Page 27

“He won’t get out until he’s a very old man, but yes. Sometimes, we have to make such deals in order to fry the bigger fish,” Lucas says with a deep sigh.

“That is, assuming he survives prison,” Tyler mutters.

I don’t have to like it, but I made a deal of my own to get my sentence significantly reduced. My crime was falling in love with the wrong man, nowhere close to murder, yet I still paid a steep price.

“Alright, I’ve seen and heard enough,” Lucas announces as we walk out of Dina’s townhouse. “Here’s what I’m offering, Tassia.A bump in pay if you agree to consult with us on specific cases, cases we choose, on top of your evidence room workload.”

“A bump?”

“Big enough to help cover the cabin repair costs and whatever else you may need to keep building a new life here in Frost Valley.”

“That’s mighty generous.”

“Yours is a rare skill, one that can’t be taught. It should be rewarded accordingly,” he replies.

“I accept.”

As evening fallsover the town and its lush, sprawling valley, I’m back at Lucas’s cabin, sinking into the armchair by the crackling fire. I let my gaze wander over the sculpted stone mantelpiece, catching glimpses of Lucas, Tyler, and Mitch in several framed photographs.

In the mountains. On the road. Their days as Army Rangers. There’s even an old picture of them from their high school graduation. Tall, lanky, and goofy teenagers, yet they’ve grown into the finest men I’ve ever come across.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Lucas asks as he comes into the living room with two glasses of wine, handing me one.

“Oh, thank you.”

“Figured we should celebrate your new position within the sheriff’s department.”

“Is it an official position?” I ask.

He smiles, watching as I lift the glass of wine to my lips. “It is. It’s a paid consultant position. Nothing fancy, but the scope is broad enough.”

“Does that mean I’ll be working outside the evidence room, too?”

“Absolutely. In fact, I’m having one of my newer deputies cover for you while we’re out in the field. The evidence room work is linear and predictable. It’s just data input and admin stuff for the most part, right?”

I shrug. “More or less.”

“Well, I know you’ve made an art of it,” he chuckles. “But you’ve proven you’re more valuable to us in the bullpen or out in the field. I’m not sure you understand how important your insights are. We’ve been praying for a crack in the case for almost a year. Thanks to you, we drilled William Jade armed with all the right questions.”

“Oh, that’s right, you interviewed him this afternoon. What did he say?”

“Enough that we now have a clear connection between him and the Silver Stallions. He won’t tell us more without a deal in writing from the DA, but that will take a while to draft. In the meantime, we have new leads.”

“I’m glad I could help, I really am. Thank you for the opportunity. I mean it,” I say, tucking my legs beneath me.

“There’s something else I want to address, sooner rather than later,” he says, slowly taking a seat on the couch, his blue eyes never leaving my face.

“I can handle both parts of the job, if that’s what you’re worried about. Even if there’s no one to cover my slot in the evidence room, I can still?—”

“It’s not that.”

“Oh.”

“It’s about the fire.”

“Okay.”

A smile tests his lips, but he’s working hard to keep a serious face. I’m starting to grow concerned, and I want to say something, but I quietly wait for him to speak.