Town Darling by Copella Holly

Author:Copella, Holly [Copella, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Copella Books
Published: 2015-06-16T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

The fairground was busy that afternoon. Locals and out-of-towners had volunteered to scrub the buildings and prepare the grounds for the upcoming fair. The parking field was being roped off and signs were pounded into the ground to help direct traffic flow. Former sheriff Wiley played with the sound system at the stage furthest from the main entrance. It made an ear-piercing screech that caused everyone within earshot to grimace and turn. Abby stopped her luxury golf cart and glared at Wiley. He grinned his apologies. Ernest and Mayor Lance stood on stage and shook their heads while pointing at Wiley at the sound system toward the back. Abby drove up to the stage and joined her husband and brother. Wiley continued to fiddle with several switches. When his sound check didn’t shatter any eardrums, it was obvious he’d gotten in right. Vaughn approached Wiley and the sound system from across the fairgrounds. Wiley glanced at him, grinned, and returned to his duties.

“What brings you out this way, Vaughn?” Wiley asked. “Pre-bachelor auction jitters?”

“You’re a funny man,” Vaughn scoffed. “Don’t quit your day job.”

Wiley looked at him and uncertainly sat on the table. “You look a little distracted. I’m guessing it’s something more than putting your butt on the auction block.”

“I’m way beyond distracted,” Vaughn informed him sternly. “I’m disturbed and possibly sickened by something I’d just read in Catherine Remington’s journal.”

Wiley stared at Vaughn with a look of surprise. “Catherine Remington’s journal? I don’t remember anything about a journal.”

“Casey gave it to me,” he replied and waved his hand. “We’re getting off subject.” Vaughn tensed while staring at Wiley. “She filed an assault report against Wayne Harford six months before she was killed.” He was unusually silent then raised his brows and continued. “I searched every file we have, and I didn’t find any report.”

Wiley stared at Vaughn and appeared frozen. Vaughn stared back and didn’t blink.

Vaughn slowly nodded and appeared to understand the silence. “You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? What happened to that report, Wiley?”

Wiley took a deep breath, uncertainly looked around, and then took Vaughn by the arm. “Let’s walk.”

The two men walked away from the stage area and into a large clearing void of activity. Vaughn continued to cast glares at Wiley, who appeared reluctant to speak as they walked.

“Yes, Catherine filed a complaint against Wayne for attempted sexual assault,” he reluctantly remarked. “I took down every word she said, believing every word she said.”

Vaughn stopped and forced him to face him. His look was stern and harsh. “What happened to that report, Wiley?”

There was a long silence. Wiley frowned. “Ernest happened.”

Vaughn looked up, shook his head with disbelief, and almost laughed. He looked back at Wiley and glared his annoyance. “You let Ernest bully you into burying a sexual assault complaint against his son? The bastard intended to rape Catherine Remington. The only reason he didn’t succeed is because she stopped him. How could you allow something like this?”

“I didn’t allow it, Vaughn,” Wiley protested then fell silent and appeared ashamed.

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