various parts of the Grace and/or Mackay family. She had spent most
of her life learning how to read people, and despite the chill in the sheriff’s face, she
could read that much in his eyes.
“At the time of the operation were you aware that Natches and James Mackay were
involved in the operation?”
Sheriff Mayes snorted at that question. “If there’s trouble to be found, then James Dawg
Mackay and his two cousins are always bound to be close by.” He flicked a mocking look
behind her shoulder. “They’re trouble like that. You’d do well to remember it.”
“But you didn’t answer the question,” she reminded him softly.
“I suspected they were in up to their necks in something, I just didn’t know what.” He
shrugged easily. “Remember? No one informed me anything was going on.”
“But you knew enough to begin your own investigation and to contact several members
of the FBI as well as a contact you made within DHS and the Department of Justice?”
She handed him the memos that had made it into Timothy’s hands. The sheriff’s phone
records clearly revealed the calls that were made, but not which agents took those calls.
His lips tipped knowingly. “I’m a suspicious bastard; what can I say?”
“And who did you speak to at that time?”
He smiled at that. “Names elude me, Miss Dane. I just asked to speak to an agent, and
they plugged me into someone.”
Chaya stared back at him suspiciously. He wasn’t even bothering to disguise the fact that
he was lying to her.
“And what did they tell you?”
“They told me to mind my own business in my own little corner of the world,” he
continued to lie. “What were they supposed to tell me?”
Chaya held back her own grin though she inclined her head in acknowledgment. Truth be
told, she didn’t want to know his contacts and she didn’t give a damn. Timothy was dying
to get his little hooks into them though.
Behind her, silence reigned.
“One last question, Sheriff. Can I trust you?” she asked, allowing her own suspicions to
enter her voice now. He was a friend of the Mackays; the people of Somerset were his
people. She needed to know, to watch his eyes, hear his voice, to determine how far she
was going to trust him.
His eyes narrowed on her again before he leaned forward carefully. “Agent Dane, I’m a
duly sworn officer of the law, and this is my home. You can trust me to cover your back.
You can trust me to make damned sure any suspicions you have are held in confidence. I
might not like what you are or what your team did here last year, but I don’t have to like
you to do my job. Are we clear on that?”
“And should friends of yours question you regarding the interviews we’re about to make?
Will your loyalties then be torn? Because I have to ask you to step aside if they will be. I
can bring in another agent to provide backup.”
He frowned, his jaw clenching. He knew the out she was offering him, and it was one
Cranston hadn’t approved. There was no reason to drive a wedge between this man and
the Mackays. It was his choice. And she would leave it up to him.
“You’re insulting me,” he bit out. “And pissing me off at the same time. I just told you
my loyalty is to the law. Period.”
“Excellent.” She closed the file and flashed him a cool smile. “Shall we go then? I’d like
to start with the first name below yours on that list if you don’t mind.”
His lips tightened, but he jerked his hat from the side of the table and slammed it on his
head before rising to his feet.
Chaya gathered her file together, looped the strap of her purse over her shoulder then
turned to face three sets of Mackay eyes on her.
Light green, emerald green, and behind dark glasses she knew were the deepest, darkest
forest green eyes she had ever seen. They mesmerized, sank into the soul and left their
impression forever after.
“It was good to see you boys again.” She smiled tightly.
of her life learning how to read people, and despite the chill in the sheriff’s face, she
could read that much in his eyes.
“At the time of the operation were you aware that Natches and James Mackay were
involved in the operation?”
Sheriff Mayes snorted at that question. “If there’s trouble to be found, then James Dawg
Mackay and his two cousins are always bound to be close by.” He flicked a mocking look
behind her shoulder. “They’re trouble like that. You’d do well to remember it.”
“But you didn’t answer the question,” she reminded him softly.
“I suspected they were in up to their necks in something, I just didn’t know what.” He
shrugged easily. “Remember? No one informed me anything was going on.”
“But you knew enough to begin your own investigation and to contact several members
of the FBI as well as a contact you made within DHS and the Department of Justice?”
She handed him the memos that had made it into Timothy’s hands. The sheriff’s phone
records clearly revealed the calls that were made, but not which agents took those calls.
His lips tipped knowingly. “I’m a suspicious bastard; what can I say?”
“And who did you speak to at that time?”
He smiled at that. “Names elude me, Miss Dane. I just asked to speak to an agent, and
they plugged me into someone.”
Chaya stared back at him suspiciously. He wasn’t even bothering to disguise the fact that
he was lying to her.
“And what did they tell you?”
“They told me to mind my own business in my own little corner of the world,” he
continued to lie. “What were they supposed to tell me?”
Chaya held back her own grin though she inclined her head in acknowledgment. Truth be
told, she didn’t want to know his contacts and she didn’t give a damn. Timothy was dying
to get his little hooks into them though.
Behind her, silence reigned.
“One last question, Sheriff. Can I trust you?” she asked, allowing her own suspicions to
enter her voice now. He was a friend of the Mackays; the people of Somerset were his
people. She needed to know, to watch his eyes, hear his voice, to determine how far she
was going to trust him.
His eyes narrowed on her again before he leaned forward carefully. “Agent Dane, I’m a
duly sworn officer of the law, and this is my home. You can trust me to cover your back.
You can trust me to make damned sure any suspicions you have are held in confidence. I
might not like what you are or what your team did here last year, but I don’t have to like
you to do my job. Are we clear on that?”
“And should friends of yours question you regarding the interviews we’re about to make?
Will your loyalties then be torn? Because I have to ask you to step aside if they will be. I
can bring in another agent to provide backup.”
He frowned, his jaw clenching. He knew the out she was offering him, and it was one
Cranston hadn’t approved. There was no reason to drive a wedge between this man and
the Mackays. It was his choice. And she would leave it up to him.
“You’re insulting me,” he bit out. “And pissing me off at the same time. I just told you
my loyalty is to the law. Period.”
“Excellent.” She closed the file and flashed him a cool smile. “Shall we go then? I’d like
to start with the first name below yours on that list if you don’t mind.”
His lips tightened, but he jerked his hat from the side of the table and slammed it on his
head before rising to his feet.
Chaya gathered her file together, looped the strap of her purse over her shoulder then
turned to face three sets of Mackay eyes on her.
Light green, emerald green, and behind dark glasses she knew were the deepest, darkest
forest green eyes she had ever seen. They mesmerized, sank into the soul and left their
impression forever after.
“It was good to see you boys again.” She smiled tightly.
Similar Books
