“No,” Rocky quietly agreed. “But I think she was trying to stir up some kind of trouble.”
“Something specific?” Cullen asked when Rocky paused.
“I’m not sure, but I figure she planned on doing something at the party. I mean, why else would she want to make sure she got in?”
If Austin was telling the truth, then Alexa had indeed planned on doingsomething, and that was getting into Cullen’s bed with Austin. But Leigh figured Alexa intended to do more than just that. Maybe the woman had intended for Cullen to walk in on Austin and her.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?” Leigh pressed.
“Because like I said, I’d forgotten all about it. See?” Rocky added, and some of his usual cockiness was back in his voice. “No obstruction of justice. No withholding evidence. I simply had lunch with a woman who might or might not have tried to manipulate me. Either way, I didn’t have anything to do with Alexa getting into the party or being murdered, and you don’t have any evidence to say otherwise.”
She didn’t. Leigh would give him a written reprimand for not volunteering the meeting with Alexa, but Rocky would no doubt believe it was petty. That the reprimand was because he was Jeb’s ally and that he actually hadn’t broken the law.
“Can I go now,Sheriff?” Rocky snarled, getting to his feet before she could nix that or agree. Of course, he used a mocking tone on her title. “I’m way past my normal shift hours and need some shut-eye.”
Leigh nodded and watched as Rocky breezed out of her office. She battled with her temper, tamping it down—and trying not to kick the trash can again.
Rocky walked out to the dispatch desk, where Yancy was sitting, and struck up a conversation with his fellow deputy. All the while keeping an eye on Leigh. Of course, she was keeping an eye on him as well.
“Rocky could have been the one who came after us in the SUV,” Cullen pointed out.
She nodded again. Heck, Rocky could have killed Alexa, hurt Jamie and then tried to kill Cullen and her—and all because he hated her and wanted her job. Then again, it was indeed possible that Rocky had done nothing wrong other than forgetting a meeting with a dead woman.
Her phone rang, and with her attention still on Rocky, Leigh pressed Answer. However, her attention wasn’t on Rocky for long because the deputy gave Yancy a pat on the back and then headed out the front door.
“This is Jimbo McNash,” the caller greeted Leigh. His voice was like gravel. “You left me a couple of messages, said it was real important that I call you back.”
That got her attention firmly focused on the “thug” who Alexa had met at the diner. “Yes, it is important,” she verified. “I have some questions for you.”
“Cops,” he grumbled in the same tone as Rocky had saidsheriff. “Got a call from Cullen Brodie, too. Now, he’s somebody I’d be interested in having another chat with.”
Leigh didn’t know that Cullen had tried to get in touch with the man, and she hit the speaker function on her phone so he could hear the rest of the conversation.
“You said Cullen Brodie called you?” she pressed.
“Yep. This morning.”
Cullen shook his head.I didn’t call him, he mouthed.
“What exactly did Cullen say to you?” Leigh asked McNash.
“He said he’d heard I’d been meeting with his woman. His ex-woman,” McNash emphasized. “And he said he’d be willing to pay me to hear anything his ex told me.”
“And you agreed to that?” Leigh continued.
“Sure did. So, when you come out to see me, make sure you bring Cullen and his money with you,” McNash snapped right before he ended the call.