Tempting the Devil by Patricia; Potter Page A

“I don’t know what you’re getting at.”
    â€œI’m interested in the differences between the sheriff’s office and the police department.”
    â€œWhy?”
    At least she had him talking .
    â€œIt just seems strange to have two agencies covering the same area and responsible for the same duties.”
    â€œWe do a heap more than the police. We serve warrants, control the jail, and take care of the courts.”
    â€œBut you also have joint authority over crimes. What happens if you both turn up at the same burglary?”
    â€œWhoever gets there first takes the case.”
    â€œAnd patrolling the county. Do you duplicate that as well?”
    â€œWe pretty much divide the county.”
    â€œWho patrols the area where the officers died?”
    â€œWe do.”
    â€œThen why were the county police there?”
    â€œProbably so none of their own friends would see them drinking,” he said.
    â€œDrinking?”
    â€œThere was a container of ’shine at the crime scene.” The moment he said the words, his lips clamped together.
    â€œâ€™Shine?”
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œMoonshine?” she persisted. “Illegal whiskey?”
    â€œDamn it, Robin. I didn’t say that. Swear you won’t say anything. They don’t deserve a cloud over their name.”
    She hesitated. He hadn’t asked that anything be off the record. Then she nodded. “Unless it comes from someone else.”
    He owed her now. She wasn’t above using it later.
    â€œDoes your department patrol that particular road on a regular basis?”
    He was silent for a moment too long, then said, “Why should they? It doesn’t go anywhere. It’s private property.”
    â€œKids, maybe. Drinking. Making out.”
    â€œI don’t think so. There’s only one way out. If anyone came …”
    â€œWouldn’t that be true then for something illegal?”
    He stared at her in dismay.
    â€œUnless,” she continued without a pause, “they knew somehow that no one would patrol that night.”
    His fists knotted. “Damn it, Robin, that’s crazy.”
    â€œIs it?” she said.
    She hadn’t planned these questions but one had just led to another. It didn’t make sense that the three officers would be found so readily on a road that everyone said was rarely used. Unless there was some kind of electronic way to keep track of the squad cars. She doubted that. Neither department seemed that advanced in its equipment.
    â€œHow were they found if no one went there?” She already knew the official version. She wondered if his would match.
    â€œBecause they didn’t check in,” he said. “The police put out an alert. Our department received it. Everyone was looking for them.”
    â€œBut why look specifically in the woods?”
    â€œSomeone noticed the chain that usually blocks that road was down. They checked it.”
    â€œWho are the deputies who patrol this area?”
    A muscle worked in his throat. “You’ll have to check with the sheriff.”
    Suddenly she realized she should have checked the ownership of the property. No one had mentioned ownership, not any of the media. Not any of the law enforcement agencies.
    â€œWho owns the property?”
    He shrugged.
    â€œI can find out from tax records.”
    He didn’t reply.
    â€œThere weren’t any signs posted,” she persisted.
    He still didn’t answer.
    â€œSandy,” she said with irritation, “surely you all know who owns the property.”
    â€œI told you, I can’t tell you anything about the investigation.”
    She studied him. His tanned face had paled slightly.
    â€œWhat are you really afraid of?” she asked suddenly.
    â€œI’m not afraid of anything,” he protested too strongly. “I need my job. My family has always worked for the sheriff’s office. My