chuckled. “’Course not. I have nothing to hide. I’m new in town. You have an obligation to the citizens of your county to look into potential trouble.”
Tanner didn’t comment on his reaction, apparently wasn’t impressed or relieved. “You’re an FBI agent. From Nashville. Not married. No family. What brought you to Winchester?”
“Real estate prices,” Deacon said without hesitation. “Property in the Nashville area is crazy expensive. I was looking for a place to retire.”
The sheriff was far from convinced. “You’re thirty-five years old. Seems kind of young to be planning your retirement.”
Deacon shook his head. “According to my investment counselor you’re never too young to start preparing.”
Tanner nodded. “Well, I guess there’s some truth to that.” He placed his hat on his head. “I suppose you’ll be returning to Nashville eventually, considering that’s where you’re assigned. You must have had a hell of a lot of vacation days accrued.”
Apparently the sheriff wasn’t going to be happy with Deacon’s glossed-over responses. “I requested a leave of absence. I’m not sure if I’ll be returning to field duty.”
Tanner studied him from beneath the brim of that white hat. “Is that right?”
“I hit a wall, sheriff. I’m certain you can understand how that can happen. I’m just not sure of what I want to do moving forward. Peace and quiet, for sure. Beyond that, I can’t say.” That was as close to the truth as he was going. But the basic story was accurate. Accurate enough to get him through this, he hoped.
“Law enforcement can take a toll. I hope you’ll feel free to look me up if you need anything.” Tanner chuckled. “Keep in mind, we’re always on the lookout for experienced lawmen in the sheriff’s department. If you’re interested in coming on board, drop by and we’ll talk.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, sheriff. Thank you. As for Levi Winters, if he still feels I represent some threat, I’m happy to meet with the two of you and hash out the issue.”
Tanner nodded. “If I find him, I’ll tell him. It’s the strangest thing.”
Deacon braced for whatever the sheriff intended to say next.
“I haven’t been able to find him since that day. According to the warden at the prison no one showed up to give Cece a ride home. I recall that Levi said he would be picking her up. I’m surprised he didn’t. He’s the only one in her family who didn’t turn on her during the trial.”
“Have you spoken to Miss Winters to see if she’s heard from him?”
“I was about to head over there now. A tech from the phone company is coming to turn on the landline. I called in a request as soon as I heard she was being released. I don’t want her out here with no way to call for help. I doubt she has a cell phone yet.”
“The service out here is not that great anyway,” Deacon pointed out.
“All the more reason to go with a landline,” Tanner agreed.
“Hold on, sheriff.” Deacon rounded up a notepad and a pen. He scribbled his cell number on the top sheet, tore it off and passed it to the other man. “This is my cell number—for what it’s worth. If she needs to call someone in the middle of the night, I’m closer than anyone else. I haven’t bothered with a landline. Maybe I should.”
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate that, Ross.” Tanner folded the paper and tucked it into his pocket.
He headed for the door. When he reached for the knob, Deacon added, “I was serious when I said if her brother wants to talk I’m more than willing. Just give me a call.”
“Will do.”
Tanner left and Deacon watched from the window as he loaded into his truck and drove away. The sheriff was friendly enough, but he wasn’t completely satisfied with what he knew or what his instincts were telling him about Deacon. At the moment he had no reason to pursue the issue, but he would be watching and maybe doing a little more digging. Deacon wasn’t concerned. The Bureau would not turn over information regarding an agent to anyone just to satisfy his curiosity. The only aspect of Deacon’s past or present that could in any way be related to his being here was his former partner’s disappearance, which had occurred a long time ago, and Deacon had not even been a part of that investigation.
Everything else he had told the sheriff could be confirmed with his direct supervisor if Tanner decided to push it that far.
Deacon waited a half hour or so, then he made his way back through the woods, a path he knew well now, and watched her house. Tanner had gone inside and the technician from the telephone company had arrived and begun his work. For the next half hour or so the man went through the steps of running a line to the house and doing the necessary installation on the inside. Ten minutes after he left, Tanner did the same. Deacon walked back to his house and got into his truck. He backed out onto the road and drove the short distance to his neighbor’s home.
He parked only a few yards from the porch steps. By the time he reached those steps she had already peeked through the curtain to identify her newest visitor. He pretended not to notice, walked to the door and knocked.
The sound of the locks disengaging and then the creak of the door echoed before her face appeared. “Yes?”
She recognized him; he saw it in her green eyes. Not to mention he doubted she would have opened the door if she hadn’t.
“I’m your neighbor,” he said, choosing to go that route rather than bring up what happened in the parking lot. “Deacon Ross.”
She nodded. “Thank you for doing what you did today. I’m reasonably certain no one else would have.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Miss Winters. I did what needed to be done.”
“I’m grateful.” She glanced beyond him, then managed an uncertain smile. “I put your number on the wall by the phone. I hope I won’t have to call you, but I’ll rest easier knowing there’s someone I can.” She shrugged. “I grew up here but I don’t have any friends or...or family, none that still own me, anyway.”
“I understand.”
“I’m sorry.” She backed up a couple of steps, opened the door wider. “I guess my manners are rusty. Would you like to come in?”
He had hoped she would make the offer. “Sure.”
He stepped inside and she closed the door, though it was obvious she wasn’t entirely comfortable doing so.
“If you prefer to leave the door open, feel free.”
She looked up, blushed, her cheeks nearly matching her fiery red hair. “Am I that obvious?”
He smiled, forced a load of kindness he in no way felt into the expression. “Afraid so.”
“I’ll work on my presentation.”
“I couldn’t help noticing as I drove up, there’s a couple of places on the roof that need some attention. You’ll probably want
