Page 19 of In the Dark of the Past

The issue they’d reported that night, though? On its face, it looked like dumb vandalism. Maybe a bored teenager or two with something to prove. But something didn’t sit right. The cuts had been precise. Clean. And they’d left the generator cords untouched, even though those would’ve caused far more chaos if messed with. It felt deliberate. Like someone wanted to send a message, but fuck if I knew what the message was.

Now, I was walking the midway with Cade at my side, both of us keeping an eye on the crowd while I mentally sorted through the puzzle pieces. I was halfway through a stale cup of coffee when we turned the corner near the judges’ stage and walked right into a storm.

River.

She stood near the artisan booths with Nivea and Myra flanking her, all three deep in conversation with Autumn, who was pointing animatedly at something in the distance. Probably the reveal of the new historic trail markers she’d spent all winter lobbying for.

I should’ve kept walking. Pretended not to notice. But of course, River’s eyes found mine, and the look hit like a memory I wasn’t ready for. It was like opening an old wound just to see if it still bled. Her gaze was cool, her demeanor calm, but there was just the faintest flicker of something else there that I didn’t want to name.

She gave me a nod.

I returned it. Civil. Controlled. Like we weren’t both pretending the ground didn’t tilt under us whenever we made eye contact.

Cade cleared his throat softly beside me. “We gonna keep walking or...?”

“Yeah,” I said, but my feet didn’t move.

A deputy stepped up beside me, tablet in hand. When I looked, I realized it was Jordyn.

“Sheriff? Noise complaint by the craft barn, but it looks like it resolved itself.” Vale’s tone was crisp and professional. “Also, Linton said the generator checks are clear.”

I turned to her. “Copy that,” I said.

She nodded once and moved on, already scanning the crowd. I swore if she were wearing those smart glasses, there’d probably be a checklist in front of her eyes.

Before I could actually move as I’d told Cade we would, the crowd shifted, and Maple Ridge’s very own power players stepped up onto the Jubilee’s main stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the event coordinator called through the mic, “please welcome our mayor, Mr. Lucas Grant.”

To a round of applause, Grant strode out in his usual uniform of rugged charm when he wasn’t in his signature navy suit. Today, it was dark jeans, an orange-and-brown flannel that probably cost more than my boots, and a campaign smile. The man knew how to work a crowd.

“Thank you all for being here,” he said, his voice as smooth as lake water. “The Summer Jubilee is a time-honored tradition, and I’m proud to say Maple Ridge has never looked better. We’ve seen growth. We’ve experienced heartache. But most importantly, we’ve witnessed this town pull together, year after year. That’s what makes us who we are.”

Another round of applause followed. Someone whistled. Grant raised a hand like a benevolent king.

Beside me, Cade muttered, “Bet he practiced that in the mirror.”

I didn’t argue.

River and the others had moved closer to the stage. I caught movement in my periphery and saw Sean appear from the side entrance, clipboard in hand. Of course, he was here. His job as the DA came with the perk of proximity to power. Still, I hadn’t realized Jubilee planning was under the DA’s purview. Since when?

Grant gestured toward Sean. “Let’s give a warm round of thanks to District Attorney Sean Callahan, who’s helped coordinate this year’s event with care and integrity.”

He had?

Sean offered a practiced smile and a wave, then stepped back.

My jaw clenched. I didn’t know why that bothered me so much. Apparently, this was part of his job. He was doing his duty. Playing his role.

Still…

I couldn’t shake what had been lobbed during the Murder of the Month Club meeting. That perhaps Sean was even involved in things during Eleanor’s time.

I glanced at River again, just in time to see her watching the exchange. Her expression didn’t change, but her eyes narrowed slightly. Like she was filing something away.

When the mayor’s speech ended, the crowd scattered, and Cade nudged me. “Wanna say hi?”

“To who?”