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"I'm not sure, really. There wasn't a lot of info, just... you know, official police business stuff," Marlene replied, her voice lowering even further.
It clicked then—Danny Lopes, the detective who had shown up at the ranch on my first day. The pieces fell into place, each one fueling a growing fire of indignation. He'd been there under the guise of police business, and now the town was whispering behind my back because of whatever he'd said or insinuated.
I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "Thanks, Marlene," I said, forcing a calm I didn't feel. I pulled out a few bills, placing a generous tip on the table. "I appreciate you telling me."
Marlene nodded, her expression sympathetic now that she understood my frustration. "I'm sorry, hon. I hope it clears up soon."
As she walked away, I pushed my food around my plate, my appetite lost to the knot of anxiety and anger in my stomach. I couldn't let this go. If Danny Lopes was spreading rumors or, worse, casting aspersions on my aunt's ranch, then I needed to confront him. Find out what the hell he was telling people that could turn a town cold before I'd even had a chance to settle in.
I forced myself to eat a few bites, knowing I'd need the energy for the confrontation ahead. With each mouthful, my resolve hardened. Today had been about making connections and easing into my new life. Instead, I was heading into a battle I hadn't anticipated, armed with nothing but my own conviction and the urgent need to protect my family's name.
After settling the bill, I left Rosie’s Diner with a polite nod to the few patrons who dared meet my gaze. I walked to my truck, each step firm and determined.
Driving to the police station, my mind raced. I rehearsed what I would say to Danny, how I would demand he explain himself. The streets of Silver Creek passed by in a blur, a backdrop to my turbulent thoughts.
When I arrived at the station, I parked and sat for a moment, collecting myself. This wasn’t just about defending the ranch or clearing up gossip. It was about setting a precedent for how I would be treated in this town, about asserting my role not just as Dina’s niece but as a woman capable of managing her own affairs.
With a deep breath, I opened the truck door and stepped out, my boots hitting the pavement with a purpose. I walked into the police station, my head held high, ready to face whatever awaited me inside. Danny Lopes would have to answer for his actions, and I was determined to ensure that the whispers and sideways glances ended today.
Chapter Nine
Danny
The day was dragging into the afternoon by the time I found myself sifting through old evidence in the back room of the station. The files were sprawled across the table, each one a potential key to unlocking the Horseshoe Lake mystery, if only I could find the right lock. My frustration was mounting, the sense of a breakthrough just out of reach gnawing at me. Each piece of evidence seemed to mock my desperation, tangible proof of my inability to crack the case wide open.
I shuffled through photographs, witness statements, and old reports, my mind working overtime to piece together the disjointed snippets of information into a coherent whole. "There’s got to be something here," I muttered to myself, the words a whispered mantra in the quiet room.
I was so engrossed in my search that I almost missed the sound of the front door of the station slamming open, followed by the sharp tap of determined footsteps. My head snapped up just as Heather Kent burst into the room, her face flushed with anger and her eyes blazing.
"Danny Lopes!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the small space, laden with accusation. "I want to know why the hell you’re spreading rumors about me and my ranch!"
I stood up so quickly that I knocked over my chair, the clatter causing a sudden disruption in the tense atmosphere. "Heather, I—"
"No," she cut me off, stepping closer, her every word punctuated with a mix of hurt and fury. "I've been in town less than a week, and I’m already hearing about how there’s suspicious activity at my ranch? That's bullshit, and you know it!"
The intensity of her anger took me aback. I realized then how much I had underestimated the impact of my words at Rosie’s Diner. Guilt twisted in my gut, mingled with an acute awareness of the professional lines I had carelessly blurred. This wasn’t just about the case anymore; it was personal, and I was suddenly on very thin ice.
"Heather, let’s talk about this outside," I suggested quickly, needing to get her out of the station where walls had ears and every conversation could add fuel to the fire I was already struggling to contain.
Reluctantly, she nodded, her chest heaving with agitated breaths. I led the way out of the station, holding the door for her as we stepped into the warm afternoon breeze.
We stood there for a moment, just outside the station. Heather crossed her arms, her posture defensive yet expectant, waiting for me to explain myself.
I took a deep breath, preparing to navigate the delicate conversation ahead. This was my chance to mend fences, or at least to prevent further damage. I knew I had to tread carefully to respect her position and possibly gain her cooperation or risk losing any chance of getting to the bottom of what was happening at Horseshoe Lake Ranch.
“Look, Heather,” I began, my voice firm but trying to inject a note of reason into the tense air. “I understand you’re upset, and you have every right to be. But I'm just trying to do my job here.”
“Your job?” Heather’s voice was edged with disbelief and rising anger. “Does your job involve destroying someone’s reputation based on what? Your gut feeling?”
“It’s more than a gut feeling,” I defended myself, though I knew I was on shaky ground. The indirect evidence and hunches weren't enough to justify the rumors I had let slip. “I have reasons to believe there’s something off at the ranch. And yes, it’s my job to look into it.”
“You have no right to spread rumors in town about me or the ranch without any solid proof,” she shot back, her fists clenching at her sides. “You’re the police, not the town gossip.”
The sting of her words hit hard. “I never intended—”
“Save it, Danny,” she interrupted sharply, her voice cold and cutting. “I came here to find out why, to give you a chance to explain yourself. But it’s clear you don’t have anything concrete. You’re just fishing, and I’m the bait.”
I paused, taking in her furious expression, the set of her jaw. She was standing her ground, strong and unyielding. “Heather, this isn’t just about the ranch. There’s a bigger picture here.”
