“I’ll go over to the town hall and talk to Stacey.”
Sully nodded mutely.
I knew how to sweet talk the woman in records unlike my brother. I was tempted to stop in and see Parker, but her cruiserwasn’t in the lot at the police station. I parked in the street near Town Hall. Where all the other grasses in the area were crunchy with the lack of rain, the same couldn’t be said for Mayor Finley’s crown jewel of the town.
It was a pale stone building with gleaming black trim around the arched windows. The steps led to massive double doors in tinted glass. Inside, the massive hallway split off into two functions. Signs for the courthouse gave me a flashback to my stunt earlier this month. The Town Hall, since we were such a small town, included many facets of our town government.
I was about to hang a left to permits and records when Judge Crawford came outtalking to Mayor Finley.
He spotted me and I froze.
“Mr. Murdock, what brings you to the courthouse this time?”
I swallowed, straightening my spine. “Work, sir.”
Parker came through the doorway, her face pinched and a frown making a deep groove between her eyebrows. She met my gaze then her attention darted from me to the judge to the mayor and back to me.
My gut burned at the panic on her face.
The Chief of Police had just rolled out of my bed and I was still fulfilling my community service. I lifted my chin, my pride warring with the fact that I probably put her in a tough spot.
Before she could say anything, I cleared my throat. “Anything wrong?”
The mayor glanced at Parker before sliding her attention to me. “As a matter of fact, we were just discussing the fire from the other night.”
“Right.” I shoved my hands into my pockets.
Judge Crawford narrowed his eyes. “I heard you were a big help according to Chief Olsen’s report.”
“I was doing my community service at the police station when the call came in. Seemed like a helping hand couldn’t hurt.”
“Hmm.” The judge nodded. “We need more of that in this town. Good to hear it.” He turned to Parker and the mayor. “I’ll sign off on the community service schedule to include cleaning up that space. Keep me in the loop.” The older man swept through the doors to his courtroom, the heavy doors booming behind him.
When Parker still didn’t say anything, I backed up and took off toward the records office, my long stride eating up the hall as anger buzzed under my skin.
Like I could expect her to talk to me in front of them, but it still stung.
Was I stupid to believe we had a chance? Just because we had a healthy chemistry didn’t change who we were. I was the impulsive Murdock brother who got myself into more messes than I could count on all my fingers and toes. Parker was the freaking Chief of the IVPD.
Just before I got to the door to permits Parker’s voice rose behind me.
“Cash, wait.”
I turned, crossing my arms over my chest. “For what?”
“I was just ill-prepared.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Ill-prepared to face the man who made you come your brains out five hours ago?”
She rushed toward me. “Would you be quiet?”
I reached out to flick a curl over her shoulder. Parker never wore her hair down. But my mark was on her neck, along with abrasions from my scruff.
She pulled her hair back down over it. “It was one day, Cash. What do you expect from me?”
“I expect you to be an adult especially when we did all sorts of adult things to one another.” I stepped into her. “I won’t be ashamed about it.”
“Of course you wouldn’t.”
