nervous.
“How can I help you?” The receptionist blinks, tipping her head and doing a useless job at hiding the fact she is a little stunned by Dale’s scar.
I scowl at her, annoyed she can’t be more subtle. I glance at Dale’s stoic expression, a flash of affection skittering through me. He wears his past like a freaking champion.
Clearing his throat, he taps his fingers on the counter. “I need to report a missing person, please.”
“Oh.” The receptionist sits up straighter, glancing over her shoulder. “Deputy Peck,” she calls behind her.
The large man glances up and gestures at the phone pressed to his ear. She gives him a smile and jerks her head in Dale’s direction. Raising his pointer finger, he indicates one minute before focusing back on the call.
“He’ll be with you—”
“That’s okay, Helen, I can look into this.” I flinch at the deep voice of the man walking into the room and gaze up at Sheriff Hutton.
He’s a tall, lean man with an oblong face and a deep chin dimple. His cheeks are a little sunken in, giving him this severe look, which I guess makes him a perfect fit for town sheriff. I’ve always been afraid of him—even when I was a kid and I’d go over to play with Adam. Mrs. Hutton would sometimes invite me to stay for dinner, but I’d always make up an excuse to get home before the sheriff returned from work. My place was a warm oasis compared to the cold, quiet vibes of the Hutton residence. It makes me sad to think how much things have changed.
The sheriff gazes down at Dale with that calm, unwavering expression. The one that always makes me feel naked.
Dale stands tall against the man’s scrutiny.
“Afternoon, Mr. Finnigan. Why aren’t you in school?”
“Lunch break, sir.” Dale swallows.
The sheriff’s pale eyebrows arch as he checks his watch. His broad lips turn into a thoughtful frown. “Not for much longer. You’re not thinking of taking the afternoon off, are you?”
“Like you’d admit that when you’re standing in the middle of a police station,” I mutter.
Dale ignores me, and instead gives the sheriff a tight smile.
“No, sir. I’m heading back to school right after I report a missing person.”
The sheriff crosses his long arms, looking concerned as he towers behind his intrigued receptionist. “And who might that be?”
“Nicole Tepper. No one’s seen her this morning. She hasn’t turned up at school. I’m worried something’s happened to her.”
“Why are you so worried?” His utility belt jingles as he hitches up his pants and plants his hands on his hips. A skeptical smile rests on his lips as he quietly chuckles. “We’re talking about Nicole Tepper here. She’s probably sleeping off a hangover at home.”
My skin grows hot with shame. Does everyone really think I’m such a lost cause?
Dale’s lips pinch into a line while he shakes his head. “She’s not at home. Penny tweeted this morning saying her mother thinks she’s missing.”
The sheriff’s smile disappears. His dark blue eyes narrow and his broad forehead crinkles as he pulls a notepad out of his beige shirt pocket. Snatching a pen off the desk, he clicks it on and starts writing.
A phone rings, making the receptionist in front of us jump. She lets out a nervous laugh and reaches for the receiver. “Big Bear Sheriff’s Department. How can I help you?”
The sheriff tips his head and we follow him along the counter, meeting him at the end near his office door. “When was the last time she was seen?”
“At a party last night.” Dale rests his hands on the counter. “She was there with all her friends and no one knows who she left with and no one’s seen her since.”
Sheriff Hutton nods, disturbed by the news. “I’m surprised Mrs. Tepper has called the school, but not me. Can you tell me why her own mother isn’t as worried as you are?”
I swallow, hating the question.
Dale shakes his head. The sheriff’s concern is still tainted
“How can I help you?” The receptionist blinks, tipping her head and doing a useless job at hiding the fact she is a little stunned by Dale’s scar.
I scowl at her, annoyed she can’t be more subtle. I glance at Dale’s stoic expression, a flash of affection skittering through me. He wears his past like a freaking champion.
Clearing his throat, he taps his fingers on the counter. “I need to report a missing person, please.”
“Oh.” The receptionist sits up straighter, glancing over her shoulder. “Deputy Peck,” she calls behind her.
The large man glances up and gestures at the phone pressed to his ear. She gives him a smile and jerks her head in Dale’s direction. Raising his pointer finger, he indicates one minute before focusing back on the call.
“He’ll be with you—”
“That’s okay, Helen, I can look into this.” I flinch at the deep voice of the man walking into the room and gaze up at Sheriff Hutton.
He’s a tall, lean man with an oblong face and a deep chin dimple. His cheeks are a little sunken in, giving him this severe look, which I guess makes him a perfect fit for town sheriff. I’ve always been afraid of him—even when I was a kid and I’d go over to play with Adam. Mrs. Hutton would sometimes invite me to stay for dinner, but I’d always make up an excuse to get home before the sheriff returned from work. My place was a warm oasis compared to the cold, quiet vibes of the Hutton residence. It makes me sad to think how much things have changed.
The sheriff gazes down at Dale with that calm, unwavering expression. The one that always makes me feel naked.
Dale stands tall against the man’s scrutiny.
“Afternoon, Mr. Finnigan. Why aren’t you in school?”
“Lunch break, sir.” Dale swallows.
The sheriff’s pale eyebrows arch as he checks his watch. His broad lips turn into a thoughtful frown. “Not for much longer. You’re not thinking of taking the afternoon off, are you?”
“Like you’d admit that when you’re standing in the middle of a police station,” I mutter.
Dale ignores me, and instead gives the sheriff a tight smile.
“No, sir. I’m heading back to school right after I report a missing person.”
The sheriff crosses his long arms, looking concerned as he towers behind his intrigued receptionist. “And who might that be?”
“Nicole Tepper. No one’s seen her this morning. She hasn’t turned up at school. I’m worried something’s happened to her.”
“Why are you so worried?” His utility belt jingles as he hitches up his pants and plants his hands on his hips. A skeptical smile rests on his lips as he quietly chuckles. “We’re talking about Nicole Tepper here. She’s probably sleeping off a hangover at home.”
My skin grows hot with shame. Does everyone really think I’m such a lost cause?
Dale’s lips pinch into a line while he shakes his head. “She’s not at home. Penny tweeted this morning saying her mother thinks she’s missing.”
The sheriff’s smile disappears. His dark blue eyes narrow and his broad forehead crinkles as he pulls a notepad out of his beige shirt pocket. Snatching a pen off the desk, he clicks it on and starts writing.
A phone rings, making the receptionist in front of us jump. She lets out a nervous laugh and reaches for the receiver. “Big Bear Sheriff’s Department. How can I help you?”
The sheriff tips his head and we follow him along the counter, meeting him at the end near his office door. “When was the last time she was seen?”
“At a party last night.” Dale rests his hands on the counter. “She was there with all her friends and no one knows who she left with and no one’s seen her since.”
Sheriff Hutton nods, disturbed by the news. “I’m surprised Mrs. Tepper has called the school, but not me. Can you tell me why her own mother isn’t as worried as you are?”
I swallow, hating the question.
Dale shakes his head. The sheriff’s concern is still tainted
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