“Okay, show’s over, people,” Sheriff Franklin barked out. “Get back to work.”
The deputies jumped into action. The sheriff gestured for Luke and Megan to follow him before turning on his heel and heading into his office. It was large enough for a conference table and bookcases. Mounted deer heads lined one wall.
Sheriff Franklin rounded his desk and stood behind it. Pushing sixty-five, he resembled an aging bulldog—barrel chested with thick jowls and slight underbite.
“What’s going on with Chad?” Luke asked, after he shut the door behind them.
“The bartender from Harry’s called, claiming Chad was making threats against June and Megan. I pulled him in for questioning.”
“And?”
Sheriff Franklin shrugged. “Chad says he was at home during the attack on Megan and in the hours before June’s accident. I’ll go to the ranch and confirm it with his father.”
The sheriff gestured to the visitor chairs before taking a seat in the cracked and worn leather one behind the desk. “Listen, Luke, Chad is a hothead whose mouth works faster than his brain, but I don’t believe he has the wherewithal to plan a murder.”
Megan agreed. Chad had said stuff in the past and done nothing. From the way Luke’s posture stayed ramrod straight, however, he didn’t believe the threats were all bluster.
Someone knocked on the office door and the sheriff barked permission for them to enter.
Dan strolled in. The chief deputy had started out as a cop in Dallas before coming back five years ago to his home roots in Cardin. His dyed black hair was plastered in place with shiny gel, the color a sharp contrast to his sallow skin, and an e-cigarette poked out of the front pocket of his uniform. His gaze raked over Megan, and she resisted the urge to pull her jacket closed.
“Glad to see you weren’t seriously hurt this morning, Ms. Hunt.” Dan tucked his hands in his pockets and jingled some change. “I read the reports from Lieutenant Granger who took your statement. Quite a close call.”
“I was lucky Luke was there.”
“Two women in one week.” Dan grinned. “Must be a record, Tatum.”
“Not one I’m happy to have.” Luke glanced at Megan. “I’d rather there be no attacks at all.”
“None of us are happy about what’s going on,” Sheriff Franklin said. “I want to get to the bottom of it.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. Given Wade’s claim of innocence combined with June’s voice mail, her car accident, the attack on Megan, and the arson, I think we need to consider the possibility that all of these incidents are connected.”
“Well, that’s a jump if I ever heard one.” Dan leaned against the desk. “June’s car accident hasn’t been ruled as an attempted murder, and I doubt it will be considering there was no sign of foul play. Granted, the timing of her voice mail is suspicious, and I can see why it could cause questions, but there is zero evidence thus far that the two are connected.”
“What about the attack on me today?” Megan lifted her chin. “And the fact that my aunt’s house was burned to the ground.”
“First of all, we can’t be sure the arsonist even knew you were in the house. Your vehicle was parked in the garage. It’s possible you surprised him, and he pushed you down the stairs out of fear.” Dan adjusted the nameplate on his uniform. “June is a private investigator. Digging into people’s business is what she does for a living. These attacks could be tied to one of her other cases.”
Unbelievable. He was twisting the facts to suit his own agenda. “My brother is innocent of Franny’s murder.”
“Megan, I can appreciate the pain your family has been through, but your brother confessed.” Dan’s tone was patient and he spoke slowly, as if she was hard of hearing or emotionally overwrought. “It’s not unusual, after a few years in prison, for someone to change their tune and claim they’re innocent.”
Heat pulsed through her veins. Her gaze shot to the sheriff, but he remained silent.
“Be that as it may,” Luke said. “I want to see Franny Dickerson’s case file.”
The tips of Dan’s ears turned pink. “Are you questioning my integrity?”
Yes. Megan screamed the answer in her head but kept her lips sealed. Arguing would get them nowhere.
“I want the truth.” Luke’s tone was professional, but he addressed his words to the sheriff instead of Dan. “And I want to catch the person responsible for nearly killing June and Megan. Not to mention attacking my stepfather.”
“And I don’t?” Dan snapped. The red spots spread across his earlobes and into his cheeks. “That’s insulting.”
Sheriff Franklin stood. “Dan, why don’t you give us a minute?”
His gaze swung to his boss. “You’re dismissing me? Are you serious?”
“Yes.” The sheriff drew himself up to his full height. “I am.”
Dan’s expression turned dark, and for a moment, Megan thought he would refuse. Sheriff Franklin leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was, the chief deputy deflated like a balloon. Wordlessly, he left.
Before he closed the door behind him, Megan’s gaze snagged his. Pure hatred flashed in Dan’s eyes.
A pinprick of fear touched the back of her neck.
The tension in the sheriff’s office dropped by five grades when Dan left the room. Luke took a deep breath and forced his posture to relax. He’d never liked the chief deputy. Something about the man made his hackles go up.
Sheriff Franklin sighed as he retook his seat.
“Please excuse my chief deputy. Dan is a good cop, and he’s taking the challenge to his work personally. Before all of this, there was no reason to question our findings on the case. Wade’s confession fit with the facts and was rock solid.” He paused. “Megan, I want you to know, I wouldn’t have arrested your brother if I hadn’t had probable cause.”
“Thank you, sir. That means a lot.”
“I’m also going
