Page 4 of Caught With the Sheriff

I turn the knob on the door and that’s when I see the scratches on the lock and the jamb of the door.

I slip my gun out and open the door quietly, not surprised when the knob turns and the door opens.

Sliding inside, I feel a cold tension wash over me. That sense of something off clings to me. That feeling has saved my life more than once.

I don’t announce myself again. Instead I walk door to door downstairs, clearing each room slowly, my eyes on the spotlight in my hand.

By the time I’ve gone to the downstairs bathroom and the kitchen, the living room and an office with a computer still dimly-lit in the corner, I eye the stairs and set one of my cowboy boots on the stair, gently shifting my weight, endless calm and patience keeping me sane as I pick my way carefully up the wood stairs.

One shrill squeak and then I’m in the upstairs hall, my breath still slow and steady.

I don’t rush. Don’t skimp on the slow task of clearing each room.

Until I reach the bedroom at the end of the hall. I step inside and my eyes go to the window immediately. It’s a big one and the curtains are shifting slightly in the breeze.

There’s no way that somebody left that window open tonight. It’s been raining and chilly today.

My eyes search every dark corner of the large bedroom. But there’s nothing here right now.

Then my head whips around when I hear a quiet sound beyond a door that’s closed in the corner of the room.

Silently, quickly, I rush over and knock lightly at the door.

“Whispering Pines PD. Are you in there?”

A quiet, feminine voice answers me softly. “How do I know that’s who you really are?”

“Are you still on the phone with Tessa? She’ll tell you that I’m here.”

I hear her and then my radio goes off. “Get your id out.”

I pull my license out and hold it up to the door. It opens slowly and then she peeks out, her long, red hair tousled around her face.

And what a face!

My heart stops in my chest and then it feels like it starts again for her. Only her.

Her pale, no-color eyes look up at me as she steps out of the bathroom. “Sheriff?”

Her voice is just a soft breath but my whole body stiffens. “Yeah. Can you tell me what happened?”

Her tousled hair has my fingers itching to push it out of her pretty face as she dips her head. “Th-there was somebody here.”

I nod my head, my eyes locked on hers. She’s such a tiny little thing. I can barely tell what her body looks like but her heart-shaped face is a little sharp, a little intense. A lot worried.

“Are you sure? Did you see them?”

“No. But I heard footsteps when I woke up.”

I move closer to her, needing to be near her. Needing to make sure that nobody else can touch her.

What the fuck is wrong with me right now? I’ve got a damn job to do and it’s not chase this tiny little woman around like a fucking puppy!

Get your head straight, asshole! You’ve got a job to do.

I’ve already cleared the lower rooms and I’m just about positive that whoever was in here went out the damn window but I still need to do my damn job. Without her near me.

“Go back in the bathroom and lock the door. I’m gonna take a closer look and make sure there’s nobody still here and then I’ll come get you, okay?”