13.

Mark was in the shower the next morning while Avery made breakfast. They'd spent most of the night doing everything but sleeping. Eventually the most pressing need had been satisfied. They'd talked. Not about anything in particular. And Avery couldn't remember the last time she'd slept so well. Of course years of getting up by 7 meant that she was awake way too early. She didn't mind so much. She'd opened her eyes to Mark pressed up against her back, arm around her waist.

She had to admit, a part of her was relieved. She half-expected that he would be gone before she got up again. She'd rolled over and had studied him in the bright morning light, taking in the plains and angles of his face. Eventually she had to get up. She took a shower. By the time she was done and dressed he was awake, sitting at the edge of her bed with his hair a wild mess.

Tempting as it had been to crawl back into bed with him, Avery had headed for the stairs. She would need a least a little time before instigating round 2. And food. She was starving.

The knock on her front door made her frown and glance at the clock. It was barely past 9 on a Sunday morning. Emily wouldn't be home until late, and nobody ever stopped by that early. She turned the head down under the bacon she was frying and grabbed a towel to wipe her and as she went to the door.

The sheriff stood on her front porch. Confused, she raised her eyebrows. "Sheriff Walls. What can I do for you?"

Walls smiled. It didn't touch his eyes. Travis Walls had been sheriff of their town for almost 30 years. There were always rumors of his impending retirement but so far he was holding on to his position with both hands.

"Ms. Landry." He nodded at her. "Have a bit of a situation on my hands. I'd like to talk to your visitor." Walls looked pointedly at Mark's car, parked in her driveway.

"What situation?" Avery felt herself wanting to go on the defensive. She didn't care for Walls. Never had. Especially after Mark telling her about the day his mother had died and Walls had seen fit to share a beer with the man who may or may not have killed her. It wasn't just that though. There was something off about him. She didn't think she'd classify it as a pervy vibe, but she couldn't define it either.

"Course you heard about Rob Williams." He resumed staring at her.

"Got shot. Is he dead?" Avery hadn't given the man much thought. He hadn't seemed worth the brain power.

"Not for lack of somebody tryin'." Walls made a face. "Gut shot. Lost a lot of blood, tore up his insides. But they managed to sew him back up."

"Good?" She made it a question. Avery seriously doubted anyone in town would care if Rob pulled through or not. Except for the sheriff of course. He suddenly seemed to care.

Walls chose to ignore her sarcasm. "Seems kinda...convenient...Calaway comin' back into town and his dad gettin' shot."

"That's not his dad." Avery said, making a face.

Again, he ignored her. "I need to ask him some questions." Walls leveled her with a look. "You might wanna think about who you're keepin' company with, Ms. Landry. Wouldn't look too good, elementary teacher messin' around with a possible criminal. Folks won't like that too much, knowin' you're around their kids."

Avery was taken aback by that. Criminal? How funny that Mark was a criminal in his eyes yet Rob had been some sort of a saint. And there had been a very thinly disguised threat in there about her job. She didn't want to worry about it – she was damned good at what she did, the kids loved her, her teachers loved her. But she had seen the kind of pull Walls had with certain people around town. The mayor. Business owners. Even members of the school board.

She wanted to tell him to go fuck himself. Walls seemed to be waiting for it. Had, in fact, set himself up for it. She realized he was looking for a reason to make good on the threat.

Instead of ripping him a new one, which he undoubtedly deserved, she smiled sweetly. "If you'll wait right there." She didn't wait for an answer. She shut the door in his face. She heard Mark coming down the stairs behind her.

"What is it?" He'd gotten dressed in the clothes he'd had on the night before. The rest of his things were back at the motel. The plan had been to run down there and change, then come back for breakfast. Avery had the bad feeling that breakfast was canceled. She didn't think she'd be able to eat anyway.

"Sheriff Walls. Wants to questions you about Rob Williams."

At the man's name, a cloud seemed to pass over Mark's featured. He frowned. "What the hell would they wanna ask me? I haven't spoke to that son of a bitch in over 20 years."

"He got shot." Avery pointed out. And wondered why Mark didn't know. It had been big news around town. Such a crime, while not unheard of, was unusual.

Mark only looked at her. "And?"

She would have laughed had the situation not been so serious. He obviously didn't care. "And they want to ask you about it."

"Did he die?" Mark asked.

"No. Apparently not."

"Then it really wasn't me. I woulda finished the job." It was said with such utter contempt that Avery's eyes widened in surprise. Mark didn't seem to notice. He went to the door and opened it to see Walls still standing there, waiting. "Ask your questions."

Walls smiled grimly. Again, it didn't touch his eyes. "I'd rather we do this in my office. Make it more formal for the record."

"Great. I'll get my car and follow you."

"I'd rather..."

"Am I under arrest?" Mark cut the older man off.

Walls narrowed his eyes at him. "Not at this time. No."

"Then I'll damned sure take my own car." Mark waved a hand at Walls and shut the door in his face again. He turned to Avery. "I'll deal with this as quick as I can."

"Sure." Avery had crossed her arms, hugging herself, wondering why she felt so cold when moments before there had been nothing but happy thoughts.

"Avery..." Mark stepped toward her. She looked up at him and smiled, but it was weak. Mark took her arms and rubbed gently. "I'm not gonna let this jackass bully me around. He probably thinks I'm still the same dumb kid. I promise you, I'll be back."

"I know you will." She said softly. Mark hesitated another moment then ducked his head and kissed her.

"Save me some breakfast."

"Yeah..." She watched as he went out the door. She could hear them go down the stairs. The house again felt much emptier than it had before. "Great." She whispered that. It was like the universe was working against the relationship that she and Mark were trying to rekindle. Or kindle. Hell, they hadn't really had a relationship before.

And now she had this to worry about. As much as Mark hated his stepfather, she didn't believe he would ever actually try to hurt the man, let alone kill him.