Dupont planted his fake mayoral smile on his face but kept his eyes trained on Lucy. "What’s a dog doing here? You’re not allowed to have pets in here."

Reese put a restraining hand on Lucy’s neck. The dog stayed where she was. "She’s not a pet. She’s a stray. We’re looking for her owners." The tone in Reese’s voice told Sam that she liked Dupont about as much as Sam did. Good girl.

"Strays are supposed to be at the pound." Dupont’s eyes softened just a tad as he looked at the dog again. Or was Sam imagining that?

"And that’s where we’re going to take her as soon as we get freed up," Sam said. "In case you didn’t know, we have a murder to investigate."

Dupont straightened his jacket and looked away from Lucy. "I know. In fact, that’s why I’m here. Nadine and Thomas Palmer are good friends of mine, and I want to assure them that everything will be done to bring their daughter’s killer to justice."

Sam resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "We always do our best."

"I want this investigation done by the book." Dupont held a hand up at Sam’s narrow-eyed look. "Let’s not pretend here. I know how you like to take things into your own hands, sometimes, but I want your full attention on this case, and I want it done right." He leaned toward Sam, his voice lower. "The Palmers are very influential, and my reputation as mayor is on the line… and I wouldn’t want to have to resort to tarnishing your reputation as chief of police to keep mine polished. I’m sure you wouldn’t want your daughters to have to hear about your previous screw-ups."

Dupont didn’t have to elaborate. The reference to what had happened twenty years ago when he was still in the police academy made Sam’s blood boil. The vaguely threatening mention of Sam’s twin daughters pissed him off even more. Sam’s hands tightened into fists, but he shoved them into his pockets instead of punching Dupont in the face as he wanted to. He struggled to make his voice even toned and pleasant. "Of course. We want justice just as much as anyone else."

Dupont studied Sam for a minute, the two men staring at each other like two gunslingers in the town square at high noon.

Dupont blinked first. "I expect frequent updates." He spun and strode to the door then turned back and looked at Lucy. "And get rid of the dog."

Chapter Six

Jo tapped the end of her pencil forcefully on the desk, taking her frustrations out on the pink rubber eraser. She spun in her chair to watch Dupont walk away from the building. The guy was a jerk. Not only did he act like a pompous ass, but he had no respect for anyone on the police force.

This wasn’t the first time Dupont had thrown a veiled threat at Sam. Jo had no idea what Dupont was talking about, but she could tell by Sam’s reaction that the threat had hit home. Something had happened in Sam’s past, but she had no idea what it was.

Jo had been able to tell that Sam was holding back from popping Dupont in the face. Couldn’t blame him. Heck, she wanted to punch him herself. She’d seen the tells in Sam’s body language. The way his shoulders stiffened. How he’d clenched his large hands into fists, and from where she was seated, she could just see the tick in his strong jaw even through the thick stubble that covered it. Sam hid his emotions well, but he couldn’t hide them from her—she was an expert at reading people.

Jo had no intention of delving into what, exactly, Dupont had been referring to, though. She had her own skeletons that were better left in the closet with the door firmly shut. She wouldn’t want anyone prying into her past business, so she wouldn’t pry into Sam’s. If he wanted her to know, he’d tell her.

Sam was a good cop and a good person. The kind of person that you wanted to have on your side. The kind of person that would have your back no matter what. That was all she needed to know, and if Sam had done something in the past that was the cause of Dupont’s threats, she was sure it had been for a good reason.

Dupont, on the other hand, was not a good person. Taking a jab at Sam’s kids was a low blow. She knew Sam loved his twin daughters more than anything. They were in college now. Nice girls. Still young and innocent. To make a threat like that just proved what an asshole the mayor was.

"Don’t listen to anything Dupont said. He’s an ass clown," she said.

Sam sighed and dropped his hand to Lucy’s head. "Even a dog knows that."

Jo looked at the German shepherd mix wistfully. No one had responded to the Facebook post claiming her, and she knew they would have to take her to the shelter before the end of the day.

As if reading her mind, Reese said, "She’s smart. It’d be a shame to take her to the shelter. Maybe one of you guys needs a pet?"

"I wish," Jo said. "I’m renting my place, and pets aren’t allowed."

Jo was a loner by nature, but another living creature might be nice to have at home. Something soft and furry, preferably. But the landlord had been very clear about that. She liked her little cabin up in the woods and didn’t want to get evicted. Maybe a goldfish would have to do.

Reese’s gaze flicked to Sam. He owned his own home, an old hunting camp he’d inherited from his grandfather.

Sam looked at Lucy. "Sorry, girl, I don’t have time for a dog."

He spread his arms to indicate the squad room. "I spend most of my time either here or out on calls. It just wouldn’t be fair to her."

"I suppose you’re right." Reese glanced at the computer and hit the return key. "No one has posted to claim her or that they know who she belongs to."

"There’s still time. People are just getting home from work. I can drop her by the shelter if you want," Sam said.

"No. I’ll do it. Eric’s working there tonight, and he’ll make sure that she gets another good meal and one of the good kennels." Eric was Reese’s boyfriend. He was going to veterinarian school and volunteered at the animal shelter. Jo felt a little better knowing Lucy would have someone to make sure she got good treatment. Hopefully, her family would show up and claim her, though with the way her coat looked and how hungry she’d been, Jo had misgivings about turning the dog over to her family. If she had one, they weren’t treating her very well.

Jo leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Now that we have a murder to investigate, what do you suggest we do next, Chief? I’m sure Dupont will be scrutinizing our every move."

She already knew what she thought they should do next, but she wanted to see if Sam was in sync with her.

Four years of working together had put them on the same wavelength. They were usually on the same page as to what to do, and they did their jobs efficiently. Now, with Tyler gone, they’d have to be even more efficient. Her stomach clenched at the thought of the dead officer. Just because they had this murder to investigate didn’t mean she was going to forget about Tyler’s case. His killer was still at large.

"At least Dupont won’t get in our way and impede the investigation like he usually does," Sam said.

Jo nodded. It was weird how Dupont would often muck up the works for them. Especially if they were investigating something that had to do with the builder in town, Lucas Thorne.

Thorne had come to town a few years ago. The head honcho of a real estate development company, he was hell bent on buying up all the pristine land in town so he could tear down the trees and build a large resort. Hotels, restaurants, golf courses. Nothing was safe from him, and when people didn’t want to sell their old farms that had been in the family for generations, he somehow changed their minds.