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“Then focus on your bigger picture without using me as your stepping stone,” Heather retorted vehemently. “I respected my aunt and what she built. I came here to honor her memory, not to have it dragged through the mud by some cowboy cop playing detective.”
The words 'cowboy cop' hit harder than expected. I was used to rough talk and tough cases, but this was different. This was personal, and I was suddenly very aware of how personal it was for her, too.
“Heather, I am trying to get to the bottom of this,” I said, my tone softening slightly in an attempt to calm the waters. “If there’s nothing wrong, then great, but if there is, isn’t it better we find out sooner rather than later?”
Her expression softened momentarily, a flicker of doubt. But it was quickly replaced by resolve. “I’m going to give you some advice,” she said, her voice steady. “Back off. Look into your ‘bigger picture’ all you want, but leave me and the ranch out of it until you have something solid. If I hear one more rumor started by you, I will file a complaint. And trust me, I won’t stop there. I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly how you conduct your investigations.”
The threat hung between us. I could see in her eyes that she meant every word, not just out of anger but out of a need to protect what was hers. It was a standoff; neither of us was willing to back down, and we were caught in a web of suspicion and duty.
“I’ll consider what you’ve said,” I finally managed, my voice tight. It was the most I could offer without compromising the case or my integrity.
“That’s all I ask,” she said, though it was clear she wasn’t satisfied with my response.
Heather turned, her figure rigid as she walked away, each step echoing slightly on the quiet street. I watched her go, feeling frustration and reluctance. I hadn’t apologized; my pride and duty as a cop wouldn’t allow it, not when I still believed I was onto something important.
As she disappeared from view, I was left outside the station. This was far from over, and I knew it. Heather might be new to town, but she was no pushover.
Back inside the station, the cool air felt heavy with my return. The confrontation had left a lingering tightness in my chest, a sharp reminder of the precarious balance I'd been trying to maintain. I needed a sounding board, someone who could offer a bit of perspective or at least let me vent without judgment. Jake, whose desk was cluttered with paperwork and takeaway coffee cups, was just the person.
I approached, running a hand through my hair. Jake looked up, his expression shifting from concentration to concern as he took in my troubled demeanor.
"Hey, man, what’s got you looking like you just went ten rounds in the ring?" he asked, pushing aside a stack of files to make room on his desk.
I sighed, dropping into the chair opposite him. "I might have screwed things up with Heather Kent," I admitted, the words tasting bitter as they left my mouth. "I pushed too hard, let some things slip at Rosie's, and now it's all coming back to bite me."
Jake raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair, his face a mask of intrigued concern. "Spill it. What happened?"
I recounted the encounter outside the station, how Heather had confronted me, demanding answers about the rumors swirling around her and the ranch. "I tried to keep it professional, but she's pissed, Jake. Thinks I’m using her as a stepping stone for the investigation."
Jake rubbed his chin, pondering the situation. "You think she might warm up to you if you tried smoothing things over? Maybe an apology might set a better tone for any future interactions."
"Apologize?" I repeated, the idea churning in my mind. It wasn’t my usual approach, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. "Maybe you're right. If I can get back on her good side, perhaps she’ll be more open to discussing things calmly. Might even help the case if she sees I'm not just out to pin something on her."
"But what if she's actually part of whatever’s going on?" I asked, the suspicion still a nagging presence in the back of my mind.
Jake shrugged, a slow, measured movement. "Then you'll have to figure something else out. But burning bridges this early in the game won’t help you find out, will it? You need her to trust you, at least a little, if you're going to get to the bottom of this."
His words resonated with a hard truth. My approach so far might have compromised more than just community relations; it could potentially derail the entire investigation if I wasn’t careful.
"Alright," I conceded, standing up from the chair with a newfound resolve. "I’ll try the apology route. Maybe it’ll open up a dialogue, at least."
Jake nodded. "Just keep your eyes open, Danny. We both know things out here aren’t always what they seem."
"Thanks, man," I said, feeling slightly more equipped to handle the situation, though the unease hadn't fully dissipated. I left Jake's desk and walked back to my own, the conversation replaying in my mind.
As I organized my paperwork, my mind worked through potential approaches, words I might say, angles I could take that might mitigate the damage and possibly regain some semblance of professional rapport with her.
By the time the clock signaled the end of my shift, I felt prepared, or as much as one could be in such circumstances. The drive home was a quiet affair, the streets of Silver Creek passing by in a haze of twilight shadows. The plan was set, and tomorrow I would face Heather again, this time hopefully on better terms.
Whether it would work, I couldn’t say, but it was a step I had to take, not just for the case but for the sake of my own role in this small community where every action, every word, had ripples that reached far wider than I might have originally thought.
Chapter Ten
Heather
The familiar scent of hay and horse greeted me as I stepped out of the ranch house and approached the stables.
It was early, but the ranch hands were already busy at work, moving with a purpose that spoke of long-established routines. I nodded to them as I passed, each nod returned with a mixture of respect and curiosity. Today, I was more than just the new owner; I was one of them, determined to get my hands dirty and prove that I wasn't just some city girl out of her element.
