Page 33 of The Artist

Peter joined her there to wait.

The lobby was a square room, painted white, with a window on one wall and a row of the black plastic chairs on the other two.The room wasn’t comfortable.It wasn’t meant to be.

“Do you really think he’ll let us go?”

“I don’t know.I guess it will depend on whether he believes you are a suspect or not.”

“You’re up.”The deputy behind the desk called out.“The sheriff will see you now.”

They walked behind the deputy to the inner sanctum of the department.

The sheriff, a big man with a full beard that was well trimmed and matched his dark brown hair, stood as Alexis entered the room.“Alexis.I’m glad you stopped by.You saved me a trip to the cabin.”

“Hi Bob” She turned toward Peter.“This is Peter Kincaid.”

Bob extended his hand.“Mr.Kincaid.I admire your work.I have for several years now.”

Peter shook his hand.“You know my work?I’m surprised to say the least.”

The sheriff chuckled and pointed at the chairs in front of his desk.They were comfortable-looking leather chairs.

After letting Alexis sit first, Peter sat next to her and turned his gaze on Bob.“We’ve come to see if you’ve made any progress on the arson fire of Ms.Armstrong’s gallery.”

“The investigation is progressing nicely.”Bob leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.“Do either of you have anything to add to your statements?”

“No.”Alexis sat forward and put her hands on the desk.“Bob, you know I had nothing to do with the fire or Heather’s death.And you know who did.Why don’t you arrest him?”

Bob sighed, sat forward and placed his forearms on the desk, before clasping his hands in front of him..“We don’t have any evidence that Horace was involved in this.We do believe his associates know more than they have said.”

Alexis straightened in her chair.“You found them?I thought they left town.”

“We stopped them from leaving.Rather than driving, they had tickets for a flight and we caught them at the airport.They aren’t exactly rocket scientists, which is why I know they have more information to give.I can hold them for seventy-two hours without charging them.My deputies are scouring the scene and the neighborhood cameras to see if any of them caught anything.I really don’t want to let them go, but I might have to.”

Peter placed his arm around Alexis’s shoulders.“Speaking of flights out, we are headed to Denver, to my ranch.We wanted to let you know where you could reach us if you had any information to share.”

The sheriff sat straighter.“Thank you for telling me.I have no further information to share at this time.”

Peter stood.“Well, if that situation changes you have our numbers and know where we’ll be.”

Alexis got to her feet.“We’ll be back soon.”She looked up at Peter.“Won’t we?”

He nodded.“I expect us to be gone for a week to ten days.We’ll only be in Denver and can be back here within two hours, if you should need us.I’ll make sure my plane is kept ready to depart at any time.”

“Thanks.I’ll see you in about ten days.”

Peter escorted Alexis out of the sheriff’s office and then out of the building.As he was leaving, he noticed a deputy staring at them.He saw his name tag said McNubbin.He filed the information away for future consideration.

He stopped in front of Alexis’s cabin and killed the engine.Then he exited the SUV and came around to her side and opened the door for her.“I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes.I never really unpacked but I still have to put my painting supplies into the SUV and throw in my bag and then I’ll return for you.”

She stood with her hands in her jeans pockets.“I’ll be ready.It’s not as if I have a lot of clothes to pack.”

“It’ll be fine.See you in a little bit.”Then he cupped the back of her head and brought her close, crashing his lips against hers in a deep kiss.

She seemed to be a little dazed.

He smiled and turned her toward the cabin.“Get packing.”

She headed toward the stairs.