Sheriff ✔

Chapter 20

It was Monday, and I wasn't ready. My hands shook as I opened the door to the station. I was nearly floating from the adrenaline coursing through my body.

The other officers I passed on my way to my office nodded with tight-lipped smiles. This was going to be quite the day.

A quick glance down the hall told me that the chief was not in yet. I breathed a sigh of relief, but the anxiety did not leave my bones. We would have to face each other eventually.

It was nearly lunchtime when the man walked past my door. I looked up, just catching his disappearing frame. A moment passed, and he backed up in front of the entrance. He turned slowly, facing me.

"Decided to come to work today?" His voice was unreadable, and though my overwhelming feeling was rage, a jolt of nervousness raced through my chest.

"Yes," I responded simply.

"Yes?"

"Yes, sir," I gritted out. My venom was unbridled.

"Come into my office in five minutes."

I said nothing in response and cast my eyes back to the papers in front of me. Fruitlessly, I read over the words, comprehending nothing. What would he say to me? How would I respond?

I waited ten minutes before heavily walking to his office.

"Chief."

He gestured to the seats in front of his desk, and I sat quietly.

He steepled his fingers in front of his face as he studied me.

"What are we going to do, Davis?"

I wanted to roll my eyes. His bravado sickened me to the core. He was a bully and an idiot, and any remnant of fear within me was quickly being replaced with wrath.

"About what, sir?" I asked drily, a smile hanging on my face.

He blanched a bit at my calm response.

"About your new-found attitude and your 'coon' problem."

I could tell he was trying to get under my skin, but I would not let him. My rage and hatred had solidified into a block of ice, drawing my lips into a thin sneer and making my thoughts razor-sharp. I relished the power my control brought me.

"I don't know what you mean, and something is telling me this isn't related to work. Do you think this is a good use of police hours?"

Chief Harold inhaled sharply as I leaned back in my chair, steepling my fingers in mockery of posture.

"Watch yourself, boy. You think you're invincible?"

I matched his intense gaze.

"There's talk going around this town, and it's not favorable to you or your bed warmer. You wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of a mob."

He was right, of course, but at this point, the hole had been dug. And more importantly, he had laid his hands on my future wife, and I wouldn't yield to such a despicable man.

"Is there something you're looking for me to say?" I asked finally. The longer I stayed in this man's presence, the higher the chance that I would spring over the desk and attack him.

Chief leaned back in his chair as well, studying my face.

"Just you wait, boy. That's all – remember that. Just you wait."

"Anything else?" I responded quickly, rising.

He waved his hand dismissively, and I made my way back to my office. The rest of the day passed uneventfully. The week dragged on much the same, with Chief leaving me alone and my occasional patrols yielding nothing more than hard stares and unremarkable afternoons.

I felt a strong sense of foreboding building in my chest with every passing day. I knew this town was a powder keg waiting to explode. I was itching to meet Evalyn's family and be able to move forward and leave before everything came crashing down around us.