Page 105 of Where I Found You


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“No, I was trying to break it up. Noah protected me.” She took a deep breath, shifting her keys from one hand to the other. “I was trying to get my dad to stop attacking Mr. Hebert.”

There. She’d done it. She’d turned in her own father.

Sheriff Rubart didn’t look impressed. “Again—how convenient that you believe Noah and Russell are innocent.”

She had a feeling that raising her voice at the sheriff wouldn’t give her the same sense of liberty as it had with her father. She leveled her tone, trying to stay patient. “Sheriff, you’ve known me my whole life. I’m not a liar.”

He crossed his burly arms over his chest “No, but you were recently caught canoodling in a government facility after hours with the man you’re defending.”

Her cheeks heated. “This has nothing to do with that. I’m speaking as a concerned citizen. Noah is innocent, and Mr. Hebert didn’t strike first. I’m a witness.”

He stared at her, as if trying to determine whether she was telling the truth.

“You have to believe me.” Her voice pitched against her best efforts. “You’ve only got one of the right people in jail, at best!”

“Actually, I don’t.” He drew himself up to his full stature and gestured toward the hall behind them. “They’ve already been released. My deputy is getting their belongings now.”

Released?

As if on cue, a uniformed officer, Noah, and his father turned the corner at the end of the long white-walled hallway. Elisa’s hope soared. Noah wouldn’t be stuck there all night. They could talk. She could explain how she finally stood up to her father, and beg Noah’s forgiveness for not saying something sooner. They’d get busy working on the last clue, and everything would be?—

Noah raised his head and met her gaze, his expression drawn as he clutched his bag of baseball gear. That expression didn’t change as he continued his approach.

Elisa swallowed. He wasn’t happy to see her, and she couldn’t blame him. But she’d come. She’d done the right thing—she’d ratted on her dad.

That had to mean something.

In contrast to Noah’s defeated gait, Russell’s arrogance radiated from every pore. Elisa narrowed her eyes. Her Sunday school teachers growing up had always taught her not to hate, but good gravy, that man made it hard.

“As you can see, your statement is unnecessary.” Sheriff held the door for her and nodded toward the parking lot. “Now if you all can kindly leave the premises, I’ll be getting home to my impossibly late dinner.”

“This isn’t over.” Russell tipped his hat toward the sheriff as he started through the door. “Wrongful imprisonment is a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

Sheriff’s steady expression didn’t change. “You were held less than twenty-four hours. Get out of my sight.”

Noah and Elisa filed out the door behind Russell. Her heart stammered in her chest, and she reached for Noah’s arm. Then thought better of it and let her hand fall to her side. A misty rain had started, blanketing the dim parking light. She blinked against the cool drops. She hadn’t anticipated this. She thought she’d be able to blast into the sheriff’s office, speak for Noah, and prove she supported him. Make up for her earlier silence.

But they hadn’t needed her. The confrontation with her dad—it had all been for nothing.

She was too late.

“My truck is at the ball field.” Noah wouldn’t look at her. Drops of rain beaded on his hair and forearms.

Russell pulled his phone from his pocket and started typing, covering the screen with one hand. “I’ll get us an Uber.”

“I’m good to walk.” Noah stared straight ahead, one hand clutching his duffel strap. The hint of purple had already started on his chin.

Elisa’s chest tightened until it felt hard to take a deep breath. “Let me drive you to your truck.” She jingled her keys. “We can talk on the way.”

“No thanks.” Still not looking at her, Noah shook his head and headed toward the street, his bag of baseball gear bouncing against his hip.

He still thought she hadn’t fought for him.

Rain misted around them, the air thick with humidity. Panic tightened her throat, clutched her stomach in a vise. It couldn’t end like this. They had to finish the hunt. Delia…the café. Everything was at risk.

Not to mention her broken heart.

Helpless, she took several steps after Noah and called out, “At least let me take your bag!”