So much for playing nice. “As difficult as that is to believe, yes, I am aware. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Winters. Some of those firearms Rex had in his possession, we haven’t been able to trace where he got them. Any ideas?”
“I really don’t see where this is the time or place to discuss closed cases,” Gil interrupted. “Whatever Rex Winters was up to died with him. Was there something you needed, Deputy?”
“Mmm-hmm.” Fletch nodded as he drank. “Yes, actually. Luke mentioned you scheduled a meeting with him on Friday. Something about the string of break-ins and vandalisms we’ve been having.”
“With both Luke and Sean here, I did, yes.” Gil barely twitched. “I think it best to be kept up on the ongoing investigation, especially given these crimes are affecting both our communities. I was sorry to hear Luke won’t be able to make the only time I have open.”
“You mean because he’ll be on the honeymoon he planned a month ago and you only asked him to meet two days ago? Yeah. Funny how that worked out.” Fletch’s fingers tightened around the neck of the bottle. There was the spin he’d been waiting for. “Would you excuse us for a moment, Sean?”
“Of course.” A coolness crept into Sean’s shifty eyes.
“I have to hand it to you.” Fletch managed to maneuver the mayor to a clear spot away from both the steep stairway down to the beach and the throng of party guests. As his ears cleared and his mind eased, he slipped into uniform mode. “You never cease to amaze me, Gil.”
“How’s that?”
Funny how Fletch could see that rich-kid “I dare you to stop me now” face in the eyes of the man Hamilton had become. Fletch didn’t like Gil any more now than he did the first day he’d met him. Of course Gil and his buddies had been in midbully session and slamming one of their smaller bespectacled classmates into a bank of lockers at the time. That didn’t make for a good first impression. “You never have any problem going behind people’s backs to get what you want. Yet here you are, celebrating Luke’s wedding and the entire time you’re commiserating with your longtime buddy about how to oust Luke while he’s on his honeymoon.”
“I think you’re reading a bit too much into two men talking,” Gil said without looking at him. “If Luke isn’t able to make the meeting—”
“You want an update on the case you should talk to me, seeing as I’m the one in charge of it.” Fletch watched Gil’s eyes widen at his lie. “Luke handed it off to me a few days ago. Must have slipped his mind to tell you with all he’s had going on. He wants to make sure someone will follow through while he’s gone. So if you had thoughts of bringing your buddy in to take over our side of things, you can forget it. I’m more than capable of keeping Luke’s seat warm for him.”
Gil tilted his head and looked at him for a good five seconds before saying, “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were vying for Luke’s job yourself.”
“But you do know me, Gil.” The last thing Fletch wanted was a promotion. He was more than happy in his current position despite the sudden necessity to be anything other than honest. If there was one thing Fletch couldn’t abide, it was a liar. And he was standing in front of one of the best in the business. “You also know the lengths I’ll go to in order to protect my friends.”
Gil’s face went blank. “I assume you and Luke have discussed the case in detail then. You know he’s only a few pieces of evidence away from issuing an arrest warrant for Jasper O’Neill?”
“Of course.” Fletch swallowed more beer along with the sudden unease. Jasper O’Neill? Okay, how had that kid’s name come into this? Jasper was an odd one for sure. And he’d had a few run-ins with them over the years. A few breakings and enterings, loitering and other nonviolent charges. But nothing that led Fletcher to believe he’d do something of this magnitude. The destruction of property alone would carry a felony charge.
Then again, one of Jasper’s best friends was currently doing an eight-month stretch in juvenile detention. Who knew what vacuum that left in their, for want of a better term, social circle. Fletch didn’t want to believe Jasper was involved in anything that would put more stress on his family; the O’Neills had been dealt more than their share of hardships lately.
But what Fletch got to believe and what was the truth... Well. He knew better than most you didn’t always get to choose which came out on top.
Fletch glanced over his shoulder to where his boss and friend smiled at his new bride. Why hadn’t Luke said anything to his deputies about his suspicions?
“Luke and I are completely on the same page.” Fletch pushed the words out of his mouth before he changed his mind. “I plan to follow the evidence while he’s gone wherever it leads. If Jasper’s responsible, I’ll make sure he’s punished for it.”
“It’s good to know our sheriff is leaving the town in excellent hands,” Gil said. “Wouldn’t want the failure of one of his deputies affecting the election.”
“No, we wouldn’t want that.” How was it the urge to sink his fist into Gil Hamilton’s solar plexus didn’t diminish over time?
“Of course, it’s still early,” Gil said. “There’s plenty of time for damage control should things go awry.”
“You would know about damage control. Speaking of jeopardizing things.” Fletch glanced to his right and raised his glass in acknowledgment of Harvey Mills, the local hardware store owner who was commiserating with a group of town volunteers working out their next community fundraiser. “I hear you’re just about ready to decide on the final site for the butterfly sanctuary. A lot of people aren’t overly pleased with your preferred choice of location. Duskywing Farm could be a destination spot on its own. You don’t have to encroach onto its property to enhance your own agenda.”
“You do hear a lot.” Gil had become the master of the unreadable politician’s expression. “No decision has been finalized as of yet. The town council will get their say. Making unpopular choices is part of the job of an elected official, Deputy Bradley. I’ll do what’s best for Butterfly Harbor. Always have.”
“Like when you kicked more than a dozen families out of their homes last year? Yeah, sounds like what’s best to me. You know what wouldn’t be best for you?” Fletch leaned in close, much in the way he’d seen Sean Brodie do earlier. He lowered his voice, enunciated every word so there was no mistaking his meaning. “Ousting a sheriff everyone in the county limits loves. Just something to keep in mind as you move forward.” He clinked his bottle against Gil’s. “See you Friday morning.”
* * *
“MOM, DO YOU think next week we can finally go look for those ocean caves Mrs. Hastings told me about?”
“What? Charlotte Rose, don’t you dare!” Paige Cooper steered her almost eight-year-old daughter away from the wedding cake before a baby pink rose found its way onto Charlie’s finger. “We’ll have to see about the caves.” Paige’s schedule these days barely gave her enough time to breathe, but she knew at some point she’d have to find time to quell her daughter’s curiosity about one of Butterfly Harbor’s more mysterious legends. Something about ocean caves, a treasure box and your heart’s true desire. She supposed it was only a matter of time before her normally practical, well-reasoned daughter had her head turned by a fairy tale. No treasure box could solve life’s problems. “The caves aren’t going anywhere.” Wherever they were.
