Waterford Point. Alana Matthews

piece of work, Burgess.”

      Burgess glared at him, then got to his feet, shifting his gaze to Nick. “Look, Nick, I like you. The whole town likes you. But I’m starting to wonder if appointing you sheriff was a bad idea.”

      “You didn’t appoint me,” Nick said.

      Burgess studied him a moment and Nick could clearly see the contempt in his eyes. Nick didn’t often run into outright bigots these days, but he knew one when he saw one.

      “That may be true,” Burgess said. “But I can fire you just the same.” He leaned in close. “And if you don’t solve this case pronto, kemosabe, you’ll be heading right back to the reservation.”

      Then he turned on his heels and walked away.

      RACHEL COULDN’T SLEEP. After over an hour of tossing and turning and trying not to think about all the stuff that was plaguing her, she finally gave up and decided to find a place to go to dinner instead.

      When she walked into the Bayside Grill, the last person she expected to find there was Sheriff Nick Chavaree.

      He was sitting in a booth in back with one of his deputies, and as the hostess escorted her to a table, she could feel his gaze on her.

      He probably thought she was stalking him.

      She buried her face in the menu and was trying to decide between a chef’s or Cobb salad, when Chavaree approached and sat down at her table.

      He didn’t look happy.

      “You don’t give up, do you?”

      Rachel put the menu down and sighed. “I told you, Sheriff, I’m not interested in your case. Really. It’s the furthest thing from my mind right now.”

      “Yet you just happen to show up here?”

      Those eyes of his could melt stone.

      “Maddie suggested it, okay? She says it’s the best diner in town—and there aren’t exactly a whole lot of choices.”

      “I wish I could believe you.”

      “You don’t have to, but it’s the truth. I’ve had my fill of murder and mayhem for a while. I’m just here to recharge the batteries.”

      She could see that he still wasn’t buying it, but what could she say to change his mind? He looked tired and overtaxed and she instinctively wanted to comfort him somehow.

      She wasn’t quite sure where that instinct was coming from but it was there. Something about this guy brought it out in her.

      Something beyond his good looks.

      “So why do I still get the feeling I’ll wind up in your next book?” he said.

      Rachel shook her head. “I’m already in the middle of another project. Besides, I’m putting the career on hold for the time being. Until I get some things sorted out.” She sighed. “Look, I’d be lying to you if I didn’t admit that this Weeping Willow angle is very compelling, but—”

      He stiffened. “You know about that?”

      “Your friend Maddie likes to talk a lot. But don’t worry, I didn’t push her for details. I don’t really want to know any. In fact, the less I know, the better.”

      “Why is that?”

      She was about to explain when Chavaree’s deputy came over, pocketing a cell phone as he approached.

      His voice was full of tension. “Nick, that was DeMille. We need to go. Now.”

      Chavaree looked up at him with concern. “What’s wrong?”

      “We’ve got a situation.” The deputy leaned toward Chavaree now and whispered in his ear.

      Rachel couldn’t hear what was being said, but she didn’t need to.

      One of the handy little skills she’d picked up over the years was the ability to read lips. She didn’t always get it right but she came close at least half of the time, and even from this angle she knew exactly what was being said.

      “They found another body.”