“Here, some snacks for you, honey.” Mom sets down a platter of cheese, sausage, and crackers. Sheriff Stevens pops a piece of sausage in his mouth, while Mom stands beside him holding her glass of wine.

“Will you be working on finding the real criminal responsible for this murder, Sheriff Stevens?” Mom takes a sip and raises an eyebrow.

The sheriff lets out an awkward cough.

The front door opens and closes with a bang. Sarah’s heels tap across the hardwood floor. “Hey, you’re still here?” she says to Sheriff Stevens.

“Yeah, I was just leaving actually.” He turns from the bookshelf and takes a step toward the front door.

“He has a criminal to catch. Don’t you, sheriff?” Mom questions.

Sarah just mumbles to herself, but she seems disappointed that he’s leaving. Why does she want him to stay? Is she trying to get more information out of him for the case? Or is there something between them?

“I can stay a few more minutes if you’d like.” Sheriff Stevens clears his throat.

“Great. Let me get you a coffee.” Sarah heads to the kitchen.

“Is that such a good idea?” Mom takes a gulp of her wine. “We really don’t need to be distracting him.”

No one pays any mind to my mother’s comments, including myself. Something isn’t right. Why is she offering him coffee? Why does he feel comfortable in my house? Why did she come here? Was it to see me or to see Sheriff Stevens? Is she interested in him? Is he interested in her? I’m not really in a position to be indignant or pry, but something is very off here. However, the last thing I need is to push Sarah away more than I already have. This will have to wait.

Sarah moves around the kitchen making a pot of coffee and putting out two cups. She opens several cupboards as she’s clearly unfamiliar with the house. Sheriff Stevens leans against the counter. I watch him watch her. His eyes are scanning her body up and down. If they haven’t already fucked, he wants to. That much is clear.

I get up, walk to the kitchen, and stand right beside him. I puff out my chest and stand a bit taller. “Can I get a cup too?” I ask.

Sarah turns back and looks at me. She nods, but the look she gives says Get it your fucking self. She pulls out another mug. She’s probably just being polite since Sheriff Stevens is here. She wants nothing to do with me. I’m sure she wishes I was rotting in my cell during the trial.

Sheriff Stevens and Sarah begin talking about the case. She asks about the witnesses that he’s interviewed, and it sounds like he interviewed nearly everyone Kelly worked with as well as Scott.

“Did you know her first husband?” Sarah asks.