"Sheriff Holt," Vaughn announced casually. "I'm here to speak to Casey about an incident at the tavern."

Diesel stared at him only a moment without emotion. "She's in the shower. Come back later." He shut the door.

Vaughn stood before the door with a shocked and dumbfounded look. The door once again opened to reveal Ruger, who smiled timidly.

"Sheriff Holt? I'm sorry about Diesel," Ruger announced. "He's not really a people person. Please, come in. Casey will be along soon."

Vaughn eyed Ruger and uncertainly entered. He followed Ruger across the kitchen. Diesel sat at the island counter and read the sports section of the newspaper.

"Could I offer you some coffee and doughnuts while you wait?" Ruger announced pleasantly.

"Uh, yes, thank you."

Vaughn eyed Diesel and leaned against the nearby counter. Ruger opened the doughnut box and appeared surprised when he discovered it was empty.

"Huh? Fresh out of doughnuts."

"Coffee will do," Vaughn replied simply and kept an eye on both men.

Ruger poured some coffee into a mug and handed it to Vaughn. Grey entered the kitchen, glared at Diesel, and rolled his eyes with disgust.

"G.o.d, Diesel. Put some clothes on," Grey scoffed. "It's too early in the morning for all that testosterone."

Diesel didn't react or bother looking up from his newspaper. "f.u.c.k off."

Grey approached the doughnut box, opened it, and groaned with disgust. "What happened to all the doughnuts I bought this morning?" he demanded then glared at Diesel, who didn't bother to look back. "A dozen doughnuts--?"

Diesel glared at Grey. Grey grabbed his car keys with disgust and left without acknowledging Vaughn. Ruger casually prepared two mugs of tea. Vaughn observed the scene in the kitchen and remained curious.

"I'm sorry; I didn't catch your name," Vaughn finally initiated an introduction with Ruger.

Ruger glanced at him and maintained his cheerful mood. "I'm Ruger Quinn and that's Diesel Mann."

Diesel didn't bother looking up or even acknowledging the introduction. Vaughn focused his attention on the seemingly approachable man.

"Are you the uncle we'd heard about?" Vaughn asked while leaning on the island counter.

Ruger grinned and appeared humored. "I'm an unofficial uncle. It's an honorary t.i.tle. Friend of the family."

Diesel snorted a laugh. Ruger glared his disapproval at Diesel, who still didn't look up, and then looked back at Sheriff Holt with a charming smile.

"Just ignore Diesel," Ruger announced. "His manners are the only thing worse than his att.i.tude."

Casey entered the kitchen in a worn tank top and a pair of old shorts. She saw Vaughn standing by the island counter, immediately stopped, and groaned lowly with disgust.

"Oh, G.o.d. What now?" she muttered.

It was too early in the morning to deal with Sheriff Holt. Mornings were particularly difficult for her. She was never quite herself until early afternoon. Her emotions usually ran rampant in the morning. She was liable to say anything. Ruger noticed her and smiled warmly. She'd been seen. There was no chance to retreat to her room and avoid the h.e.l.lish morning awaiting her. Casey forced a smile and approached Ruger by the counter. He smiled and handed her a cup of tea. She kissed him on the cheek, took the tea, and eyed Vaughn.

"Good morning, Sheriff," she announced while attempting to hide her sneer. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Vaughn removed a carefully folded paper from his jacket and tossed it onto the island counter. "The Harford boys are pressing a.s.sault charges against you."

Ruger casually picked up the paper, glanced over it, and appeared curious. "a.s.sault? You mean self-defense."

"Broken fingers, sprained wrist, broken jaw, cracked scapula, three cracked ribs, fractured cheekbone, and a dislocated shoulder," Vaughn informed him.

Casey appeared stunned and uncertainly shook her head. "That can't be," she protested then smiled slyly. "I distinctly remember breaking someone's foot."

"This is serious, Casey. I have to arrest you," Vaughn informed her.

"Yes, I'm sure you're very excited about cuffing me again but hold that thought," Casey announced while grinning.

Ruger removed a laptop from the counter behind him, placed it on the island counter, and opened a file. A video of the entire incident played on the screen taken from a spy cam. Vaughn watched the entire incident with astonishment. Once it ended, he looked at Casey.

"You knew they'd do that, didn't you?"

"I knew they'd do something," she casually replied. "I just needed to walk into the room. This is what they do to women. Someone had to do something about it."

"If that's the case, why hasn't anyone ever reported it?" he asked with a curious look.

"Because nothing ever happens," she growled, quickly losing patients. "It just gets swept away. My mother pressed charges against Wayne once. A week later, the report vanished." Casey folded her arms across her chest and glared at Vaughn. "I read it in her journal."

The accusation surprised him. "I never heard about that."

Casey smirked knowingly.

Vaughn appeared tense and quickly considered his next move. "I'm going to need a copy of that video to get the charges against you dropped," he informed her. "I'd also like to see your mother's journal."

"You don't need a copy of the video," Casey informed him. "Grey sent it to Judge Burke, Mayor Ridgeway, Wayne's wife, and a dozen or so guys from the tavern." Her look hardened. "As far as my mother's journal--that's private."

"It could help solve the murders," he informed her and appeared surprised at her reluctance to share it. "Why would you withhold it?"

"Because there's nothing in there that implicates anyone. I've read through it dozens of times," she informed him bluntly. "Besides, it's my mother's private thoughts."

Vaughn placed his hands on his gun belt and stared at her while shaking his head with disbelief. "I can't believe you're this uncooperative. You know I'm trying to help," he announced then appeared disgusted. "And I hope you realize that by sending that video around town, those boys will just want a bigger piece of you next time."

"The feeling's mutual."

Vaughn stared at Casey and appeared more defeated then surprised. "You're digging yourself a grave, Casey," he announced firmly, "and your pleasure over it scares me." His look softened. "Why won't you trust me?"

There was an odd silence as she stared at him. Her look caused him to tense almost as if he already knew her response.

"It's difficult trusting the law when they follow a corrupt mayor," she finally replied.

"I take the law very seriously," he informed her with sincerity in his tone. "Things are different since I became sheriff of Darwood Falls."

Casey cleverly raised her brows and tilted her head. "Weren't you dating the mayor's daughter?"

Vaughn stared at Casey in silence or was it surprise. Ruger stared at his tea while hiding his smile. Apparently, he was enjoying the sheriff roast. Diesel finally looked up and grinned his humor. If Vaughn was disturbed, he hid it well.

"Briefly, but that had no influence on the law," he replied with some reluctance.

"Never underestimate the value of a good b.l.o.w.j.o.b," Diesel retorted then chuckled.

All three glared at Diesel. He smirked and looked back at the sports page without further comment. Vaughn set down his coffee and appeared disgusted.

"Obviously, I'm not getting through to anyone here, so I'll be in touch."

Vaughn left the kitchen and headed from the house. Dina appeared in the doorway as Vaughn left, stared after him, and then looked at Casey.

"Is this a bad time?" Dina asked.

"When Sheriff Holt stops by, it's always a bad time," Casey muttered.

Dina approached her near the island counter, eyed Diesel without his shirt, and appeared amazed. "Oh, wow--" she said softly to Casey. "Thanks, but I didn't get you anything."

Casey snorted a laugh. That was the standard reaction to Diesel without his shirt on. At least he wore shorts. His willingness to strut around in his brief underwear was quickly shutdown by Ruger a long time ago. There were just some things no man wanted to see first thing in the morning. A muscle-bound man in briefs sporting morning wood was high on that list.

Dina's look turned more serious. "Can we talk?"

Casey nodded to the kitchen door. Dina left the kitchen with Casey, only briefly glancing back at Diesel on the way out. They walked onto the porch and sat on the recently restored rocking chairs. Casey glared past the porch to the sheriff's blazer that remained parked out front. Vaughn was standing alongside his blazer in the driveway while talking to Grey with his box of doughnuts. Dina noted Casey's cold stare at the sheriff. Dina tensed and shifted in her chair.

"Why didn't you call or write?" Dina finally asked, breaking Casey out of her death stare at the sheriff. "I thought I was your best friend."

As Casey stared at Dina, her expression softened, and she lowered her head. Things were more complicated than she could possibly explain. "I was in a very bad place for quite some time," she said softly and drifted into her own thoughts.

An image of Casey and Grey arguing flashed through her mind, although their words were inaudible. Casey suddenly punched Grey in the mouth. He clutched his bleeding mouth and looked at her with the horror evident in his eyes. Casey snapped out of her daze, avoided looking at Dina, and fidgeted.

"When I finally sorted out my life, it just seemed like too much time had pa.s.sed," Casey replied gently.

"I wanted to help you. I was here for you," Dina said sternly. She suddenly appeared defeated, looked down, and spoke more softly. "They were like parents to me too."

Casey could only stare at Dina. It pained her to know she caused such turmoil for her longtime best friend. She finally shifted in her chair and avoided looking at her friend.

"I'm really sorry, Dina. I was just angry."

Angry was an understatement. She was insane with anger and consumed with grief. Only one thing kept her focused, and that's what brought her back to Darwood Falls. Dina again spoke, snapping Casey back to reality.

"I would have taken anger over nothing," Dina replied then inhaled deeply and attempted a tiny smile. "Well, I'm glad you're back, even if I am still mad at you." She then appeared curious and attempted to hide her smile. "So what's the deal with the living G.o.d in there? Are you and he--?" She l.u.s.tfully raised her brows in suggestion. "--you know."

Casey suddenly laughed. "No, he's a free agent," she replied then appeared to give it some thought and added, "and he's kind of a wh.o.r.e."

"Yeah, but--who cares," Dina said while grinning. "With a guy like that, one night is more than enough."

Casey rolled her eyes and hid her smile. She wasn't about to agree with her friend on that, but Dina always did like the popular guys. Loosely translated--town studs. A thought then occurred to Casey.

"What happened with Tucker?" Casey asked. "You were so hot for him. I know Melanie dumped him. Did you ever pursue that?"

Dina snorted a laugh and shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "To be honest," she announced, "I had my chance with him, and I just couldn't do it."

"Really?"

"It's stupid, but I just kept hearing this voice in the back of my head saying, 'he's Melanie's leftovers'." Dina rolled her eyes. "I just couldn't bring myself to sleep with the same man as that girl. The thought sickened me."

"But you were so head over heels for him," Casey reminded her. "Should that really matter?"

Dina glared at Casey and cleverly raised her brows. "Remember how handsome you thought Vaughn was when you first laid eyes on him in his uniform?"

Casey's expression twisted into a sneer. "That's different," she remarked. "I was fifteen at the time. At that age, romantic was a guy with a cool car."

"Who did you like that had a cool car?" Dina remarked with a humored look.

"You're missing the point," Casey replied.

"No, I think I've made one."

Casey groaned and shook her head. Dina was insufferable at times. Her friend needed to mind her manners, because she wasn't above subjecting her to sheer torture. An afternoon cleaning with Ruger would wear the fight out of her.

"I hope you're not spreading those rumors around about my teenage crush on Sheriff Holt," Casey remarked. "That was a long time ago."

"Relax," Dina groaned. "I've kept that secret for years. I wouldn't betray your confidence."

"You told my mother," Casey reminded.

"That didn't count," she insisted. "She already knew."

Casey rolled her eyes. Several yards away, Vaughn stood next to his police blazer and stared at Grey while shaking his head.

"You don't seem to understand the seriousness of the situation, Grey," he firmly insisted. "Your sister is going out of her way to enrage some very unsavory characters."

Grey appeared understanding and approachable. "I appreciate your concern, Sheriff, and I do understand the seriousness of her actions," he insisted. "I promise I'll talk to her." Grey's look turned serious. "I know it's been two years, but she's still dealing with what happened. If it wasn't for Ruger and Diesel, she never would have gotten through this."

"Family friends, huh?" Vaughn asked while appearing deep in thought.

"Well, one was a little more than friends with Casey," he said with a sly grin. "If you get my drift."

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I do," Vaughn muttered.

"But, hey, at least getting it nightly made her tolerable," Grey said while deviously raising his brows in a perverse manner.

"Uh, huh," Vaughn said and tensed. "This conversation is starting to make me uncomfortable."

"Oh, because she's my sister. I understand."

"Yeah, that too," Vaughn muttered.

"Don't worry about Casey," he announced and added a rea.s.suring nod. "I'll make sure she plays nice."