“I haven’t exactly finished unpacking yet. These were the first things I pulled out of a box.”

“I’m sure you were wiped out after yesterday.”

“I was, and then I had this ridiculous run-in with the new game warden while I was chasing Snooze.”

“Why was a game warden on your property?”

“He said he was looking for a poacher.”

Halcyon frowned as Marina pulled into the sheriff’s department parking lot. “Sounds like a good story. You can tell me all about it just as soon as we straighten these idiots out.”

Marina took a deep breath and slowly blew it out.

Just stay calm. Calm will accomplish more.

She nodded to Halcyon, who was waiting for her cue, then they got out of the car and headed for the front door. As soon as she stepped inside, Kyle Pitre, who was sitting at a desk up front, smirked.

“Guess you’re here to see about your little angel,” he said.

“Why did you arrest her?” Marina asked.

He shook his head. “I’m not even getting into that with you. Take it up with the sheriff.” He rose from his desk and headed out the door. “Good luck,” he called over his shoulder as he left.

Halcyon’s face flashed with anger. “Kyle Pitre has always been a—”

Marina put her hand in front of her sister’s mouth. “Whatever you’re about to say I totally agree with, but there could be cameras and recording devices and God knows what else in here.”

They headed to the door with “Sheriff” stenciled on it and knocked.

“What do you want?” the sheriff barked from inside.

Marina opened the door a bit and poked her head in. “I need to speak to you about my daughter.”

Sheriff Randy Owen looked up in surprise, then his expression changed to one of frustration. “Sorry. I thought you were Kyle. That boy can’t so much as date a form without asking me a damn question.”

Since the “boy” in question was almost forty years old, his statement was both unfortunate and revealing. But then, everyone in Last Chance had always known that Kyle only had his job because of Preston. The long-running suspicion was that Preston had something on Randy that he was desperate to keep quiet. Marina had never heard any gossip about Randy for the fifteen years he’d been in Last Chance, but he was a Texas transplant. It would be just like Preston to go poking around the man’s past to ensure he had leverage. None of that boded well for Avery but Marina had to get this sorted.

“Come in and sit,” Randy said.

“Why was Avery arrested?” Marina asked as she sat down. “Can I see her? What do I have to do to get her out of here?”

“Slow down,” Randy said. “Let’s take one thing at a time. Avery is locked up in the back.”

Marina gasped. “She’s in a cell?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Randy said. “I’m sorry, but I have to follow protocol.”