Reed had closed himself off from the possibility of having a wife and children because being sheriff required all of his energy. He never wanted another family to go through what he had with Bonnie. What he hadn’t considered, until now, was that having Emma and Lily in his life actually made him better at his job. Like prayer and attending church service, their presence and affection centered him.
After the final hymn, parishioners beelined in small groups to the fellowship room for coffee and donuts. Aunt Bessie picked up her purse from the chair and slung it over her shoulder. “Service was lovely, wasn’t it?”
“It was.” Vivian brushed a slim hand through her honey-colored locks. “I wish we could stay for the fellowship.”
A twinge of guilt prickled Reed. Vivian had been trapped at Aunt Bessie’s house for days. A crease formed between Emma’s brows and he knew she was thinking the same thing. They were surrounded by half of the town and escorted by two law enforcement officers. It would safe enough.
“Ten minutes of fellowship can’t hurt,” he said. Reed spotted Harry Norton standing off to the side. The tall, slender widower was chatting with the mayor and his wife. Will was with them, too. “Austin, do you mind keeping an eye out for them? I want to talk to Judge Norton.”
“Sure thing.”
Emma handed Lily to her sister-in-law. “I’ll stay with Reed and meet you back at the house.”
“Don’t be late, dear.” Aunt Bessie grinned. “I have homemade cinnamon rolls rising as we speak. Once we get home, I’ll pop them in the oven.”
“Is there cream cheese frosting involved?” Emma asked.
Aunt Bessie winked. “Of course.”
Reed chuckled. “Then we’ll definitely be on time. Otherwise, Austin will eat them all.”
His cousin shot him a mock glare. “I take offense to that. Last time you were thirty minutes late. What’s a man to do?”
The whole group laughed. They separated, but the judge was still speaking with the mayor. Reed caught Will’s eye and the prosecutor nodded discreetly. Reed and Emma hung back to wait for a chance to speak to Harry.
“Do you really think it’s possible Joshua and Owen are working together?” she asked Reed quietly.
“At this point, I’m checking out every avenue. The argument between the two men could be nothing, but since we didn’t find anything else on your property, it puts Joshua higher on my suspect list. Maybe he’s involved. Or maybe he knows something but won’t tell us.”
“Why not question Joshua about the fight?”
“I don’t want to tip him off that I know about it yet. It’s better to gather as much information as I can.”
Emma’s gaze drifted back to Will and Judge Norton. “Joshua wasn’t the only man Bonnie dated. Will was a former boyfriend. Have you considered him as a suspect?”
“Early on I did, but Will was very cooperative. He allowed me to search his home, answered all my questions, and the information he gave me checked out. Plus, he has an alibi for the time of my sister’s disappearance. At least, he sort of does. He ran a red light on Main Street, and the camera caught it. He got an automatic ticket. The timing made it impossible for Will to be on Main Street and in Franklin Park where Bonnie disappeared from at the same time.”
Emma jerked her chin. “They’re done and coming this way.”
Emma’s nerves jittered as she watched Will and his uncle approach. Side by side, the two men shared a striking resemblance. They had the same stature, the same patrician nose. Judge Norton’s silver hair was slicked back from his face, drawing attention to his striking eyes and high forehead. Now in his late sixties, Harry had worked as a county judge for the last twenty years after a successful career as a prosecutor. There wasn’t a person in town he didn’t know.
“Sheriff, it’s good to see you.” Harry shook Reed’s hand, his dark brown eyes crinkling at the corners.
“You, too, sir. Allow me to introduce Emma Pierce.”
“Ms. Pierce, it’s lovely to meet you.” The judge shook her hand, as well. His grip was firm but not bruising. The slight smile dropped from his lips and his expression turned grave. “I’m so sorry to hear about the trouble you’ve been having.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Harry clapped Will on the back. “My nephew says you’re building a canine SAR training facility.”
Emma nodded. “It’s a big project, but I’m excited about the opportunity.”
“I’m so pleased. Your uncle was a cherished member of our community and I know he’d be proud to have his land used in such an important manner.”
It wasn’t the first time she’d heard the sentiment. Several members of Heyworth had told her the same. Still, it never failed to reinforce her decision. Honoring her uncle’s wishes was a blessing she gratefully accepted.
“Judge Norton, I’d like to ask you a few questions about the land sale you made to Joshua Lowe last year,” Reed said.
The older man’s brow wrinkled. “What about it?”
“As I remember, that piece of property wasn’t for sale at the time. What made you sell it?”
“Joshua came to my office and specifically asked for it.”
Emma rocked back on her heels. “He did?”
“Well, it’s not a surprise.” Harry ran a hand down his tie in a gesture very similar to his nephew’s classic move. “Joshua had saved up some money. He was looking to get a fresh start in life. I was under the impression he’d tried to buy from some others in the county, but they’d refused to sell on account of his reputation. I, however, had grown to know and like Joshua over the years.”
Harry’s reasoning wasn’t a shock. Uncle Jeb had spoken highly of Judge Norton to Emma many times. The two men had liked and respected each other. Judge Norton believed strongly in the power of redemption.
