The New Sheriff

LISA pulled away almost as soon as he kissed her. Hugh didn't want to ask. He knew she wasn't so good with public displays of affection but he missed her so much he couldn't resist.

"Uh why don't we go and spend some time at the diner.", Raven suggested.

"Oh you guys can go but I've got some things to discuss with Moseley.", he said and Lisa and Raven gave him puzzled looks.

"I can't explain that now. Okay, why not we all meet at my place tomorrow evening after all our work. A kinda get together.", he said and they muttered replies of 'okay'.

Then Hugh pecked Lisa on the cheek before he left.

"Hey Lisa, you're with you're car right?", Miles asked and she nodded not being able to form a sentence after what just happened. She knew Pablo must be looking at her, but she just couldn't bring herself to look at him.

Gosh, they had to talk.

"Good then you can take us to the pub.", Miles said and headed out.

She and Raven shared the same look. He wanted to drink.

But it was what, almost twelve pm, she couldn't let him do that. So instead she drove them to the diner.

Once they reached, Raven and Pablo went in first and Lisa waited as Miles still sat in the passenger seat.

"Miles.", she said and held his hand, but he didn't look at her, he cast his gaze hardly on the dashboard.

"I said you should take me to the pub.", he said, his voice thick and hoarse like he was trying his best to stop himself from crying.

"I'm not gonna take you there 'cause I know how you feel and I know alcohol's not what you need now. You and Ana were good friends. I didn't know her much but I know she wouldn't want you to drink this early.", she said.

He looked outside and she had a feeling he was crying.

"Just take me home then.", he said. She sent a quick text to Raven that she was taking Miles home and then she drove off.

Inside the diner, Raven saw the text. Lisa might take time and she realised she had something to do. Yes, she wanted to spend the Sunday with Lisa but the news of Ana's murder had already put a damper on whatever they could do today.

She had to go take care of the other thing that she just remembered.

"Uh Pablo, Lisa says she's dropping Miles at his house and I think she's probably gonna talk to him. I can't wait so I'm going.", she said and stood.

"Okay.", he mumbled. He had looked a bit troubled since they arrived at the station but she hadn't asked him about it. Though she had a feeling if she did, he might not want to talk about it.

"So you're waiting?", she said and he mumbled some kind of affirmative reply. She gave him a scrutinising look before she left.

》》》》》

Madisyn stepped into the station and after acknowledging some police officers who looked somewhat angry, she went to Robin's office.

Ian had called her saying she should come quickly. She asked him what was wrong but he said he couldn't explain and that she should come quickly.

She opened the door and instead of seeing Robin she saw two men with Ian. One was wearing the same kind of Robin's sheriff uniform and the other she recognised was the man that was on the board.

"Who's she?", the man in the new uniform asked. She gave Ian a confused look. Where was Robin?

"Who are you?", she asked with a kind of rude tone.

"I am Julius Moseley. The new sheriff.", she said and she gave him a look of shock.

"Where's Robin?", she asked.

"He has been arrested for...",

"Okay am I missing something here?", she asked looking at the two men before her gaze settled on Ian.

"Uhm excuse us for a moment.", Ian said and took her outside.

"So you know when you said I should have just gone to Miles first.", he started.

"Yeah?",

"Well, I should have. The thing was Robin got all in his head about Ana's death and he went ahead to arrest Miles.", he said.

"Miles? Why?", she asked.

"He thought he was the murderer. He arrested him and interrogated him but I don't think he got anything from that. As he was going to his office that guy you saw in there.",

"The Moseley whatever?", she asked.

"Yeah and the other one that was a suspect.", Ian said.

"Yeah?"

"So they came with a letter from the commissioner stating he was the new sheriff and then the guy arrested Robin for misuse of authority and he released Miles.", he finally finished.

"So where's Robin now.", she asked.

"In the detention cell. He was given a fine of one thousand dollars.",

"What? A thousand?", she asked.

"Yeah and what's more, the police officers don't seem too keen on this Moseley guy.", Ian said.

"And all this happened in like what, three, four hours.", she said but he didn't reply. "So what now?", she asked.

"Well we have to let him know how far we've gone on the case.", Ian said. Madisyn composed herself and they entered.

The man still had the passive look on his face.

"Hello. I'm Hugh Kent."

"Yeah, I know you. I'm Madisyn Williams.", she said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you.", he said and stretched his hand forward for a handshake which she took stiffly.

"So Sheriff. I'm sure you'll want to discuss it with them then. I'll be off.", Hugh said.

"Ok then. Thanks for the ride and all.", Moseley said and Hugh nodded before he left.

Moseley gestured for them to sit. As they did he stood and removed the pictures of the board except Sarah's which was at the top and then he added Ana's beside it.

"I've looked through the file. I've seen the autopsy report of Sarah so I would like you both to let me know how far you've gone.", he said and looked at them.

"Well the only suspect we have now is a woman named Sidney.", Madisyn said pointing at Sidney's picture which Moseley looked at.

"She said she had gone to visit Sarah on the morning of Sarah's murder. Then she said she was at her school around the time of the murder, but the gatekeeper at the school said she left school that day in the morning and he didn't see her at night.", Madisyn explained.

"And what makes her your suspect?", Moseley asked.

"That and the fact that we found her necklace at the scene of the crime."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Have you interrogated her?", he asked.

"No sir. We have been investigating and trying to find out if there's more about her.", Ian said.

"You both seem to be treating this case with laxity. And what about this other lady?", Moseley asked pointing at Ana's picture.

"She was found hanged in her room this morning.", Ian said.

"So a suicide or what?", Moseley asked.

"I suspect it's a murder. I was at the scene of the crime when I was called here.", Madisyn said.

"And what makes you think it could be a murder?", Moseley asked.

"First she was bleeding from her lips. So I reckon she could have been slapped or punched plus those who hang themselves aren't found with cut lips so it seems kinda suspicious to me.", she said and for the first time, Moseley didn't fire back with a question or statement. He seemed to be in thought.

Then he spoke. "These two deaths could be related. The second could be a murder or a suicide. That is unclear. The autopsy should be out latest tomorrow or next. So when it's out, if it shows signs of murder we bring in Mrs Sidney.", he said.

"Miss. She's not married.", Madisyn corrected.

"So you would go back to the house and check for any other clues.", he said to Madisyn not regarding her correction.

"And you would go around the neighbourhood asking for any suspicious behaviour the second lady had and also make some real findings on Miss Sidney.", he said to Ian and they stood slowly before leaving.

》》》》》

Lisa entered the diner. She was half expecting Pablo to be there but he was. After she went to Miles's place she talked with him and comforted him.

He was distraught about Ana's death. They were both close friends and the fact that he would never see her again had brought him down.

Once he was in a better state of mind she left him. That was when she saw Raven's text that she had left but Pablo was still there.

Lisa had a good guess of what he wanted to talk with her about. Their kiss and Hugh's arrival. She didn't even know what it was between them but she knew she felt something.

She had two choices in front of her. Tell Hugh what had transpired between her and Pablo and then look into her opportunities with Pablo. But what if this thing between her and Pablo was just some in-the-moment stuff?

The second choice was to tell Pablo nothing could ever happen and probably not tell Hugh what had transpired.

But she realised that whichever choice she was going to make, she was going to hurt one of them either it would be Pablo or Hugh.

She sucked in a deep breath and released it before she went towards the table he sat.

She sat in front of him. He didn't look up from his tea but she knew he knew she was there.

"It's kinda strange.", he started.

"Huh?",

"I don't even think they know she's gone yet. Maybe bad news doesn't spread as fast.", he said and she immediately knew he was talking about Ana.

But was that what he wanted to talk about? Ana?

"Oh.", was all she said.

"I always taught she was weird. Remember when we came here together after Hugh left and she was giving us this look and I called her weird.", he said still looking at his tea.

Lisa was starting to feel confused. Why was he so intent on talking about Ana?

"It's not like I feel so much loss like Miles but it's just strange now. She was the one that always asked us for our orders. Today it was someone I didn't even know who worked here. If I didn't know better, I would have asked where Ana was.", he said and Lisa knew what he was trying to do.

He was avoiding their topic not making her talk about them but she knew she had to. Even if she didn't know what choice she wanted to make yet

"We should talk about us you know.", she said and for the first time since she came, he looked at her. He had this look on his face like he was expecting it but wasn't going to talk about it.

"There's nothing to talk about.", he simply said and looked back at his tea.

"No there is. We've kissed and I... I feel different towards you.", she said and he looked at her.

"No, you don't. You just feel confused.", he said. Yes, she was confused but some things were clear, like the new feelings she had for him.

"But I'll clear your doubts. Hugh's back. He's your boyfriend so nothing can ever happen between us so we'll just go back to how we were. As friends.", he said, though it was more like he was telling himself.

She wanted to object but he cut her off.

"Have you discovered anything in the diary?", he asked and now she was getting a bit angry. He couldn't just pretend as if nothing happened and close the chapter forever.

She calmed herself and told him about Carter threatening Sarah after she found out about his affair with Gwendolyn.

"It can't be him.", he said.

"And what makes you so sure."

"'Cause if he was the one. He might have killed me or decapitated me then.", he said.

"You know.", she said incredulously.

"I found out some time ago and I don't think he would seem like that kind of person.", he said.

"Then who? Who was it? 'Cause it might be the same person who has now killed Ana.", Lisa said but he didn't say anything.

"Pablo.", she said and held his hand but he pulled it back as if she had hurt him.

"Lisa you have to forget about whatever happened. If you want to tell Hugh and get it off your chest fine, but he might not go well with it. But still, you have to forget. We're just friends and you know that.", he said and with that, he left and a tear fell from her eyes.

He said they were just friends but why did she feel she had lost him?

Oh my. The chapters now have sure been climatic. So Hugh's back. What do you guys think about that and he came with a surprise for all of us didn't he? A new sheriff. Wow. And Miles seemed very sad about this news. And now Pablo and Lisa.

Who amongst you guys is rooting for them?

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SJ💝