by Devney Perry
“And did you ever meet their mother?” he asked.
“Twice.”
“When was that?”
“Um, the first day she came to Lark Cove. I was in the bar when she came in.”
“And what happened that day?”
“Uh . . .” I searched my memory, trying to remember all that had happened that afternoon. “She came in and said she was looking for Jackson. Thea was there too. We didn’t know who she was and when Jackson came out from the kitchen, she didn’t recognize him. He told her to leave.”
“He told her to leave? Or did he physically remove her from the bar?”
“He, um, escorted her out.”
Sheriff Magee didn’t need to write anything down. He already knew things had gotten heated that afternoon. But the only person who could have told him was Jackson since Thea had been with me in the lobby all day. Where was he going with this?
“And what happened next?” he asked.
“Nothing. I spent the evening at the bar with Jackson and then went home.” There was no way in hell I was going to tell him anything about the fight we’d gotten into that night.
“You went home alone?”
“Yes.”
“But you normally spend the nights together.”
Why did I feel like this was a trap? “Yes.”
“So you don’t know what else happened that night after you left.”
“Nothing else happened. I stayed until Jackson closed down the bar. Then I drove home and went to bed.”
“And when did you see Jackson again?”
“The next morning.”
He hummed and wrote down another note on the paper. He tilted it back, resting it at an angle to hide his notes.
“When was the second time you met Melissa Page?”
“The next day. I went with Jackson to visit her at her motel room.”
“And what happened?”
I took a deep breath, though it didn’t help soothe my hammering heartbeat. “Melissa introduced Ryder and Jackson. Then she told Jackson he needed to take Ryder for a while.”
That was the CliffsNotes version of our visit to the motel, but I was starting to feel like the less I shared, the better. If Sheriff Magee wanted details, he could drag them out of me one question at a time.
“Then what?”
“That’s it. We loaded up Ryder and his stuff, then left. We went to the bar for pizza.”
He set down the paper and pen, then steepled his hands by his chin. “And did you ever see or talk to Melissa again?”
“No.”
“Did she ever call to talk to Jackson or Ryder?” he asked.
“Not that I know of.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.” I locked my eyes with his. “I’m sure. If she called, Jackson didn’t tell me. Ryder doesn’t have a phone.”
“Okay. Let’s go back to the night of November sixteenth. You’re sure you don’t remember where you were that night?”
I shook my head. “Not really. Nothing specific stands out from that date. But can I check my phone? I might have something in my calendar.”
“Go ahead.” Sheriff Magee waved me on.
I dug my phone from my coat pocket and opened up the calendar, swiping to November. I kept everything in my calendar, mostly because I didn’t ever want to forget a birthday, special occasion or dinner with the girls.
I noted everything, including my lunch dates.
And November sixteenth was the day I’d had a lunch date with my dad at the school.
That was the day that Jackson had been in to discuss Ryder’s grades. It was the day he’d gotten that late-night phone call and disappeared for three hours and seven minutes, only to come home smelling like tequila and women’s perfume.
“I spent the night at Jackson’s house,” I told Sheriff Magee.
“And was he there all night?”
I looked up, wanting to cry.
Sheriff Magee’s eyes were waiting, his gaze gentle and understanding. He knew the answer already and he knew it was going to hurt to say it.
He knew that with one word, I’d be turning against the love of my life.
“No.”
My fucking mother. Even in death she was ruining my life.
I was sitting in an interrogation room at the sheriff’s station. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been here, but my ass was sore from sitting in this metal chair for so long. My head was pounding and my back ached.
“Fuck.” I dropped my head into my hands and closed my eyes.
This was not how I’d planned on spending my day.
I’d stopped at the bar this morning to say hello to Thea, who’d been working on payroll. I needed some ideas on what to get Charlie for Christmas since I was going to do some shopping in Kalispell after I got Willa’s car cleaned.
When Sheriff Magee came through the door, I assumed it was just to say hello. He came in every now and again to make sure we knew he and his team were always available if there was trouble.
I certainly didn’t expect the sheriff to “invite” me down to the station for questioning—and request that I ride in the back of his cruiser.
At least he didn’t put me in cuffs or throw me in a jail cell. He just brought me into this room and explained that my mother had been found murdered. Then he told me that, at the moment, I was their number one suspect.
I was a murder suspect.
That was not a concept I could grasp. What I did know for certain was that I never should have answered Mom’s phone call three weeks ago.
My skull felt like it was going to split in two at any moment, so I rubbed the back of my neck, hoping to work out some of the kinks and get my headache to disappear. The pain was just beginning to let up when the door to the interrogation room opened and Sheriff Magee stepped inside.
He looked as tired as I felt.
We’d spent most of the day in here. He’d ask me questions and I’d answer into the recorder. Then I’d ask questions and he’d tell me what he could.
The only reason I’d agreed to talk to him without a lawyer present was because I trusted him. More importantly, Hazel trusted him. Those two butted heads all the damn time, but if she were in my shoes, she’d work with Sheriff Magee, not against him.
I just hoped my cooperation would be the key to my release, not my incarceration.
“Are you charging me?” I asked.
He shook his head and sank into the chair across from me. “Not today.”
My shoulders fell. “I didn’t do it.”
“That’s what everyone says.”
“You don’t believe me.”
He thumbed through a pad of paper he’d brought in with him. “I’m not sure what to believe. The evidence I had this morning only pointed to you. But I’m still collecting puzzle pieces. Good news for you is that the more I get, the less the picture resembles your face.”
That was the best news I’d had all day. “So what now?”
“You go home for the night. I keep working until I have all the pieces.” He blew out a long breath and kept his seat. I was ready to bolt, but the sheriff had something more to say. “You’ve got a lot of people who love you. I hope you’re grateful for them.”
“I am.”
“And you’ve got a smart woman who pays attention to details.”
The hairs on my arms stood up. “You talked to Willa?”
“In that room.” He pointed to the wall at my back.
I nearly shot out of my chair to go next door. The last place I wanted her was in an interrogation room, but I kept my seat. “What did she say?”
“She told me you left your house that night after a phone call. And that you came back three hours and seven minutes later.”
She’d been awake? Fuck. I’d been so drunk and exhausted that I hadn’t realized.
“So . . .” Sheriff Magee drummed his fingers on the table. “Like I said. This morning, the evidence pointed to you. But now I know you were at home for a good po
rtion of the night.”
“I told you that earlier.”
“You did.” He sighed. “And if I could take everyone at their word, my job would be a lot easier.”
“I didn’t kill her.”
“And I’m inclined to believe you, Jackson. I really am. But I need proof. Until then, you’re still my number one suspect. I’m going to keep digging until I can prove it wasn’t you or I find someone else with the same means and motive.”
“Understood.” I nodded. “Did you call Dakota?”
“Just got off the phone. He’s coming right down.”
“Good.” I rubbed my neck. Dakota would provide an alibi for two of the hours I was away from home. Then all I needed was for something to come up to show Mom was alive during the other hour.
“Goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway.” Sheriff Magee pointed at me. “Don’t leave town.”
“No, sir.”
“I expect to hear back from the medical examiner sometime this week. Expect a phone call asking you to come back down.”
“Okay.” I stood from the chair. My lower back pinched and my legs were stiff, but I ignored them and held out a hand to Sheriff Magee.
“We’ll talk soon.” He shook my hand, then walked out the door.
I followed him out of the room, hoping to get a glimpse of Willa next door, but it was shut.
“She’s in the lobby.” Sheriff Magee glanced over his shoulder. “You’ve had a whole crew in here today, drinking all my coffee.”
I didn’t respond as I followed him through the bull pen and down the hallway that led to the lobby. Sheriff Magee opened the door for me, then stepped to the side.
I strode right past him into the lobby, where Logan and Thea were standing against a wall, whispering to one another. Hazel was sitting in one of the lobby chairs with her knee bouncing. And Willa was in the seat next to her.
The second they spotted me, the room breathed a collective sigh.
Thea said something. Hazel stood. But I kept my eyes on Willa.
She sat perfectly still, not leaving her chair. The look on her face was part relief, part frustration.
Was she pissed? She should be. I’d lied to her and made a huge fucking mistake, so she had every right to be mad.
I opened my mouth to apologize, but the front door to the station opened and Dakota walked inside, kicking the snow from his boots.
“Dakota?” Thea asked, turning to look at our employee. “What are you doing here? Who’s at the bar?”
“No one,” he told her. “I locked up when the sheriff called.”
“Thanks for coming down,” I told him, sending Thea a look that meant we’d talk later.
Dakota crossed the room and walked right up to Sheriff Magee. “Uncle.”
“Hi, bud. Come on back.”
Dakota nodded, clapped me on the shoulder, then followed the sheriff back into the station.
When the door closed behind them, the room went silent again. My gaze went back to Willa, where she still sat frozen.
“Willa.” I took a step forward, ready to get on my knees and beg for forgiveness. But before I could, she shot out of her chair and ran across the room.
She flung herself into my arms and the weight of a thousand worlds fell off my shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. I hugged her tight, burying my face in her hair and breathing it in deep.
“You didn’t do it, so don’t apologize.”
“I didn’t do it.”
Her arms around my neck got tighter. “I know.”
She knows. Without any kind of explanation, she knew. She had that kind of faith in me.
“I love you.”
She leaned back, her blue eyes full of tears. “I love you too.”
I pulled her back in, wishing we were alone. There was so much I had to explain and I wanted some time for the two of us to just talk things out. But that wasn’t going to happen. First, I had to tell my little brother that our mother was never coming back for him because she was dead.
“Meet up at the bar,” Hazel declared as she collected her coat and purse. “We’ll talk there.”
I let Willa go and took Hazel’s hand. “I need to talk to Ryder.”
“It can wait.” She gave me the look I didn’t argue with. “He’s fine. He’s with Betty at home, probably doing homework. And I want to know what’s going on. Now.”
“Okay.” I sighed. “I need to get my things. I’ll be right behind you.”
As I went to the deputy at the desk to collect Willa’s car keys and my coat, everyone else hurried to leave. When I turned back around, the lobby was empty except for Willa, who stood by the door, waiting.
I took her hand as we walked outside, leading her right to my truck. “I didn’t get your car cleaned.”
She gave me a small smile. “You can do it later.”
“I will.” That was, if I wasn’t in prison. It all depended on what Sheriff Magee could dig up to prove my innocence.
Or whatever I could dig up to save myself.
“You drive.” She handed me my keys, then stood on her tiptoes to give me a quick kiss before going to the passenger door.
We got in and went directly to the bar, parking next to her car before going inside.
When we walked through the door, Hazel was already pouring Thea a glass of water and Logan a shot of whiskey. She held up the bottle, silently asking if I wanted a drink, but I shook my head.
Until this was all over, I wanted a clear head.
“Willa?”
“Just water for me.” She shrugged off her coat and took a chair at the table in the middle of the room where Thea and Logan were sitting.
“Jackson, lock the door,” Hazel ordered. “We’re closed for the rest of the day, and I don’t want any distractions.”
I nodded and turned back around, locking the door. Then I snagged an extra chair and slid it next to Willa’s.
“Okay. Start at the top,” Hazel said after she’d brought over drinks and we’d all sat down.
With a deep breath and an apologetic look at Willa, I dove in. “Mom called me about three weeks ago. That was the phone call I got the night I left the house.”
“I kind of figured that one out today,” she muttered.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you.”
“You should have told all of us.” Thea crossed her arms over her chest. “Was she calling you this entire time?”
I shook my head. “Just that once.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I guess I didn’t want to talk about her.” She’d been theoretically dead to me. Now, she actually was.
“What did she want?” Willa asked.
“Money.” I took a drink of my water, then sat back in my chair to explain the entire night. “She asked me to meet her somewhere. She said if I didn’t talk to her, she’d go to the authorities to take Ryder back. I didn’t want to even take the chance that she’d put him through it, so I met with her.”
I had just been trying to do right by Ryder. Even though I was working to get legal custody of him, my claim hadn’t been approved yet. Mom was still his legal guardian. I’d figured the fastest way to get her the hell out of Lark Cove again was a quick meeting to hear her out.
“I told her to meet me here in the parking lot. It was snowing pretty hard and I offered to talk inside, but she didn’t want to come in. She just told me that if I wanted to keep Ryder, I needed to give her three thousand dollars.”
“Did you?” Logan asked.
“No. I told her to go to hell, then got in my truck and drove off.”
Willa put her hand on my knee. “Then what?”
“Then nothing. I got back in my truck and drove around for a while. I was pissed and needed to think. After about an hour, I came back here and drank with Dakota for a couple hours.”
“That’s why Sheriff Magee called him down.” Thea snapped her fingers. “He�
�s your alibi for part of the night.”
I nodded. “He poured me tequila shots for two hours and kept me company, then drove me home.” Poor guy had walked from my house to his in the snow, but thankfully, Lark Cove was small and he didn’t live more than five minutes away.
Logan leaned forward in his chair. “So we just have to prove that during the hour you were driving around, you didn’t kill your mother.”
“That’s right,” I told him.
“How did she die?” Thea asked.
I shuddered as the photographs Magee had shown me earlier flashed through my mind. I think he’d shown me pictures of Mom’s lifeless body in order to gauge my reaction as well as to confirm she was in fact my mom.
I don’t know if it was what he’d been going for, but I’d almost puked up breakfast in the interrogation room’s trash can. The images of her gray skin and dead eyes were burned into my brain forever.
“She was strangled,” I said quietly. “In her car, they think. That’s where they found her. She’d turned off the highway onto Old Logger’s Road. I have no idea why she’d take that turn. Maybe she was lost or something, but that’s where they found her. Her car had been run off the road into some trees.”
“She died three weeks ago. Why are they just now finding her body?” Logan asked.
“It snowed,” Hazel explained. This was Logan’s first year in Montana, so it wasn’t a wonder he didn’t understand. Once upon a time, she’d taught me about those old roads too. “That road gets closed every winter because it sits at the base of two mountains. It drifts in so badly during the winter they can’t keep up with the plowing, so they just close it off until spring.”
“Someone must have followed her up there and killed her, then driven her car off the road,” Thea guessed.
I nodded. “And somehow we have to prove that someone wasn’t me.”
“But why?” Willa asked. “Why would they even think it was you? They just assumed that since you’re her son, you’d kill her? That makes no sense.”
I took another drink of my water, buying myself a minute. This was the part of my story I didn’t want to confess.
“I threatened her. When we were at the motel and after she dumped Ryder, I threatened her never to come back. I guess she thought I might be true to my word because when I met her in the parking lot here, she recorded our conversation on her phone. And I threatened her again, right before I drove off. I told her if she ever came back, I’d use her body as fishing bait.”
