Page 25 of Search for the Truth

Then again, not everyone was so cut and dry with their actions.

Cassandra pushed back in her chair but didn’t stand. It seemed she had finally reached the end of her patience.

“You can tell your sheriff that that’s all I know and that’s all we did. Past that, I’m not going to talk about Missy again. He’s the one who signed off on the end of her case in the first place. He needs to let it go and move on, like the rest of town. That goes for you too, Blake. Don’t go poking your nose around me or mine.”

Her words were harsh.

Blake respected them.

She selected another candy from the dish and nodded.

“I can take him with me now, but I’ll never make it out of the shop if Corrie is still waiting for me,” she pointed out.

Cassandra picked up her cell phone and typed a message out for a bit.

Then she pointed back to the door.

“I called her off. You can leave now and she won’t bother you.”

Blake chuckled.

“If only I could have that power over my sister.”

The thought slipped out before Blake even realized she’d had it. All humor vanished. She tried to overcompensate and gave her old friend a smile and pivoted back to an earlier thought.

“So, why didn’t you just talk to the sheriff about all this?” Blake asked. “It doesn’t seem like any information that was worth dodging the law for.”

Cassandra seemed to consider her answer for a moment. Her lips twisted a little before she spoke, like she was regretting it before she said a word.

“Word got around that the sheriff was asking questions about Missy even after everything was finished up. It really upset her dad, but it struck even more sour with those old goons who still worship him from their time at the supply. You know, the ones who started working there in their teens and managed to retire before he sold it off?” She shook her head. “It might have been nothing that I told you, but if it got around that I said that nothing to the sheriff, I might get some looks I don’t want.”

“Ah.” So there it was. “So now it’s on me.”

Cassandra didn’t try to deny it.

“If it gets around town that you’re talking about Missy to the sheriff, then that’s on you. Even if they find out I’m the one who told you, it’s still on you.”

Blake snorted. She wasn’t mad at the intention. In fact, she understood it.

“Whoever says that Corrie is the scarier twin hasn’t met the real you.”

But Blake smiled true.

“It was good to see you, Cassie,” she added. “I’m glad you’re doing well. Truly.”

Cassandra didn’t return the smile, but she did nod.

It wasn’t until Blake was one foot out of the door that she called out to her.

“Hey, Blake, I’m sorry about Beth.”

Blake paused.

“Me too.”

Blake refocused her attention as she made her way back to the main dining room. On the way, she passed Corrie. The woman was scowling but also silent. She met Blake’s eye with a barely contained sneer and was gone right after.

Then there was Liam.