Page 32 of Dangerous Affair (The Phoenix Three #2)

“Deputy Dog?” She grinned at the deputy, who was scowling at her. “Sorry.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw John smile, while the sheriff joined his deputy in scowling at her. Good, they weren’t liking that she wasn’t cowering in fear as she should be doing if she had in fact killed Jasper.

“It’s D-o-u-g-h,” Deputy Dog said, emphasizing each letter as he spelled it for her.

“Gotcha.” Sorry, he would always be Deputy Dog to her.

The sheriff tapped his finger on the table. “I asked you a question, Miss Sullivan.”

“Yes, I know why you’re here. Someone killed Jasper, and you think I know something about that. I don’t, but ask your questions.”

“Do you have any idea who that someone is? You were the last to see him.”

“Not true. Whoever killed him was the last to see him. That wasn’t me.”

“Mr. O’Rourke stated that Garrison kidnapped you. Tell me about that.”

After she related the story, she sat back in her chair.

“And that’s it. After Liam and I escaped into the woods because Jasper was shooting at us , I never saw him again.

You can verify with the garage that picked up Liam’s car that it had been wrecked.

That was also because of Jasper crashing into us. ”

“Why didn’t you report him to the police?”

Thankfully, John had prepared her and Liam for this question.

“Liam wanted me to, but I was afraid Jasper would find us if we stuck around Hope Corner, and I just wanted to go home. Plus, I felt sorry for Jasper. I mean, I know he chained me up, but it was a case of misguided love… No, love isn’t the right word.

Obsession ’s a better one. Liam wasn’t happy about not telling the police what had happened, so I promised that I’d consider reporting him after I was home where I felt safe.

Sadly, Jasper was killed before I could do that. ”

Liam hadn’t been happy about letting her take the blame, but John had convinced him that it was the best answer. She was good with her being the reason Jasper wasn’t reported to the police. She’d do whatever she could to keep Liam out of trouble.

The sheriff stared at her for a long minute before speaking. “What aren’t you telling me, Miss Sullivan?”

“I have no idea what you’re referring to. Jasper stalked me, kidnapped me, chained me up, all because I broke up with him and his tiny ego couldn’t handle the rejection.” She sighed. “Men. Such babies, yeah?”

“Miss Sullivan, this is your chance to help yourself by telling the truth. If… No, when I find out what you’re hiding, it will be worse for you.

See, there are reports of a man and woman fitting your and Mr. O’Rourke’s descriptions seen in Hope Corner after Mr. Garrison was killed, yet both of you claim you left prior to his death. ”

Oh, boy. That wasn’t good. Too late to change their story now.

Had this question come up with Liam? If so, why hadn’t he warned her?

She had no choice but to stick to her guns, so she met the sheriff’s gaze.

“Listen, my father hired Liam to find me. He did, and he rescued me. Neither one of us saw Jasper again. End of story.”

“Sheriff Lamott, unless you have an arrest warrant for Miss Sullivan’s extradition to West Virginia that you’ve presented to the Myrtle Beach police department, Miss Sullivan is done here,” John said. “Do you?”

“Not yet.”

“Great. Nice talking to you, Sheriff Lamott.” Not . She stood. “I hope you find who killed Jasper. He turned out not to be a nice man, but he didn’t deserve to die.” She felt Deputy Dog’s eyes on her as she walked out of the room. The man made her uneasy.

“I’m not in handcuffs either,” she exclaimed as soon as she saw Liam.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his office, closing the door behind them. He put his hands on her cheeks and roamed his eyes over her. “You’re okay?”

“Yeah. Just happy it’s over. Well, over for now. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last from Sheriff Lamott. He asked—”

Someone knocked on the door, and Liam stepped away to open it. Grayson walked in, followed by John.

“John said you did great,” Grayson said.

“I was fine until the sheriff told me a couple matching my and Liam’s description was seen in Hope Corner after Jasper was killed. It took everything in me not to react to that.”

“He didn’t ask me that,” Liam said. “I wonder why.”

“It was an ambush,” John said. “He didn’t ask Liam that question on purpose. He didn’t want you warned that he knew you were back in Hope Corner. You did good not to react, because he was hoping it would rattle you.”

“Well, it did. I’m amazed my voice didn’t quiver. It was a mistake to go back. I just really wanted those pictures to prove the barrels belonged to the mill.”

“What’s done is done,” Liam said. “He can’t prove it was us, so he still has nothing.”

“And if he does prove it was us?”

“Just because you returned to Hope Corner isn’t evidence that you were involved in Jasper Garrison’s murder,” John said. “According to Liam and Grayson, this situation will be resolved soon, and the sheriff can turn his focus from you to the actual murderer.”

“I’m supposed to leave for Ukraine in two weeks. Will that be a problem if whoever killed Jasper hasn’t been arrested?”

Liam frowned. “You’re leaving?”