Lone Jack Trail

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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“Deputy.” Hart held up his hand. Then he sighed. “Jess. You haven't worked a case this big before; I understand that. You've got a lot to learn, and sometimes I forget, but—”

“Sheriff—”

“But you're going to find,” Hart continued, talking over her interruption, “that cases like these, they're not generally head-scratchers. Most of the murders you'll see, they'll wrap up just about the way you expect them to. People get angry, they do something stupid. They, by and large, lack the capacity to cover it up.”

Jess made to speak again, but Hart wasn't having it. He held his hand up again, palm out toward her.

LONE JACK TRAIL

Deception Cove

He'd wondered, again, if he might not be better off turning himself in, putting his faith in the law and avoiding the possibility of further violence. But Mason knew he couldn't do it.

If he wanted his name cleared, he would have to do it himself. And he would have to do it in a way that ensured no more innocent people were hurt.

Deception Cove

Mason Burke wasn't a killer anymore. Jess simply couldn't see how he'd do it...she believed he hadn't killed Brock Boyd either, though in truth, on that count, she couldn't be as sure.

He killed before, didn't be? And didn't you already prove you're a piss-poor judge of a man's character? Wasn't your husband already the plain proof of that fact?

You need proof, she thought. Something concrete.

Deception Cove

LONE JACK TRAIL