Page 152 of Noel Secrets

Dean opened the folder in his hands and skimmed through her statement. “It says here that he confessed to you that he and Grant Rushton were working together.”

“Yes. He said Rushton approached him and offered him money. He would take care of everything, then Brent would give him half of the inheritance money. That’s what he told me.”

“My officers managed to apprehend the shooter twenty minutes ago. If we can convince him to name Rushton as the man who paid him, this threat against you might be over.”

She’d heard that before but, for now, she would continue to be cautious. “Can I go now?”

He tapped his finger on the table then nodded and stood. “You’re free to go. Agent Walker is working with my officers to create a list of questions that might help with the interrogation. He asked that you wait for him in the break room. And don’t worry. You’re perfectly safe here.”

“What about Hercules? Where is he?”

“He’s fine. We retrieved his kennel from the hotel room and found a quiet, out of the way spot for him. He has water and food.”

Dean led her out and down the hallway toward a room with a few tables and vending machines. “I’ll let him know where you are.”

She thanked him for taking care of that then walked over to the vending machine. She didn’t have any change on her and she’d left her phone, purse, and everything back at the inn.

Chief Dean walked over and handed her several one-dollar bills.

“Thank you again.”

“You’re welcome.” He turned and walked out, no doubt eager to get start interrogating shooting suspect.

She slid the bills into the vending machines and punched out a can of diet soda and a candy bar. She felt better after gettingsomething into her stomach and decided to find Hercules and make sure he was okay.

A uniformed officer led her to a corner by the dispatch center, where Hercules’s kennel was. He wagged his tail when he saw her but seemed content and enjoying the attention the dispatch officers were giving him when they weren’t answering calls.

She spent a few minutes with him then headed back to the break room, stopping cold when she heard a familiar voice.

Suzanne.

Weariness rushed through her. The last person she wanted to see was Suzanne. Darby didn’t have time for her pettiness, not after all she’d been through.

She turned and spotted her rival down the hallway, talking with Chief Dean. He leaned over her as they spoke, and he grinned in a way that showed she had him hooked. That shouldn’t bother Darby, but it did.

She didn’t know how far his affection might take him.

Darby didn’t like to think badly of any law-enforcement officer. Most of them were good, honest, hard-working men and women who placed their lives on the line every day. But they were also people with everyday problems. Money issues, personal problems, kids, and addictions. It wasn’t unheard of for an officer to compromise his morals when the circumstances were dire enough. But was a pretty face enough to make Chief Dean compromise his duty to his town?

She sighed. However much she didn’t care for Suzanne and her influence over the chief, it seemed she couldn’t blame Dean for the attacks against her. Brent had confessed to her that he’d taken money from her uncle as part of a plan to kill her and get the money Grant believed he was owed.

She hurried the opposite way, in the direction of the break room, hoping to avoid Suzanne.

It didn’t work.

“Well, well, well. Look who’s here.”

Darby froze at Suzanne’s voice, the sneer in her tone telling Darby that she’d meant the words for her. She turned to see Suzanne walking toward her.

“Suzanne. What are you doing here?”

“Just visiting. And you?”

Darby wasn’t about to discuss her business with Suzanne. Besides, if she was as close to Chief Dean as she claimed, she already knew. “Waiting for someone.”

“Oh?” Suzanne gave her a mischievous smile. “You’re dating a convict now? I’m sure your clients will love hearing that.”

“Don’t you dare spread that rumor,” Darby warned before realizing the foolishness of letting Suzanne get to her. “Then again, you’ve never had a problem sticking to the truth, have you?”