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“I don’t like this,” Jenna said, checking her phone for updates. “Dispatch says we’ve got at least thirty civilians up there already.”

Jake nodded, taking the next curve faster than comfort allowed. “So much for securing the perimeter.”

The hill loomed before them, crowned by the skeletal silhouette of the radio tower against the sky.

Almost there, she thought.

Her phone rang, the harsh electronic tone cutting through the tense silence. She glanced at the screen and suppressed a sigh.

“It’s the mayor,” she said, hitting the speaker button. “Sheriff Graves here.”

“Sheriff.” Mayor Claire Simmons’ voice filled the car, sharp and clipped even through the tiny speaker. “I needed you in my office at least thirty minutes ago. The press is crawling all over this, and I must be briefed immediately.”

Jake shot Jenna a look that spoke volumes. Their silent communication had developed over years of working together. This particular glance asked, is she serious…right now?

Jenna gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. “Mayor Simmons, I understand your concern, but we’re heading back to the crime scene at the moment. The situation has escalated, and I need to ensure it’s properly contained before—”

“This is precisely the kind of thing we’ve discussed before,” Claire interrupted, her voice dropping to a dangerous octave.

“Public perception is everything, Sheriff. In a situation like this, every minute you spend out there without coordinating with my office is a minute the narrative slips from our control.”

Jenna took a deep breath, then spoke firmly. “Claire, I appreciate the urgency. Jake and I will come to your office once the scene is secure. Right now, my priority has to be public safety and evidence preservation.”

A loaded silence followed, filled only by the hum of the engine.

“Fine,” Claire finally said, the single word tight with barely contained frustration. “But I expect you here within the hour. No excuses.”

The call ended with an abrupt click.

“She always did have a flair for the dramatic exit,” Jake commented

“I guess she’s just doing her job,” Jenna remarked, tucking her phone away. “But the mayor finds it inconvenient to remember that I was elected to my position, just as she was. And mine is a county appointment, while hers is the town. She can’t actually give me orders.”

“But she can make both our lives miserable,” Jake reminded her.

“And sometimes she does,” Jenna replied with a grim smile.

They rounded a curve and the smile faded from Jenna’s face.

As they approached the turnoff to the service road that led to the tower, they spotted a disturbing number of civilian cars parked haphazardly just outside the approach.

When they got nearer, they could see police cruiser parked askew, blocking the road.

“This is a mess,” Jake muttered, as he carefully maneuvered their vehicle through the impromptu parking lot that the area had become,

Officer Mike Donovan, guarding the service road, looked very relieved to see them. He pulled his cruiser ahead just enough to let Jake squeeze their car past, then blocked access to the road again.

Shouting their thanks to Mike, Jake followed the service road toward the radio tower.

As they progressed, Jenna’s keen eyes caught movement between some trees near the road.

She realized that more onlookers were skirting around the official barriers, drawn by the irresistible lure of tragedy and mystery.

When they reached the tower, the full extent of the chaos unfolded before them.

A crowd of at least forty people had gathered now, gawking at the place where Marcus Derrick’s body had been found hanging.

Three officers stood just inside the taped area, arms crossed, expressions tense, as they formed a fragile barrier between the onlookers and the crime scene.

Officer Maria Delgado spotted them and hurried over, relief evident on her young face. “Sheriff, thank God. We’ve been trying to keep them back, but they just keep coming. Word spread fast.”

Before Jenna could respond, her attention was drawn to a large white van parked prominently at the edge of the cleared area.

The Channel 8 News logo gleamed on its side, and a satellite dish extended skyward from its roof.

A reporter in a crisp blazer stood before a camera, microphone in hand, the tower eerily framed behind her.

“When did the press arrive?” Jenna asked, unbuckling her seatbelt. “How did they get past Mike?”

Delgado shifted uncomfortably. “They just drove right in before he had his car in place to block the road. They went live before we could do anything about it. We couldn’t spare anyone to go and arrest them. And that would have opened a whole new can of worms.”

Jake swore softly, then caught himself. “Sorry, Sheriff.”

The cool evening air rushed in as Jenna opened the door, listening to the murmur of the crowd and the mechanical whir of the news camera.

She stepped out of the car, ignoring the press van and heading for the group of onlookers.

The crowd’s chatter dimmed slightly as she came into view, ripples of recognition spreading outward.

“Folks,” she called out, her voice firm and carrying across the open space. “I need everyone who isn’t law enforcement to clear the area immediately. This is an active crime scene, and your presence is hampering our investigation.”

A few people at the edges of the crowd began to shuffle away, but others held their ground, faces alight with curiosity.

“Sheriff Graves!” The reporter from Channel 8 had spotted her and was now hurrying in her direction, microphone extended like a jousting lance, cameraman in tow. “Isabel Chen, Channel 8 News. Can you confirm the rumors that a body was found here last night?”

Some of the dispersing crowd turned back to watch and listen. Jenna could see the glint of mobile screens lifted high, their owners eager to capture her words along with the scene.

“Ms. Chen,” Jenna greeted, acknowledging the reporter with a curt nod that was both professional and slightly aloof. Her voice carried an authoritative undertone that demanded respect.

“At present,” she began, choosing her words carefully, “I can confirm that we are indeed investigating what appears to be a suspicious death.” She paused for effect, allowing her words to sink in before continuing.

“We’re still in the preliminary stages of our investigation and out of respect for the victim’s family; we won’t be releasing further details until proper notifications have been made. ”

The reporter wasn’t deterred by Jenna’s succinct response. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with determination. “Sources tell us that it was a couple of local kids who discovered the body. What can you share about that?”

Jenna held up a hand, halting any further questions momentarily. “You know as well as I do that we don’t disclose information about minors involved in active investigations,” she replied firmly.

“But is there an ongoing danger? Should Trentville residents be worried?” Ms. Chen persisted, skillfully steering her line of questioning towards public safety concerns.

Despite the camera lens zooming closer on her face, Jenna kept her expression steady and composed. “At this point in time,” she stated clearly while maintaining eye contact with Ms. Chen, “we have no evidence suggesting an ongoing threat to public safety.”

She let this statement hang in the air for a moment before adding: “However, we urge all residents to remain vigilant and report any unusual or suspicious activity. Now, I must insist that everyone leave the immediate area to allow our team to conduct their work effectively.”

Her firm directive echoed through the crowd, leaving no room for further questions. It was time for them to step back and let law enforcement do its job.

She turned back to the crowd, raising her voice slightly. “My order for you to leave is not a request, folks. Anyone still on this property in five minutes will be cited for obstruction of justice.”

She turned to the news reporter and added, “That includes you and your crew. You know better than to enter a crime scene that’s still under investigation.”

The authority in her tone had its intended effect. The reporter and cameraman retreated to their van and the crowd began to disperse, though not without reluctance. Jenna caught fragments of disappointed murmurs as people trudged back to their vehicles.

“Always when things get interesting...”

“...bet it was that drifter they found at the Sundown Motel last week...”

“...never had this kind of trouble when Frank Doyle was sheriff...”

That last comment stung more than Jenna would ever admit. She pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand as she approached her deputies.

“Miller, Anderson, I want this perimeter extended another fifty yards in all directions. No exceptions, no matter who they claim to know or be related to. You can cuff any who refuse to go.”

The officers nodded, immediately moving to expand the police line.

As the crowd thinned and the immediate crisis abated, Jenna and Jake returned to their vehicle. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving Jenna feeling the full weight of the day’s events. She flopped into the passenger seat and leaned her head back.

Jake slid into the driver’s seat and looked over at her with the kind of personal concern that had become more frequent between them in recent months, crossing the line from professional to something neither of them had fully defined.

“You look exhausted, Jenna. When was the last time you slept?”

“I’m fine,” she said automatically, then softened at his skeptical look. “But it has been a while.”

The truth was, she’d barely slept four hours in the last two days. The case had her mind spinning with possibilities, theories, connections—not to mention the dreams that had been more intense lately.

“But we’re not finished yet,” she added.

“Where to first? The mayor’s or the station?”

Before Jenna could answer, her phone rang again. She glanced at the screen, a small smile forming despite her fatigue.

“Frank,” she said by way of greeting as she answered.

“Just saw you on the Channel 8 live feed,” Frank Doyle’s familiar gruff voice came through, warm with a hint of amusement. “Looking sharp, Sheriff. Handled that reporter like a pro.”

Despite everything, Jenna felt a flush of pleasure at her mentor’s praise. “You’re watching the local news? I thought you said it was ‘nothing but fear-mongering and fluff pieces.’“

“Had to make sure my protégé wasn’t making me look bad,” he chuckled. “Seriously though, good job up there. Firm but not aggressive, informative without giving away the store.”

“Thanks, Frank.” She met Jake’s eyes briefly, sharing the moment with him. “That means a lot.”

“You two look dead on your feet, even through my ancient TV,” Frank continued. “I could fix you both a nice cup of herbal tea, take some of the edge off. How about it?”

The invitation was tempting—a moment of calm in Frank’s comfortable living room, where they could discuss the case without the pressures of City Hall or the station.

“We’ll head over as soon as we can,” Jenna promised. “Might be late. We have to go calm down the mayor.”

“Door’s always open to you,” Frank replied simply. “Just show up whenever you’re done playing politics with Claire. You know where the key is if I nod off waiting.”

The call ended, and Jenna told Jake. “Mayor first, then Frank’s,” she decided. “Let’s get the hard part over with.”

They drove in companionable silence through the now-quiet streets of Trentville. Storefronts were dark, and streetlights were coming on. The small town felt peaceful, at odds with the chaos they’d just left behind and the grim reality of a life cut short.

City Hall soon loomed ahead, an imposing granite building. Jake pulled into a space near the front entrance and cut the engine. For a moment, neither of them moved, the silence in the car a brief respite before the storm they knew awaited them inside.

“She’s going to push for details we don’t have yet,” Jake said finally.

“And criticize our handling of the scene,” Jenna added.

“And make thinly veiled comments about election year crime statistics.”

A small smile tugged at Jenna’s lips. “We both know the drill.”

Jake’s hand briefly covered hers where it rested on the console between them—a quick, warm pressure that was gone almost before she registered it. “We’ve got this,” he said simply.