Addison Fox - The Colton Sheriff

Audrey laid a hand on Calvin’s arm. She didn’t say anything, but her touch had the calming effect of diffusing her husband. He stepped away, his disdain evident as he presented his back to Barton. “Not worth another moment of our time.”

For the briefest moment, Aisha thought Barton was going to cause a physical altercation, hate along with something dark and oily filling his gaze, before he seemed to think better of it. He turned back to his wife, grabbing her by the upper arm and dragging her from the community center, her feet running double time to keep up with him.

“I’m sorry, Mom.” Trey turned to Aisha, encompassing her in the apology. “You did nothing but support me in there.”

“And I’m going to keep supporting you. There and to anyone who will listen.” Aisha moved up into his orbit, wrapping an arm around his waist. The solid warmth of his chest practically knocked every rational thought from her mind, but she hung on, determined to make him understand. “I’m in your corner, Colton. I always have been and always will be. Apologize again and I’m dragging you out back and trying my latest kickboxing moves on you.”

Trey hesitated momentarily, a sort of dazed expression filling his dark brown eyes before he blinked out of it. “Okay.” He held up a hand. “No ass kicking required.”

She held his gaze another moment before nodding. “See that it stays that way.”

It was Trey’s father who spoke first. “Let’s get out of here and go have some ice cream.”

“Dad, I’ve got—”

Audrey shut Trey down before he could make any other excuses. “Come on. We’re all entitled to some ice cream and the huckleberry cobbler I made this afternoon.”

“You made cobbler?” Trey’s voice grew animated, and with it, Aisha heard the tones of their youth. Trey Colton had never been very good at resisting huckleberry cobbler. Or any other kind of cobbler, come to think of it.

Audrey turned toward her. “Aisha, you in?”

“Sure.” She thought of the weight bag she’d have to keep after in the morning but didn’t especially mind. “I’ll suffer through an extra fifteen minutes of cardio tomorrow.”

Trey’s mother only shook her head. “You young people and your insistence on all this exercise. It boggles the mind.”

“You look great, Mrs. Colton.” Aisha eyed the older woman’s trim figure and still-slim frame. “You must do something to stay in shape.”

“I run a farm with my husband. Never once have I regretted eating ice cream made from the cows I milk or dessert made from the crops I grow.”

As Aisha followed Calvin and Audrey out to the parking lot, the two of them walking her to her car while Trey headed for his patrol car, she had to give credit where it was due. She’d never give up her psychology practice, but there was something to be said for daily physical labor and the fruits of that hard work.

An hour later, sitting on the Colton’s front porch, full of vanilla ice cream and cobbler, Aisha amended the thought.

There was something about enjoying the fruits of one’s labor. But it was even sweeter when you shared it with others.

Trey scanned one of the reports on the discovery of the bodies on the side of the mountain and thanked his lucky stars, once again, for the ever-capable and awesome Daria Bloom. The woman was amazing, her focus and dedication for her job something to behold. He was fortunate for all of his deputies, the individuals currently making up the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office staff all strong, capable law officers.

But Daria was a cut above.

The two of them had stayed late the night before, prepping for the visit from local officials that was set to start in another ten minutes. Despite going over the materials until his eyes blurred, Trey had been back at it since six that morning, determined to make the meeting a good one.

And even more determined to make sure they knew he was the right man for the job.

He hated the fact that Barton Evigan had gotten under his skin at Tuesday evening’s meeting. From the moment he’d seen the bastard sitting there, all high and mighty and devious in his seat, Trey had known there’d be trouble. He wanted to ignore it. He was good at ignoring bullies and had done so most of his life.

But this was different.

The tone and tenor were the same, but the potential outcome had more far-reaching consequences. If he lost the sheriff’s position in the November election to Evigan, his replacement would take Bradford County down a dark road. Trey knew it in his gut and was only reminded of that fact each and every time he laid eyes on his opponent.

Tuesday night had been a perfect example.

“Sheriff Colton.” At the knock on his door he looked up to find Winnie Han, their dispatcher and fill-in front desk clerk during the summer months when vacations were in full swing. Although Trey had more than a few deputies offer to give up their vacations until the Avalanche Killer situation closed, Trey wanted to avoid that if possible. Tension was high and the scrutiny on their work was intense. A much-needed and well-deserved vacation was in order for everyone who had one coming their way. “The county supervisor is here.”

Winnie waited a beat before continuing. “And the private secretary to the governor.”

Well, hell and damn. A surprise attack.

Trey nodded. “Thanks, Winnie. I’ll come back with you and greet them myself.”

“Bruce Patrillo picked up doughnuts and boxed coffee on his way in.”

“Let’s make sure he expenses that,” Trey added, grateful for the support of his team. Even more grateful they understood the gravitas now that the governor had sent his highest-ranking lackey along for the ride.

Trey adjusted his tie, confirming the Windsor knot was in place just as he’d left it, and followed Winnie out of his office. They’d use the main conference room, transformed after his and Aisha’s review of the data on Monday night. He and Daria had used originals of the copies he’d shared with Aisha, posting them all on individual corkboards, lined up in the order each woman was identified by her time of death. Trey had looked at those boards so many times he could see them in his mind’s eye.

Could still see Sabrina’s face, her eyes staring sightlessly back at him from the photo, a reminder of how poorly he’d failed her.

And how much work there was still to be done.

Although he’d worked blessedly few murders in his career, he’d had a few. Each time, he’d thought the same. What a shameful waste of a life.

He felt the same now, only along with it there was a small ember, growing day by day, burning slow and steady beneath his skin.

Who had done this?

Who felt they had a right to hurt these women, playing with them until fear must have been a frenzy in their blood?

No one had that right. He wouldn’t rest until the killer was found, and he’d use every means at his disposal to capture the cowardly bastard.

“Sheriff Colton.” The county supervisor Trey knew as Dave Olson extended his hand. “Good to see you again.”

“You as well.” Trey turned to the governor’s senior assistant, Steve Lucas. “Steve. I’m sorry we’re not meeting under better circumstances.”

“Likewise. I’ve been following your career. The governor has, too. You have a unique constituent base and you’ve run it with ease, a deft hand and a fair amount of good humor, if the reports are true.”

“I try.”

“You do better than try, from all we’ve heard.” Steve waved a hand, but the casual motion was at odds with the tense set of his shoulders beneath an expensive blue suit. “Which only further reinforces why all this Avalanche Killer stuff is a bunch of nonsense.”