hide that. He made a mistake and he paid for it. He went through rehab and he’s clean now, and trying to start over—if people like the deputy here will let him.”
Dwight frowned, hands on his hips. “If Parker has a problem with something I said, he should come to me and we’ll talk about it,” he said.
“Parker doesn’t want to talk to you. He didn’t want to talk to me, but I saw how down he was when he came back from the history museum this morning, so I pried the story out of him. He said you looked at him like you suspected him of planning to blow up the building or something.”
Dwight’s face reddened. Brenda sympathized with him—but she also related to Paige’s desire to protect her brother. Dwight clearly hadn’t liked the young man, and his dislike had shown in the encounter this morning. “Paige, does Parker know you’re here?” she asked.
Paige turned to her. “No. And when he finds out, he’ll be furious. But he’s been furious with me before. He’ll get over it.”
“Why was Parker at the history museum this morning?” Dwight asked.
“Because he’s interested in history. It’s one of the things he’s studying in college. I told him the museum was looking for volunteers and he should apply.”
“That’s kind of unusual, isn’t it?” Dwight said. “A guy his age being so interested in the past.”
“Tell that to all the history majors at his school,” Paige said. “Parker is a very bright young man. He has a lot of interests, and history is one of them.”
“Any particular type of history?” Dwight asked. “Is he, for instance, interested in the history of World War II? Or local history?”
Brenda held her breath, realizing where Dwight was headed with this line of questioning.
Paige shook her head. “I don’t know that it’s any particular kind of history. American history, certainly. Colorado and local history, probably. Why do you ask?”
“Does your brother have any history of violence? Of making threats?”
“What? No! What are you talking about?”
“I can check his record,” Dwight said.
“Check it. You won’t find anything.” She turned to Brenda and Lacy. “Parker was convicted for possession of methamphetamine and for stealing to support his drug habit. He was never violent, and he’s been clean for three months now. He’s going to stay clean. He moved here to get away from all his old influences. He’s enrolled in college and he has a part-time job at Peggy’s Pizza.”
Brenda wet her lips, her mouth dry. “Do you have any yellow stationery at your place?” she asked. “With dancing cartoon flowers across the bottom?”
Paige’s brow knit. She looked at Dwight again. “What is going on? If you’re accusing Parker of something, tell me.”
“Brenda received a threatening note at the museum this morning,” Dwight said. “It was written on distinctive stationery.” Brenda noticed that he didn’t mention the note at her home.
“The only stationery I use is made of recycled paper,” Paige said. “It’s plain and cream-colored. And Parker didn’t write that note. He wouldn’t threaten anyone—much less Brenda. He doesn’t even know her.”
“I’m not accusing him of anything,” Dwight said.
“Right.” Paige didn’t roll her eyes, but she looked as if she wanted to. “I bet you’re asking everyone in town about their stationery.” She turned to Brenda again. “I know Parker would hate me if he knew I was asking this, but please give him a chance at the museum. He needs constructive things to fill his spare time, and he’s a hard worker. And while he’s not the biggest guy on the block, he knows how to take care of himself. He would be good protection in case the real person who’s making these threats comes around.”
Paige’s concern for her brother touched Brenda. And she had always had a soft spot for people who needed a second chance. “Tell him to come around tomorrow and fill out a volunteer application. Most of my volunteers are older women—it will be nice to have a young man with a strong back.”
“Thank you. You won’t regret it, I promise.” She squeezed Brenda’s hand, then, with a last scornful look at Dwight, left.
Dwight crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to take on a new volunteer,” he said. “Not until we know who’s threatening you.”
“I know you don’t, but I trust Paige’s judgment,” Brenda said. “She’s not a pushover.”
“People often have blind spots for the people they love,” he said.
She couldn’t help but flinch at his words. She had certainly had a blind spot when it came to Andy. Her dismay must have showed, because Dwight hurried to apologize. “Brenda, I didn’t mean...”
“I know what you meant,” she said. “And I’ll be careful, I promise.”
The door opened again and Travis strolled in. The sheriff looked as polished and pressed—and handsome—as ever. If he was surprised to see them all standing in the reception area, he didn’t show it on his face. “Hey, Brenda,” he said. “What happened to the banner advertising the auction that was hung over Main Street at the entrance to town?”
“What do you mean?” she asked. “It was fine the last time I checked—just yesterday.”
“It’s not fine now,” he said. “It’s gone.”
“What do you mean, the banner is gone?” Lacy was the first to speak. “Did someone steal it?”
“I don’t know,” Travis said. “It was there when I left for my training this morning and it isn’t there now.”
“Maybe the wind blew it away,” Lacy said.
“We haven’t had any high winds,” Brenda said. “And I watched the city crew hang that banner—it was tied down tight to the utility poles on either side of the street. It would take a hurricane to blow it away.”
“Do you think this has anything to do with those nasty letters you received?” Lacy asked.
“What letters?” Travis was all business now.
“Let’s take this into your office,” Dwight said. “I’ll fill you in.”
They all filed down the hall to Travis’s office. He hung his Stetson on the hat rack by the door and settled behind his desk. Lacy and Brenda took the two visitors’ chairs in front of the desk, while Dwight leaned against the wall beside the door. “Tell me,” Travis said.
So Brenda—with Dwight providing details—told the sheriff about the two threatening letters she had received: the cheerful yellow stationery, the black marker, the photocopy of the horrible crime
