Page 54 of Whispers of Sweetwater

Hayden nodded slowly.

‘You think Molly’s still in danger?’ Sharon asked, finally.

‘I know she is. And because Brianna lives in Jack’s old cottage, I think it’s a safe bet to say she is too.’ Hayden internally grimaced at the word bet, the one he’d stupidly made with Gavin briefly rearing its ugly head.

Damn it.

Sharon’s voice softened. ‘Then you’d better start talking to the right people, Hayden. Because if Jack’s debts didn’t die with him, someone’s keeping score. And they’re very clearly not done yet.’

He nodded once, jaw set, thoughts spinning. Sharon took another sip of tea as she looked out at the land like it might offer answers.

As did he. But none came.

Just then, the roar of an engine split the stillness, followed by the crunch of tyres biting into gravel. A vehicle tore up the driveway, throwing a thick cloud of dust into the air that blurred the view. Hayden was already on his feet, moving along the verandah for a clearer line of sight. But the haze made it near impossible to make out more than the vague shape charging towards the house – too fast to be casual, too close to ignore. It cornered the bend and parked out back.

‘You expecting anyone else?’ Sharon asked, standing now too, tension returning to her shoulders.

‘No,’ Hayden said, voice low.

A moment later, a figure appeared, broad-shouldered, uniformed and familiar.

Sergeant Craig Dunlop.

‘Morning, Hayden,’ he called casually. But there was something too rehearsed about the smile, too flat in the eyes.

‘Didn’t know you were in the area,’ Hayden replied evenly.

‘Thought I’d swing past,’ Dunlop said, gaze flicking to Sharon, then back. ‘Heard you had company.’

Hayden’s gut went tight. He hadn’t told anyone about the meeting.

And in that moment, he knew that someone had.

He remained at the top of the verandah steps, arms folded, as Sergeant Dunlop lingered at the bottom. If there was ever an example of stubborn silence, this was it. Standing two footfalls from the top, just out of arm’s reach, the smug-faced copper leant against the banister like he owned the place. Watching Hayden, he sipped from his takeaway cup with deliberate slowness.

Sharon slipped away with a stiff little goodbye, her barely polite smile aimed at no one in particular. It didn’t fool Hayden for a second – her eyes had already moved past him, calculating, before she vanished down the path and towards where she’d parked her Kia. Dunlop barely spared her a glance, one that was quick and dismissive, as if he was brushing her off as background noise.

‘You always this far out of town this early?’ Hayden asked, voice casual but his stance saying otherwise.

Dunlop shrugged indifferently, his eyes drifting up towards the glinting roof of the house before returning to Hayden. ‘Just checking on things.’

‘Yeah, right.’ Hayden’s response was facetious. ‘Keeping the town safe, are you?’

Craig smiled now, tight, practised. ‘Just keeping an eye on the folks who matter. You know how it is.’

‘I reckon I do,’ Hayden shot back.

They stood like that for another beat. Then Dunlop tipped the last of his coffee into the fragrant jasmine bush Hayden minded with tenderness, the very one Casey had planted, at the side of the steps. Biting back a myriad of insults, Hayden took a breath, then another. It was all he could do, right that second, not to lose his cool and end up in a fist battle with the same idiot he’d suffered multiple bruises from during his high school years. Craig Dunlop and his two older brothers had all been bullies. They never picked on anyone their own size or age. Always smaller, always younger. And always in places they’d never be caught in the act. Cowards. At least the older boys had left town.

As for Craig, the township was stuck with him.

‘Nice place you’ve got here, Pierce. Quiet. Be a shame if it ever, you know, wasn’t.’

Hayden’s jaw tensed tighter. ‘You here for a reason, or just to flex your badge’s muscles?’

‘A bit of both.’ Dunlop’s grin took a sharper edge. ‘Heard you’ve had a few visitors lately. Would’ve thought you’d be too busy running horses to play host. Or is there something else keeping you entertained?’ He chuckled to himself, his grey eyes wrinkling in the corners. ‘That barmaid’s still got a bit of fire in her, hey? I heard she’s a live one in the sack.’

Hayden’s eyes hardened, his fists curling at his sides. ‘You got something to say, Dunlop? Say it straight.’