Page 61 of Forever Dark
“Yes,” Selena said.“I am.”
That answer seemed to please her, though not in a friendly way.More like a box had been ticked.A promise to get out of Dodge.
Selena headed down the corridor before the conversation could sharpen.Framed photographs lined the walls.County fairs.School safety visits.Connor with his arm around old men in seed caps and young deputies fresh out of the academy.He had built a life here in plain view.People could point to it with one hand while buying feed with the other.
Voices drifted from the fifth doorway.
Selena slowed just outside it, caught the edge of an argument, then stepped inside.
Connor and Arnold were in the middle of dragging a folding table across the room.
Arnold had one end.Connor had the other.A pin board stood against the far wall already loaded with scene photographs and notes, and two smaller desks had been shoved off to the side to make space.
“I’m telling you, by the window makes more sense,” Arnold said.“Better light.”
“The back wall,” Connor said.“Less glare on the board.”
“We’re not painting a portrait,Sheriff.”
“We’re trying to work effectively,Deputy.”
Neither of them noticed Selena.
Arnold set his end down with a huff.“Let’s settle these like men.”
Connor looked at him for a second.“Agreed.”
They both raised their hands.
“Ready?”Arnold said, and Connor nodded.
They threw.
Connor won.
Selena laughed before she could stop herself.
Both men turned.Arnold looked caught out.Connor straightened slowly, let go of the table, and cleared his throat.
Selena raised an eyebrow.“Rock, paper, scissors?Really?”
Connor tugged once at the hem of his shirt like that might restore some dignity.“It’s as good a way as any around here.”
Arnold tried to recover.“I still think the window was better.”
Connor pointed to the door.“Out.”
The deputy didn’t move at first.“You need anything else?”
“I need you to do the job I actually gave you.”
Arnold nodded quickly.“Yes, sir.”
He slipped past Selena with an apologetic half-smile and vanished down the corridor.
Once the room had settled again, Selena glanced toward the door and then back at Connor.
“You should probably be stricter with him.He’s a deputy,you’rethe boss.”
