Page 13 of Bitter Truth
Anger that’s been harboring inside me for over two decades now. Anger that begs to be unleashed. I clench my molars together a little harder and promise myself this will all be over soon.
“Where do you think you’re going? Not trying to sneak off after creating such a huge mess, are you?”
I spin back around. Lock eyes with the man before me wishing, not for the first time, that I could tell him what I think of him. But I can’t.
Although being exposed to Sheriff Kingston’s delightful personality twice in less than twenty-four hours is a bitter pillow to try and swallow, here in the small town of Gator Glade, he’s in charge. Since he could make my life even more difficult if he wanted to, which is the last thing I need, I’m forced to play nice.
“No,” I say. “Like I told you earlier, I have a rescue in my car. I was just looking to see how many witnesses you had left to speak with.”
“That’s none of your concern. It’s my job, not yours.”
I force a smile.
“The last thing I need is for you to muddy up the waters before I get to the bottom of this.”
Considering that the sheriff’s investigative abilities are so poor I doubt he’d be able to find his own hand in a glove, I have zero hope that the man who robbed the pharmacy will ever be brought to justice.
“You’re lucky that you’re not facing charges.”
My mouth drops open. “For what?”
“Reckless endangerment.”
“Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. I don’t know what it was that you think you were doing back there, but you’re lucky you didn’t get any of those people hurt. You’re not a cowboy. If you think I’m going to just stand by and let you turn my town into the wild west, you’re mistaken. And another thing—”
“Cassidy, honey.”
Mr. Johnson hobbles over. Gives me a wobbly smile as his gnarled fingers wrap around my arm.
“I wanted to make sure to catch you before you left. I can’t thank you enough for coming to my rescue the way you did. It took a lot of courage, intervening like that. I don’t think many people would have had the nerve. There was something crazed in that boy’s eyes.”
He shudders, then turns to Kingston.
“You should offer this young lady a job, Sheriff.”
The sheriff and I exchange wary looks, both of us horrified by the thought of working together. Sensing the friction between us, the pharmacist’s smile falters.
“You come see me before you leave, dear. I’ll get you something for that bruise of yours.”
“Thank you, Mr. Johnson. I appreciate the offer, but that isn’t necessary. I need to hurry up and get home. I have an injured raccoon in my car that I need to get back to the sanctuary.”
“Well, if it gives you any trouble, you come back and see me. I’ll take good care of you.”
He gives my arm a gentle squeeze before releasing me.
“We’re all glad you came back home, honey. Butch would be so proud of you. There’s no telling what would have happened if you hadn’t been here.”
I watch him shuffle off, feeling misty-eyed and choked with emotion.
“Don’t you let what he said go to your head now. You got lucky back there.”
“I know.”
“You—” Kingston’s head pulls back, his chin tucking into his neck. He blinks at me, obviously surprised that I agreed with him.
I take another one of those deep, not-so-calming breaths, and say, “Believe it or not, Lyle, I don’t go looking for trouble.”
