Kiss Me, Sheriff!. Wendy Warren

slowly. “I appreciate your taking responsibility and asking Gilberto to do the same, but the law is involved now. We’ll be keeping our eye on the situation. The whole situation.”

      “What’s that mean?”

      “Just what I said. Our interest in Gilberto will continue.”

      Derek was giving the man a clear message that abuse would not be tolerated. But Mr. Lopez was a bully, and Willa knew Derek wouldn’t be able to intervene in their daily lives. More sadness washed through her. Not your business. Stick to your own business. She looked at Gilberto. “He didn’t steal from me. He looks a lot like the boy who was in here yesterday, but...it’s not him.”

      Gilberto’s surprise was palpable. Derek looked at her. “He nodded when I asked if he took the donation jar.”

      “He’s not the one.”

      Derek turned back to the boy. “Why did you nod?” he asked.

      Evading everyone’s gaze, Gilberto shrugged.

      It was clear the men were about to cross-examine him. “Maybe he was afraid,” she offered, “and thought things would be easier if he told you what you wanted to hear.”

      “Is that what happened?” Derek questioned.

      Gilberto shrugged again.

      Roddy smacked his hands on his thighs and slid low in his seat, tossing back his head. “Aw! Are you crazy? You lied to get into trouble. Cops love stupid suspects like you.” He looked at Derek. “No offense, man.”

      Derek stared long enough to make Roddy sit up in his seat. “None taken.” Then he turned his attention back to Gilberto. The next obvious question was Where did you get the money you were exchanging for the bike? but Derek didn’t ask it. After a moment, he rose. “Make sure you’re in school when you’re supposed to be. I’ll be checking with your teacher and the principal. Don’t make me come look for you.”

      Gilberto nodded. He looked miserable still, but relieved and more than a little surprised. Was it over?

      Willa supposed she was excused from the meeting and pushed back her chair.

      “Walk me to the door, Ms. Holmes.” In an official tone, Derek commanded rather than asked for her compliance.

      Izzy appeared bemused by the entire exchange and simply shook her head. “I’m heading back to the deli. I’m sorry for the confusion, Mr. Lopez. Please feel free to order something on the house.” Walking around them all, Izzy was the first out the door, followed swiftly by Roddy, who pushed Gilberto along in front of him, saying they’d take a rain check on the free snacks.

      Now that her burst of adrenaline was spent, Willa felt exhausted all over again and proceeded heavily to the exit. Every movement felt like a Herculean effort. Raising his arm over her, Derek held the door while she passed through. Willa burrowed into her jacket, as she stepped onto a rain-sprinkled sidewalk. By tacit agreement, they walked several paces past the bakery then stopped.

      “Thanks for going to the station last night to give the description of the boy who stole the money.” Not bothered by the cold or the rain, Derek towered above her, six foot plus of straight-backed sheriff. “And for coming back to the bakery this afternoon. I thought it might be easier for everyone if we handled it away from my office. You know, still official, but less intimidating. I anticipated that would make it easier to figure out where we would go from here to help Gilberto.”

      Willa felt Derek studying her, but she kept her tired gaze on the street, watching the occasional car roll past.

      “What I didn’t figure on,” he continued, “was walking away with mud on my face. I didn’t figure on you.”

      She glanced up to see the first hint of anger she’d ever noticed him directing toward her.

      Resting both hands on his gun belt, he shook his head. “I’m a good judge of people. In my line of work, you have to be. But this time, I blew it. I never, ever judged you to be a liar.”