“Truman!” Ina turned her cheek for a kiss and he obeyed.

Ina had been a pseudoaunt to him during the high school summers Truman had spent in Eagle’s Nest with his uncle, his yearly escape from San Jose city life. Later Ina had recommended Truman for the chief of police job after a serious injury as a cop in the big city had nearly killed him. He’d been left wondering if he’d ever return to police work until Ina’s offer came through.

“Let’s talk in your office.” She painfully headed in that direction, leaning heavily on her cane. Arthritis and bad knees had troubled her for years.

Not “Do you have a minute?” or “Can we talk?”

He smiled. That was Ina. This was her town.

As he followed the determined woman, a small pang vibrated through his heart; her usual limp was more pronounced, and she seemed more frail than usual.

He put the thoughts out of his mind. Ina Smythe wouldn’t allow death to tell her what to do.

With a heavy sigh, she sat in a chair across from his desk and waved him to his seat with her cane. He grinned and sat.

“How’s the boy?” she asked, fixing her hawklike stare on him.

“Ollie? Good.”

Frustration flashed, and she waggled her cane at him. “You know what I mean. He found that body two days ago. He handling it all right?”

“Ollie’s an outdoorsman . . . and this wasn’t his first encounter with death. He’s doing as well as can be expected for an eighteen-year-old.”

“I get a good feeling from that boy. He’s terrified to make eye contact with me, but he’s got better manners than my own kids ever did.”

“He likes cookies,” Truman suggested. “And you should offer a treat to his dog next time you see him. Those two things will win him over.”

“He’s got a past.”

It wasn’t a question, but Truman knew she wanted an explanation. Curiosity shone in her eyes. Few people knew Ollie’s history, and he liked it that way. The orphan didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for him.

“That’s Ollie’s story to tell. Like I said, try cookies.”

“Hmph.” She didn’t care for his answer, but she accepted it. “They identify the body yet?”

“They did yesterday evening. He wasn’t a local.”

“Who was it?”

Truman shifted in his seat, making his chair squeak, knowing the FBI hadn’t released the identity. They were waiting to notify Mull’s family and trying to keep the media coverage to a minimum.

She held up a hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll find out soon enough.”

Relief flooded him. It was still ingrained in him to answer Ina’s questions.

I’m not a teenager anymore.

“Why are you waiting so long for a wedding to that woman?”

The question out of left field didn’t surprise him. This was typical of conversations with Ina; she collected information.

“I assume you’re referring to Mercy. We both know she doesn’t rush into anything, and we wanted to wait until—”

“Rose has her baby and marries Nick.”

Truman nodded.

“I heard about their engagement. Took him long enough. I had them pegged as a couple almost two years ago.”

“What?” Ina had managed to surprise him.

“I saw the way he looked at her at the Fourth of July picnic the year before last and knew it was just a matter of time. Like your Mercy, Nick doesn’t rush into anything. He takes his time. Does things right. But I knew he’d made his mind up back then.”

“Huh.” Truman was speechless. Mercy had believed Nick’s interest was relatively new.

“He’s got good character, that one. I remember when his wife died, and I wondered if he’d ever recover. I knew he’d wished they’d had children. Now with Rose pregnant, that man will have two people to cherish. That baby couldn’t have a better father.”

Truman could only nod, his throat thickening. Some men would struggle with the parentage of Rose’s baby. Nick wasn’t one of them.

Why am I surprised when Ina reveals how well she knows her people?

“What do you know about Sandy’s time before she moved to Eagle’s Nest?” he asked, hoping for Ina’s insight into the woman’s past.

Her eyes narrowed at him. “Is this about the vandalism at her place?”

“Partially.”

“What has she told you?” Ina asked cautiously.

She knows.

But he saw she was holding back, not wanting to betray a confidence. Ina knew when stories were appropriate to spread and when to hold her tongue.

Unlike some of the other gossips in town.

“She told us about Lionel.”

Ina relaxed back into her chair, tucking her cane between her knees as she considered Truman’s question. “It took me a few years to get the story out of Sandy. Anyone who met that woman could tell she had a past. I swear she looked over her shoulder for years, always expecting something horrible to come for her.”

“She’s suggested her ex might be responsible for the vandalism.”

Ina gazed out the window, her fingertips tapping the arch of her cane. “Maybe. But she hasn’t heard from him in ten years.” Her sharp eyes abruptly met his. “Right? Don’t tell me she knows he’s creeping around.” Fury burned in her gaze, and Truman worried for Lionel.

“She’s not positive about that. We had to pull the story out of her, she seemed—”

“Who’s ‘we’?”

“Samuel and me.”

“Ahhh.” A knowing look crossed her face, and she nodded.

“Don’t tell me . . .”

“Oh yes. I’ve noticed how your officer looks at her.”

“I feel like I’m constantly in the dark in this town. Not a good place for someone in my position,” Truman groused.

She brushed aside his comment with a flick of her wrist. “Don’t worry about it. I’d tell you if it was important. This is just people stuff.”

“The people of Eagle’s Nest are my business.”

“Their personal lives aren’t.”

He bit back his next comment. But they’re yours?

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Yes, they’re mine. You’re in charge of the laws and enforcement. The happiness of the people is mine. If I can do something to improve someone’s quality of life, I’m going to do it. Sometimes that means asking a lot of questions and maybe sticking my nose into places people don’t like. Anyway, Sandy told me about that jerk who beat on her and made me swear to keep it silent. I have until now. Do you think there’s any chance it’s him?”

“He’s got a recent assault conviction and lives about three hours away. It doesn’t rule him out.” He paused. “He doesn’t have a record from the time he was married to Sandy.”

Ina pressed her lips together and slowly nodded. “She wasn’t up to it. She has a lot of regret about not pressing charges. I hope that hasn’t come back to haunt her.”

“I’ll keep looking into it. We’re putting up cameras at her B&B tomorrow.”

“You’re looking into the problems at my daughter-in-law’s place too, right?”

This is the real purpose of her visit. Bree.

“We are . . . It’s possibly connected to the issues at the bed-and-breakfast,” Truman said. “We haven’t had vandalism reports for months, so it’s hard to believe that two completely unrelated but similar vandalism cases occurred within a week.”

“Doesn’t feel right.”

“I agree.” Truman sighed. “All the graffiti feels personalized to the victim. But it still could be the same person with two axes to grind.”

“Bree is upset. She feels her horses are in danger.” Exasperation filled Ina’s tone. “She’s more concerned about them than the X on her truck.”

“She has every right to be upset. I suspect it’s easier for her to focus on the horses than consider that the vandal intended a message for her. No one wants to feel targeted.”

“Lucas can’t be out there all hours of the day, watching out for his mother.”

“Neither can we,” Truman said gently.

Waves of dissatisfaction rolled off his visitor, and her knuckles whitened as she gripped her cane.

“I know you’re concerned,” Truman stated. “Bree is a priority to me. Sandy is too, and I’m doing my best to figure out what’s happening.”

Ina had the grace to look away. “I know you’re good at your job . . . but I had to say something,” she said in a low voice. “It’s my family.”

“You wouldn’t be the Ina I’ve always known if you hadn’t said something,” Truman said with sympathy. “I’d be worried if I hadn’t received a phone call or visit over this.”

“Not asking for special treatment.”

“Everyone gets the most special treatment I can give.”

The corners of her mouth slowly turned up. “You’re a good chief, Truman Daly.”

“Why do I feel like you’re not complimenting me?” he asked, raising his brows.

“Mighta been a compliment for myself. I knew you were the best for the job.” She stood, pushing up with one quivering arm to keep her balance.

“How are you doing, Ina?” Watching her struggle hurt something integral in his soul.

She glared at him, dark eyes flashing. “Why?”

He held up his hands. “Just asking.”

“Don’t want to be fussed over.”

“But you’ll keep me in the loop?” He held her gaze, relaying his concern.

She paused. “Of course. Now get back to work and let me say goodbye to my grandson.” She turned her back to him and shuffled out to the hall.

Truman stayed put at his desk, following her order and wondering if she’d actually tell him if she had any serious health problems.