The sheriff took out a notepad and began scribbling something. He finally looked back up, squinting at me.

“Theresa is missing. Jo here tells me that you were the last person to see her yesterday before she disappeared. Something about a lunch meet-up?”

My eyes went wide, my heart beginning to race.

“Theresa’s missing?”

The sheriff shook his head, muttering under his breath.

“Yes. That’s why we’re here.”

He said the words loud and slow, as if I were deaf. Despite my fear for Theresa, I felt a stab of irritation. The sheriff seemed full of himself, and Theresa’s dismissal of them the other day suddenly made sense.

“Miss Black, did Theresa act nervous or paranoid when you saw her?”

I frowned. “No. We just had lunch. She stopped by my shop two days ago, we got talking, and she invited me to lunch. That’s it.”

Sheriff Dane tsk-tsked as he wrote something down in a small notebook. The younger man rolled his eyes, bringing a hand to his forehead.

“What shop do you run, Miss Black?” I looked over at the young man, the one the Sheriff had called Jo. He eyed me sharply, never letting his eyes leave mine.

“Woods Crossing Wellness and Herbs. It’s just down the road.”

Jo’s frown deepened. “Why was she there?” he chimed in.

I gave a frustrated shrug. “I’m in the process of re-opening. She came in to see if the shop was running. She wanted to browse.”

I didn’t dare mention the real reason Theresa had come, but the story I gave was close enough to the truth. Still, I had the uneasy feeling that Jo knew I wasn’t telling them everything.

Sheriff Dane glared at Jo, then back at me. “You can ask your questions when I’m done, Jo.”

Jo gave a sarcastic wave of his hand. “Carry on, then.”

The sheriff’s mustache bristled slightly as he turned back to me.

“Alright, Miss Lightwood-Black, you’re under suspicion until further notice. I’m sure Theresa just got drunk last night and passed out somewhere. Happens all the time in this town, but we’ve got to keep your name on our records.”

I worried at my bottom lip with my teeth, my gaze flicking between Jo and Sheriff Dane. Jo’s frown had deepened into a scowl.

“What does that mean?” I asked, my voice shaking.

The sheriff was already walking down the steps. He gave a lazy wave of his hand.

“It just means that if we find any more evidence pointing to you, we’ll have to bring you in for further questioning.”

He climbed into his squad car and backed down the driveway, leaving me alone on my porch with Jo. I tried to look confident as I faced him again.

“Why are you hanging around with the sheriff?”

His eyes narrowed. “I’m a private investigator. Someone has to do the job that the police refuse to do.”

I crossed my arms, glaring back at him in return. “I have nothing to hide. I like Theresa a lot, and I have no reason to kidnap her. She’s been kind to me, even though I’m new in town.”

Jo opened his mouth to say something, but a loud hiss behind me interrupted us. He jumped back but maintained his angry expression.

I looked down to see Jade curling around my ankles. She opened her mouth wide, hissing once more at Jo. I felt a surge of gratitude for her timing.

When I looked up, though, Jo hadn’t budged. He stared at me, his feet firmly planted on the planks of the porch, his arms crossed.

“You’re still my number one suspect, no matter what Sheriff Dane says. Theresa did not get drunk and pass out somewhere. She’s been kidnapped.”

I glared at him. “I believe you that she’s been kidnapped, but I didn’t do it! I don’t know what your problem is, but I think you should leave. This is private property.”

Jade stepped away from my ankles a bit, swiping her paw at Jo, her claws extended this time. He backed away a step, but still stared at me.

“You’re the only one with motive. You’re new in town, you’re the last person my sister saw, and you’re a Black.”

I stepped towards him, my fists clenched. “What does my last name have to do with anything?”

He didn’t answer. Jade gave one last yowling cry as Jo turned around and stomped down the porch steps.

Chapter Six

Iclosed the door shakily and knelt down next to Jade. Though I wanted to pet her, I refrained, realizing that it would be like someone petting me on the head.

“Thanks, Jade. I appreciate your having my back.”

Her eyes narrowed.

Don’t you know who that is?

I shrugged. “His name is Jo. That’s all I know. Do you know him?”

A low rumble sounded in her throat, almost like a growl, as she stared at me. I wondered for a moment if she’d even heard me, until she broke eye contact and shook her head.

He’s bad news. That’s all you need to know.

I sighed, sitting down cross-legged right there on the hall floor. How had things gone so horribly wrong? Theresa was missing, and I was the number one suspect to this P.I. dude on the case.

Why was he here?

I turned my gaze to Jade. “He thinks I kidnapped Theresa, which is insane. She’s one of my two friends in town. Why would I want to do that?”

Jade stood and began pacing back and forth, that same grumbly growl sounding again.

He’s up to something. He has to be. Just stay away from him.

I held up my hands in mock surrender. “You don’t have to tell me twice. He’s a jerk.”