The Sheriff's Wife: The Complete Trilogy by Riley Blake

Author:Riley Blake [Blake, Riley]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Riley Blake Books
Published: 2023-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Deputy Nuisance left his motorcycle at the motel so we could ride together and discuss how to handle this uncomfortable situation. After driving several miles, we’d come up with exactly nothing. Minutes later, that nothing led us to a gravel driveway.

Under the large oak tree were four wicker rocking chairs. Positioned in a semi-circle, they hadn’t been moved since I’d last visited with Rose and her mother Sybil. It was right after Sadie’s husband died. She’d asked me to stop by and pick up food for Sadie’s family.

That particular day, Rose’s mom had been in high spirits. She was doing well and ‘defeating’ dementia.

My eyes filled with tears as I remembered our last conversation that day. “If anyone can beat this thing, I can,” she’d said. “It’s mind over matter. Determination.”

If only…

My hand shook as I reached for the door. I was filled with dread and an unexplainable need to pass this off to Deputy Nuisance. At the same time, I heard myself saying, “Please let me talk with them.”

Rose and her mother were practically family.

As soon as Nuisance and I left the Bronco, Rose met us on the porch.

“I was just trying to call you. Mary and Claire are here. Let me bring them out so Mom doesn’t get upset.”

“Are they okay?” I asked.

“Of course,” she promised. “It shouldn’t take more than five or ten minutes. I’ve already called Dr. Sampson. He’s on his way.”

My heart lifted as much as fell. I was relieved to know the girls were safe, but saddened for Rose and her mom. They had always been very close.

Unfortunately, the elderly woman’s recent brain scans had proven that her white matter had turned into something more disconcerting. She needed to be in assisted living or residing with Rose. If there were doubts about her ability to live alone, those were now diminished.

I looked at Deputy Nuisance. He gave a halfhearted shrug.

“How’d you find out they were here?” Rose paused at the door before reentering the tidy home. “Never mind. That’s not important. Sally called from the diner. I rushed right over.”

“Everything will be okay,” I whispered, unsure if she’d heard me.

“I’ll be right back,” Rose said, disappearing inside.

When she left us alone, I turned to Deputy Nuisance. “What’s the protocol?”

“The whole community knows.” He slowly shook his head. “I guess we could talk to Sadie and see if she would consider not filing charges.”

“An abduction, a kidnapping no less, isn’t that out of her hands? It’s probably out of ours.”

“We can sweep it under the rug as long as the girls aren’t hurt, but Rose can’t avoid placing her mom in a home now. She’ll need to stay with her until she finds a suitable place.”

“Let’s see what the girls have to say,” I said, guarded. Rose had supported me throughout my crisis with Brogan. I wanted to protect her.

A few minutes later, Mary and Claire skipped across the front steps while waving colorful artwork. “Lucy, look!”

They couldn’t have been any happier as they smiled back at Rose’s mom, now walking out to the porch.

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