Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“And Alex,” the sheriff said, turning to me. “Sorry about Timber. Glad you’re okay, though.”
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “Just… really lucky we were closed tonight so no one got hurt.”
“Actually, I think it might have been more than luck.” His eyes met Judd’s. “Don’t suppose either of you knows a Steve Hinton?”
Judd and I exchanged a look, and both of us shook our heads.
“Should I?” Judd asked.
The sheriff shook his head. “I had three of my officers canvass the neighborhood,” he said. “They found a rental car parked by the entrance to the back lot. Your fire crew actually blocked it in with their rigs when they arrived.” He hooked a thumb at the far side of the building, where the fire trucks were still parked at an odd angle to the street. “Now, ordinarily, I wouldn’t think anything of it, considering how many tourists we have in town for the holidays… but then my uncle Folger called.”
“Folger, the Grumpy Bear?” I asked. I nodded toward the small hotel at the other end of the street, where the old hotel’s ursine logo looked more cuddly than grumpy.
“That’s him. He named the place for himself, according to family legend,” the sheriff said with a small smile. “So, you can imagine he wasn’t thrilled when he got woken up by an out-of-towner needing a room a little over an hour ago. And he was even less impressed when the guy started complaining about being unable to get a ride to the airport right then and there.”
“From Legacy? In the middle of the night? In winter?” Judd demanded.
The sheriff’s laugh came out as puffs of white vapor. “Exactly what Folger told him. Then Folger noticed the guy didn’t have a car, a suitcase, or a proper winter parka, which made him more than a little suspicious, so he called me. I’ll give you two guesses what the name on this out-of-towner’s credit card was.”
“Steve Hinton?” I guessed. But then I shook my head. “I don’t follow, though. He accidentally parked his car back here and got blocked in? Why wouldn’t he tell someone so they could unblock him?”
“A great question.” The sheriff and Judd exchanged another look, and Judd’s arms squeezed me more tightly. “But Folger was right that something seemed off, so I did a little digging. Turns out Hinton just did a stint in Salinas Valley State Prison in California for aggravated arson, and he’s out on parole. Which means he shouldn’t have left the state without permission from a judge.”
The word California made my eyes widen, and judge made my jaw drop.
Tavo.
My eyes met Judd’s and I saw he’d made the same connection. His big hand was warm and soothing as he caressed my jaw. “Tell me you’ve got this guy in custody, Elias.”
The sheriff nodded. “I sent a couple of my people over to the Grumpy Bear just to have a word. And wouldn’t you know it, Mr. Hinton started bleating about how we couldn’t prove anything, and he only, quote, ‘set a little fire to scare him and flush the kid out,’ and he ‘made sure the bar was closed first.’ Then he told us we should call a…” He consulted a note on his phone. “A Judge Kirk Miller in San Francisco, who supposedly told Mr. Hinton he would ‘make all this bullshit go away’ if Steve just ‘did Judge Miller a little favor.’” His eyes met mine. “The name Kirk Miller ring any bells, Alex?”
I swallowed hard. I knew Judd wouldn’t approve of my decision to keep quiet. He’d want me to cooperate fully and immediately, by the book, and I understood why. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell the sheriff anything until I knew Tavo was safe and had agreed to make a statement.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted. “I don’t… um… I can’t really…”
Judd’s boots scraped along the pavement as he twisted slightly, blocking me with his body. “Alex has been through a lot tonight, Elias.” He spoke the words softly, but there was a distinct thread of steel beneath them. “Why don’t you let him have a minute to think about it, and we’ll both come talk to you first thing in the morning?”
The sheriff glanced between us and nodded slowly. “Alright. Alex, I have enough with the parole violation to keep this guy locked up till morning. But I’m going to need you to come in first thing and help me out with some of this, okay?”
“Absolutely. Thank you, Sheriff.”
“Welcome. Tomorrow, then,” he said, raising an eyebrow at Judd.
Judd inclined his head.
When he was gone, I looked up at Judd’s face. Streaks of soot marred his brow and collected in the creases at the corner of his eyes. Under the bright lights the crew had set up while battling the blaze, he looked as tired as I felt. And still, he hadn’t hesitated to back me up.