Page 38 of Final Inning

He had pulled her right into his chest. The beer gut he tried to hide beneath what she thought was a man-girdle was pressed against the bottom of her breasts. She could smell him and it made her want to gag. He smelled like…sweat and soured laundry. He always smelled like that. It was a scent that had followed her into her nightmares. “Is that a threat, Sheriff?”

She was not going to let him know that he scared her. She just wasn’t going to let him see that. No matter what.

“Boss?” a voice came from behind them. They both jerked around. It was Dumbass Damien again. Of course it was. He didn’t stray too far from the man he worshiped. He disgusted her. He liked being next to the one he thought had the most power. He’d probably been waiting in Johnson’s car like a good boy, until he’d needed to go potty or something.

Still, the sheriff didn’t like to do things to her when someone else could see.

Hagan jerked her arm away and turned. “I’m here to do my job. You might want to try it sometime. There is a killer in Helery County, in case you’ve missed it.”

He jerked, like he was going to come at her physically. She fought flinching back. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

The only thing that probably stopped him was the security cameras everywhere—cameras she had purchased over a year ago and installed—and they could hear the FBI agents talking in the room next door.

No. He wasn’t going to do anything where people could see.

He was a coward, after all. And a bully.

Hagan had no idea what to do to stop him.

How much longer could she do this?

The sheriff left. And she turned. Toward the back door of her office.

There was someone standing there—Hagan almost screamed before she recognized her.

Dr. Talley was standing there. And she had obviously heard—and seen—everything. Johnson stormed out, Damien following him like a dog. Damien turned back and looked at her, shaking his head at her like she’d done something wrong.

Hagan waited, pulled in a deep breath before turning toward Dr. Talley. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“We’re going to talk. I’m a really good listener. Because whatever that was—he has no right to put his hands on you ever. How often does he do that?”

“Every chance he gets.” Hagan didn’t even know where to begin. She watched Johnson’s SUV pull out of the parking spot in front of her building. She didn’t breathe again until she knew he was gone, and she could still see Dr. Ward and Dr. Knight watching from the sidewalk.

He was gone. And the words just came pouring out.

Chapter 28

Something had happened with Johnson and Lindhour. Knight had seen that when he and Ward had joined the two women after Johnson and his lackey had taken off.

Miranda had that look in her green eyes that told him she was pissed. Beyond pissed. She was fuming.

Miranda was preoccupied on the drive from the sheriff’s department back to their hotel in Helery Springs. Ward was following behind them in his own rental; he had just sent Knight a better you than me kind of look before almost sprinting for his escape.

They knew Miranda was furious and that something had definitely happened.

Knight just left her alone—he knew her ways of working now to know to just leave her alone for a while. She would discuss whatever was bothering her when she was ready. Or…she’d start throwing words at him and thoughts and he’d race to keep up.

The woman had a unique way of thinking. It was one of the things he found most fascinating. No denying that. And it was a forty-minute drive to the hotel. Plenty of time for her to chew on whatever was going on in that complicated head of hers.

They were about halfway to their destination before she finally looked at him.

“Sheriff Johnson sexually harasses her. And I think it goes further than that, she just didn’t tell me. She just doesn’t feel that there is anyone she can report him to. And his thugs won’t support her, even if she did.”

She told him what she’d witnessed. Knight just listened.

“That one just stood there while Johnson was yanking Hagan around. Literally. He’s probably seen him do it to her before and thinks it’s okay. It’s been normalized. Or he just doesn’t care. I was two seconds from arresting that bastard for assault. He had practically lifted her off her feet, while he was chewing her ass over that grocery clerk who was being so bitchy with her in the store today. I think she’s on the verge of quitting—but she feels dedicated to the people of Buckbert. She says no one else really cares about them. And to be honest—she’s probably right. But if she stays in this job—it won’t be healthy for her. And he’s skating close to the edge. I told her that, too. I tried to get her to report him when this case is over, but she is too defeated.”

“Small town Bible-belt politics plus total jackass isn’t exactly a healthy mix. Adding a sexual component makes it even more disturbing.” They both knew the direction this was headed. Lindhour needed to get out now, while she still could. For her own safety.