clung to his control before he blew a verbal gasket. “You’ve been in this business so long everyone starts to look guilty to you. Jess is only guilty of marrying the wrong man.”
“And marrying into the wrong family. But she did marry into that family and that makes me wonder if she didn’t learn a thing or two along the way.”
“Like what?”
“Like how to lie to cover your ass.”
Fact was, Chase worried Jess might be lying. Or at least not telling the whole truth. But he had no intention of letting on that he had his suspicions, especially around his dad. “Look, giving the boy a couple of days to calm down isn’t going to hurt a damn thing. Besides, Rachel called this morning and said Dalton’s awake and talking.”
“I know,” Buck said. “And as soon as I get the go-ahead from the doctors, I’m going to have a talk with the victim about his recollections of last night.”
Chase couldn’t think of Dalton as a victim no matter what had transpired. “He doesn’t remember what happened, and even if he did, like you said, the Wainwrights know how to cover their asses. He might just point a finger at Jess for spite.”
“And that’s all the more reason to question the boy,” Buck added. “But I’ll make a deal with you. If Dalton regains his memory and he backs up Jess’s accident story, then I won’t involve the kid. But if he tells a whole different tale, then I have no choice but to question Danny. He could be the key to the truth.”
Chase stuck out his hand for a shake. “Deal. In the meantime, I’m going to get Jess settled in. She’s going to need some of her things from the house.”
“Fine, as long as you escort her.” Buck inclined his head and studied him a moment. “You gonna keep her at the cabin?”
His dad’s tone sounded like he planned to hold Jess hostage. “No. I’m going to find her another place to rent.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want folks around here thinking you’re in cahoots with a suspect. That wouldn’t be proper behavior for a peace officer.”
Chase gritted his teeth and spoke through them. “Best I recall, we don’t name a suspect unless we know a crime’s taken place.”
Buck hitched up his pants. “True. You still don’t need to be too friendly with her, just in case.”
“She is a friend, Buck, and has been for as long as I can remember.” Even though that friendship had suffered in the past few years, thanks to his stupidity.
Buck gave him a condescending pat on the back. “Look, son, people change. Jess just might not be that girl you used to know.”
Chase wouldn’t even make an attempt at denial because he acknowledged his dad was partially right—Jess wasn’t the same. Neither was he.
Without further comment, he spun around and headed toward his office to take care of some pressing arrangements. He made a quick call to Gabe Wooley, who was more than happy to have someone renting the old home place until the family decided whether they wanted to sell it.
Satisfied he’d done something constructive today, Chase made his way to the break room to find Jess and Danny sitting at the small round table in the corner, looking like they could both use a friend.
And that’s what he intended to be to them both—a friend. To hell with propriety.
“Let’s go,” he said when Jess looked up.
“Is it Danny’s turn?” she asked in a voice barely above a whisper.
“Not today.”
Her shoulders sagged from obvious relief. “We can go?”
“Yeah.” Chase didn’t have the heart tell her it might only be a temporary reprieve.
Jess stood and pulled out Danny’s chair. “Let’s go, sweetie. We need to look for a place to stay.”
“I’ve got that covered.”
Jess and Danny exchanged a look before Jess asked, “Where?”
“You’ll see.”
JESS COULD ONLY SEE overgrown trees and knee-high, winter-dry grass as Chase maneuvered the department’s SUV up the narrow road. But she’d recognized the area immediately as soon as they turned off the highway. Many times she’d accompanied her mother to the place to deliver supplies to widowed Nita Wooley, whose health had declined in recent years. The same place where Nita and Gabe Sr. had raised five children on a limited income but a lot of love.
Once Chase stopped near the front door, Jess glanced back to see Danny staring out the window with curiosity. She could only imagine the thoughts running through his mind—his mother was taking him from a custom-built, modern multilevel semi-mansion to a small, weather-worn, single-story farm house.
As far as Jess was concerned, if the place was relatively clean, furnished and warm, they would make do. At least there was plenty of privacy and enough room for Danny to play. She even spotted a tire swing tied to an ancient oak in the front yard that would provide a much-needed diversion for her child. Yes, this would definitely do, at least for the time being.
Chase slid out of the driver’s side and Jess followed suit, opening the door for Danny, who refused to take her offered hand. Maybe after they’d settled in, he’d be more himself again. Maybe he’d even talk to her again.
Chase lifted the dusty welcome mat and retrieved a key that anyone with any sense could have found and helped themselves to whatever remained in the house. But in Placid, crime was low and life was simple. Most people had very few possessions that anyone would deem valuable.
The minute Jess stepped onto the scuffed hardwood floors, she was overwhelmed by the musty smell and the amount of stuff scattered about the small living room. Numerous trinkets, along with portraits of children and their children, sat out on various tables and stationary shelves lining the walls. A family’s legacy proudly on display.
Chase turned and handed her the key while Danny remained at the door. “Gabe said you’ll find everything you need and then some.”
She tucked the key into the pocket of her jeans while she continued to survey the living room and its personal treasures. “No kidding. I feel like I’m in a museum.”
“He also said Millie comes over now and then to clean the place but she hasn’t been here in a while.”
Jess remembered Gabe’s wife, Millie, very fondly. She’d worked in the high school cafeteria to supplement Gabe’s farming income and she’d always sported a smile while serving questionable fare. Unfortunately, Gabe was about as crabby as they came. “As long as we have a roof over our heads, I can deal with tidying up. How much does he want for rent?”
Chase’s gaze faltered. “Nine hundred a month plus utilities. No deposit or lease required.”
Highway robbery as far as Jess was concerned, especially if her job was in jeopardy. She wouldn’t know for certain until after the first of the year, unless she happened to be indicted. Even if she was cleared of all wrong-doing, some would want her contract
