ticket me? I promise, I’ll take care of it. I’ve been so preoccupied with Nim and—”

  “I’m not issuing you a ticket,” he said, holding up his palm. “I just happened to notice it. You have eight days left on a grace period. If you need an emissions inspection, Roger can help you. He runs the only gas station in town. You can’t miss it. If you’re not sure, I can check and see if you need the emissions test.”

  “No. No need. I’m on it. Thanks for the warning. Um. I better head on up. I don’t want Nim waking up and wondering where her mommy is. It was nice meeting Pepper.” She hurried up the steps and gave a quick wave as she disappeared behind the yellow door.

  Mentioning the registration hadn’t been so much of a warning as a friendly reminder. Had he come off that harshly? Tone of voice? How often had she been yelled at before? He muttered a curse. He loved his life here in Turtleback but sometimes he hated the fact that he was no longer out there in the world fighting the bad guys. The rational side of him knew he was making a difference here, but there was a part of him that always wondered if it was enough.

  “Let’s get you home, Pep. I need to get back to the station.”

  The station, then Castaway Books. One advantage to being in law enforcement was access to information. Perhaps Faye didn’t know she could trust him...and just about everyone in Turtleback for that matter... But she’d figure that out soon enough. If she needed protection, he would provide it. It was his job to do so. It wasn’t unusual for abused women to think they were at fault...that they’d done something wrong to deserve punishment. It was all part of an abuser’s brainwashing technique. He had learned about the psychology behind it during his training, but the topic hit a lot deeper. Natalie had been abused as a kid.

  He’d never forget the night she told him about it. The thought that anyone could h
urt another like that had infuriated him. He knew in that moment that he’d never let it happen to her again. It wouldn’t happen to anyone if he had the power to intervene. And he’d wanted—believed—that he would be protecting Natalie for the rest of her life, but things didn’t turn out that way. She wanted to protect herself. She had joined the military to empower herself. She made it clear that she loved and appreciated that Carlos had her back, but she had warned him not to stifle her with his protection. He hadn’t intended to. He just cared about her. He hated what had happened to her. He hated what he suspected had been happening to Faye, as well. Faye needed to understand that she and her daughter were the victims, but that she also had power. She wasn’t the lawbreaking criminal. Whoever cut and bruised her was the one committing a crime... And Carlos hoped when he ran Faye Potter’s name, he’d find out exactly whom she needed protection from.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  FAYE NEEDED TO THINK.

  Was the sheriff onto her? No. Wait. If he knew she was a kidnapper, he would have arrested her. There would be cops raining down on Eve’s place right now. But all he had done was ask a few questions. Small talk and a dog walk. That’s all it was.

  She slumped down on Eve’s couch and held her face in her hands.

  For crying out loud, the man adopted elderly dogs. He had a heart.

  The tightness in her chest gave way to an almost scary, fluttery sensation. She pushed her hair back, got up and marched straight to the kitchen for a glass of cold water, which she guzzled ungracefully. Her tendency to judge people on how connected they were to their dogs...how caring and attentive they were...was getting the better of her right now. Her mother used to say that a lot could be gleaned about a man by observing how he treated his mother. If he treated his mother with respect, admiration and kindness, then he very likely would respect his wife—the mother of his own children. And all women, for that matter.

  Maybe this was true, or at least true most of the time, but Faye believed in watching how a person treated everyone else, including their pets. Animals didn’t lie. Dogs and cats, in particular, had sharp instincts when it came to people. In fact, her brother-in-law never talked about his mother and he was adamant about no pets in his pristine house. Two strikes against him. She had even told Clara several times that she didn’t like that about Jim.

  But she didn’t miss the love and gratitude between Carlos Ryker and his dog, Pepper, earlier. Sheriff Ryker was clearly kind and compassionate, yet dangerous to her. A man who could out her so easily. A man who, for some reason, she couldn’t break eye contact with when he looked at her as if he knew.

  The sheriff was only being neighborly. Of all people to have as a neighbor. And he had to go and be good-looking too, with his dark hair, full lips and kind eyes. Looks could be deceiving. Her brother-in-law was good in the looks department and bad in character. But Sheriff Ryker really did have kind eyes, and their deep brown seemed to swirl with concern when he talked about his dog. Maybe the guy had a heart. Maybe if she told him the truth, he’d help her find her sister and he’d convince Jim not to press kidnapping charges.

  The shadow of a gull swooping low, just outside the cottage, brushed across the worn, gray wood of the deck off the back of the house, and its hoarse cry had Faye nearly jumping off the couch. For heaven’s sake, now birds were startling her? What next? She padded over to the glass patio door and caught the gull diving dangerously close to the white-crested waves. It had to be a red-flag day with a surf like that, yet that bird was taking risks for survival. Diving into deep waters headfirst. Flying alone. Had that been the universe’s way of warning her? Fly alone. Don’t trust anyone. Had that been what Clara had been doing all this time? Trying to survive her marriage alone? Without trusting her own sister to step in until it was too late? Was it too late?

  Frustration welled inside her and the pressure built in her chest. She covered her mouth to stifle a sob and glanced back toward the room where the small, portable playpen she’d set up earlier was doubling as a temporary crib. Nim looked so peaceful asleep. The sheriff was right about her being cute.

  Don’t trust anyone.

  But what about Eve? Clara never knew her. She couldn’t judge someone she’d never met. Sheriff Ryker’s face flashed in her mind again. The tenderness in his eyes when he looked at his dog had to mean something. Didn’t it? Maybe he could help. He wasn’t in the same town or state as the cops Jim knew. Maybe...

  No, no, no.

  The gull reappeared and squawked fiercely before taking another dive. The saltwater mist in the air had to be rusting her brain. What was she thinking? Was she that desperate for a way out? For help? Clara had warned her not to trust any cops. Jim was too well connected. People owed him favors. People in elected positions knew how to play politics. They’d look the other way in a flash. They’d make excuses for their buddies. Sheriffs were elected positions.

  And she had broken the law.

  Carlos Ryker didn’t owe her any favors and she was officially a criminal. If she got caught, Jim would take it out on Clara, if he hadn’t already. She had no doubt he knew by now who’d taken Mia. She was the only person anyone could describe as looking just like Clara, plus Faye’s shop was closed and she and her blue Beetle were gone. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what she’d done. But if she was caught and had to testify under oath, he’d have proof that his wife was in on their daughter’s disappearance and that Faye hadn’t been acting alone.

  Clara, I wish you could tell me that you’re alright. That you’re alive, at least. My gut tells me you are. That twin connection we’ve always had is telling me you are. I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’ll be okay.

  Her eyes stung with that last thought, but she refused to let a tear escape. She needed to be strong, for her niece and her sister. They’d get through this. They had to. She closed her eyes and listened to the rough surf. The weather would change. It always did. The waters would eventually calm down. But tides changed too, with the pull of the moon, and low tides uncovered things. So did full moons. Their brilliant light revealed things that would otherwise remain hidden in the dark. Just how long would she be able to stay in the shadows?

  Seeing Eve again and staying here at her place had given her a moment of relief...a chance to catch her breath... But maybe coming to a small town wasn’t such a good idea after all. A person could disappear into crowds. There weren’t any here, at least not right now. Maybe there were during the summer months. To top it off, her friend happened to live within view of the sheriff’s home. And Faye had gone and made calls. They’d been blocked, but paranoia was setting in. Maybe she shouldn’t have, but she had needed something to go on. Something to prove her instincts were right and that Jim had lied to her. She needed to know that Clara was alive for sure.

  Faye raked her fingers through her hair, then braced her hands on her hips. There was the issue of car registration too. Everything was getting complicated really fast. She looked back at Nim in the playpen. Protect her. She would. She couldn’t let Clara down. If Jim was going to track Faye and take her down, he was going under right with her. She’d run long enough for other people in Clara’s life to notice something was off. Long enough for him to stumble. She wasn’t the only person who could make mistakes. Everyone did eventually. She just needed time. She needed to hold out as long as possible. And that meant one thing. She couldn’t stay in Turtleback. She had to keep moving. Moving targets were harder to catch, weren’t they? First thing in the morning, they’d be gone.

  * * *

  CARLOS GAVE THE door to Castaway Books an extra tug to get the latch to close.

  “Back so soon?”

  Eve tucked a stack of books on a shelf marked “50 Percent Off” and made her way over to him.

  “Yep. Your door’s swing mechanism isn’t working.”

  “It’s been acting up this week. I’ll look at it late
r today. I keep forgetting my toolbox at home. I’m sure all it needs is a little adjustment.”

  “Need me to—”

  “Thanks for offering, but I can handle it. You’re busy with work and it’s probably nothing more than a loose screw. Unless our salty air’s done a number on the hinge again. But I’ll figure it out. Bored at work and need a book?” she teased. He knew Eve was kidding. She appreciated the demands of being the town sheriff.

  “Actually, I need your help with something that’s possibly work related. Have any customers right now?” He wasn’t about to discuss Faye within earshot of shoppers. Business was generally slower during the winter months for most of the shops around town, especially after the holidays, but it wasn’t zero. Eve tipped her chin down and narrowed her eyes at him.

  “My first for the day just left. What’s up? Should I be worried? Are Gray and Mandi okay?” Eve, who had been friends with Gray ever since he started bringing his dog, Laddie, to reading time a few years ago, had recently reconnected with Mandi, a childhood acquaintance.

  Mandi had grown up in Turtleback and had left Gray at the altar a few years back. It wasn’t until she returned to town this past summer for the funeral of her grandmother, the town’s beloved matriarch, that the two found their way back to each other. Granted, both had nearly lost their lives when criminals discovered Gray’s new identity and tracked him to Turtleback Beach. The whole incident had townsfolk on edge for months. Danger around here usually consisted of sharks, riptides and hurricanes...not federal witness ambushes.

  “They’re fine. It’s your friend—Faye—I have questions about.”

  “Faye? Man, Carlos. I know February can be slow around here, but you really are bored.” She quirked a brow. “Or interested.”

  “Far from it. I mean I’m not bored or interested. But I am concerned. I ran into her earlier, while walking Pepper. Told her about your reading hour, so she might be by. Be honest with me, Eve. Did she come to you for help? Are you hiding her?”