Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“I understand that, believe me,” she said, holding up patient hand, “but I can’t go hunting the Reeds down based on a purse and a virtual journal.”
I slid my eyes to Pinto, who was sitting on the love seat licking the top of his paw with his eyes closed.
“What if I get picture proof that Eve’s car is in Sheriff Reed’s garage?”
Kennedy frowned. “I hope you aren’t telling a cop you plan on breaking and entering into another cop’s home.”
“Of course not,” I lied. “I can sit in my car nearby and wait for him to get home after a shift. I’ll snap a pic when he opens the garage again.”
Kennedy suppressed a groan. “I think you need to get some rest. Think this through a bit more and let me handle it. I know you want to act now, but you don’t want to tip the Reeds off and make them paranoid. If Sheriff Reed catches sight of you lurking around his house, he’ll find a way to shut this down. That’s the last thing I want happening again.”
My brows puckered. “What do you mean again?”
Kennedy paused, realizing she’d slipped up. “It’s . . . nothing.”
I kept quiet, watching as she rubbed one of her nails with the pad of her finger. I’d learned a long time ago that silence made most people want to talk more.
When the silence went on for too long, she cut a glance at me. “He assaulted my dad at a bar.” She sighed. “I had just completed my training at the academy and my dad took me and my brother out for drinks to celebrate. Sheriff Reed comes in all loud and boastful. My dad and brother decided to play pool, but when my dad was going for the pool sticks, Reed snatched one of them out of his hands.
“Reed told him he was gonna have to wait his turn and said he was going to play with his boys once they arrived. My dad doesn’t take shit from anyone so he just grabbed another stick and told him once Reed’s friends arrived, he’d take a break so they could play. Reed got pissy about it and punched my dad in the face. Just like that.”
I gasped. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. And the worst part about it is there were people who saw this happen but all of them sided with Reed. But he didn’t realize that I’d been recording the whole thing. I had proof that he swung first. We filed a report and were even thinking about suing, but Reed reached out a few days later and offered me a job. He said he’d give it to me, but only if I redacted the report and deleted the video.”
“And I assume you did?”
“Wouldn’t be wearing the uniform if I hadn’t,” she grumbled, peeling the gloves off. “Believe me, I didn’t want to. I told my dad I wouldn’t, but he didn’t want my opportunities limited. He wanted me to get the job, to make some money, make a difference in this shit town. Work a few years in Sage Hill so we could move to Raleigh or Charlotte.” She shrugged, but I didn’t miss the sadness in her eyes. “My dad insisted I take the offer, so I deleted the video, and we pulled the report. There isn’t a single day that I don’t want to punch James in his face for punching my father in his.”
“You hate him,” I said.
“I don’t hate him. I just don’t like that he’s running this town or that so many people think he’s a good person. He’s a snake who loves hiding in the grass.”
“Damn,” I murmured.
“That’s why I believe you about Eve’s car. I wouldn’t put it beneath James to hide the car to save his ass or even his nephew’s. The last thing he wants is his name tarnished. He can’t afford to lose votes as the sheriff around here. It’s the only thing that gives him purpose and power.” Kennedy stood and walked to the trash can to dump the gloves. “But like I said, book a hotel or head back home. Get some rest. I’ll take it from here.” She stepped toward me when I stood, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I want you to know you can trust me, Rose.”
I pressed my lips, wanting to smile, but finding it hard to. “I hope so.” It was hard to trust anyone around here, but I had faith in Kennedy.
When I was inside my car again, I debated whether to go back to Charlotte or book a hotel in Green Pines again. Then I thought about Kennedy’s story. James assaulting her dad. A white man carrying injustice like a weapon. It wasn’t a new circumstance, but it still pissed me off. He was no different than Robert Cowan—men in power who will do anything to keep it that way. It was time for that vicious cycle to end.