"What about Jake Weller?" Cynthia asked. The retiring sheriff was still officially connected to Ouray County law enforcement.

Dean shook his head. "Jake is out of it. He really wouldn't want to be involved."

"There's Lydia Larkin," Cynthia said, reluctance evident in her voice. "She is the next in command, isn't she?" Dean rubbed his fingers through his hair and looked at his wife. She answered his unasked question. "Yes, I'm nervous and jealous when you're around her, but I do trust you."

"How could I ever cheat on a woman who loves me so unconditionally?" he smiled.

"You said you wanted to grill her further but she'd been drinking too much," Fred said.

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"Maybe you're right," Dean answered. "Perhaps it is time to visit Ms Larkin again."

Ten minutes later, Lydia Larkin answered her door dressed in very tight and very small white shorts with a red elastic thing that covered only her breasts and nothing of the acres of skin in the middle. She wore no makeup but some alluring perfume made her smell like heaven. "What are you doing here?" she asked with neither smile nor snarl. "Decided to collect after all?"

"You paid me back by quashing your boss's attempt to frame me," Dean answered.

Lydia simply gave a dismissive wave of her hand and went inside, leaving Dean to follow. She plopped down on the sofa and patted the seat next to her invitingly. He took the chair across the room.

"Well?" she asked.

"Just more questions."

"Don't worry. I told Fitzgerald to quit all this hero business so you don't have to worry about having to back up some cartoon story."

"That's not my concern and it's not why I'm here."

"And I'm sorry I got so boozy and maudlin on you the other night."

"No problem. It was a bad night. This is your place and I came unexpectedly." She waited until he continued. "Did Fitzgerald give you the pint bottles of vodka you were drinking the other night?"

"God, did that ever come out of left field!" Then she became indignant. "What makes you think Fitzgerald's my drinking buddy? He's my boss, remember."

"Let's stop pretending, Lydia. I know you had a personal relationship with the jerk. I saw you-when he left your place" The fire in Lydia Larkin's eyes cooled appreciably. It was obvious she remembered the scene.

"You knew Fitz was screwing around with me and you didn't bring it up when he dumped all over you at the debate? You're a bigger fool than I thought. I would have stuck the knife in the bastard's back and twisted."




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