I laughed at the shocked expressions on Dorianna and Tilda's faces. No one had ever told them no.
He turned to me. "May I walk you to your car, Cassie?"
"Yes," I said. "Thank you."
He opened the door for me.
"You're still paying for the carpet and the dress," called out Tilda.
"Bite me," I said.
Tilda blinked at me, stunned into silence by my very un-Cassie-like response.
We made it across the street and started down the sidewalk next to the park. I was feeling a smidge better. Until Dorianna burst out of her office and screamed, "Thief!"
We turned and watched Dorianna and her mother stride across the street. I didn't like the matching smirks on their lips, and knew my bad day was about to get a lot worse.
"Sheriff, I demand you arrest this girl," said Tilda, huffing in outrage, as they joined us. "She's a thief!"
"You can never trust a Willowstone, Sheriff Keller," added Dorianna. "The sooner you learn that, the better."
"What are you accusing Ms. Willowstone of stealing?" asked Evan.
"My Rolex watch," she said. "It's worth more than seven thousand dollars."
Rane looked at me. "Do you have Ms. Miller's property?"
Anger rolled through me. Dorianna couldn't help herself. She had to do everything possible to grind me into the ground. I'd known she was mean and selfish, but it hadn't stopped me from trying to get on her good side. Problem was, Dorianna Miller didn't have a good side.
"Yes, I have her property." I opened my oversized purse and took out the box with Hanover's Watch & Jewelry repair embossed on it. "She asked me to pick it up for her this morning. The receipt is in the box." I handed it to Rane. "I forgot to give it to her."
"That's just it, Sheriff," said Dorianna, trying to affect wide-eyed innocence. "I didn't ask her to get my watch. In fact, I just called Mike Hanover to make sure it was ready, and he told me Cassandra took it."
"I see," said Rane.
"I thought you might," said Dorianna, triumph aglow in her gaze. She looked at me pityingly. "Everyone is aware that you and your sisters are doing poorly, but you didn't have to steal from me."
"I didn't," I said, unable to keep the fury from my voice. "And you know it."
Dorianna gasped, putting a hand against her chest, in a show of melodrama worthy of a daytime soap opera. "I know you stole my watch, Cassandra."
Rane turned the box over in his hands. I figured this was the moment the new Sheriff realized he'd made a mistake trying to befriend me.
Like everyone else in this town, he'd eventually understand my place as the proxy punching bag for Fiona Willowstone's sins.
He'd also learn that while we might have a mayor and a town council, the people actually in charge of Garden Grove were the Council of Six and its leader, Dorianna Miller.
Dorianna shook her head, continuing to play the part of the victim. "Sheriff, feel free to call Mike Hanover. He'll tell you that she conned him out of the watch."
"Would you like to make a formal complaint against Ms. Willowstone?"
"Yes," answered Tilda. "We want her arrested."
Rane ignored Tilda. He kept his eyes on Dorianna. "Just so I understand, Ms. Miller. You're saying that Ms. Willowstone, who spent her morning picking up your dry cleaning and your coffee order, decided to drop by the watch repair shop and take the Rolex without your permission?"
"I asked her to help me out with a few little things," admitted Dorianna. "But I would never trust her with such an expensive item."
"How did she know the watch was at the repair shop?"
Dorianna blanched. "I… I don't know. I suppose she guessed."
"I didn't guess," I said. "You told me."
"Don't be a liar and a thief," said Tilda hatefully.
"Mrs. Miller," said Rane as he glanced at the older woman. "I'm going to ask you to refrain from slandering Ms. Willowstone."
"Slandering?" She laughed. "Do you know who her mother is?"
"I don't see how that's relevant to the current inquiry." He returned his attention to Dorianna. "Did Mr. Hanover explain why he gave Ms. Willowstone your watch to her with the repair receipt?"
"Like my daughter said," interrupted Tilda again. "Cassandra told him she was picking it up for Dorianna."
Rane stared at Tilda. He said nothing, and the silent rebuke brought an embarrassed blush to her cheeks. She pressed her lips together and looked away. Rane returned his gaze to Dorianna. "Mr. Hanover didn't call you to confirm she had permission?"
"No."
Rane pierced Dorianna with a look so cold, I saw the woman shiver. "My brothers and I have seen the way people treat Cassie. Your name is the magic word around here. I don't believe for a second that anyone in this town would give Cassie the time of day without your permission. So, I suggest take your watch and reconsider your claim."
Dorianna opened her mouth, but Rane lifted a hand. "Just so you know, I'll start my investigation by bringing in every single person Cassie spoke to today. I'll grill each and every one of 'em like a freshly caught trout. If I find out that you've attempted to file a false police report, I'll arrest you."
"You can't arrest me!"
The horror on Dorianna's face was priceless. I resisted the urge to grin. I don't think anybody had ever threatened Dorianna. The Sheriff couldn't know how much he'd probably pay for what he was doing right now—or the price I would no doubt pay later.
Dorianna wouldn't allow me to have allies. She'd either figure out a way to convince Evan to come around to her way of thinking, or she'd do everything possible to run him off from me. And if he didn't play ball, she'd run him out of town, too.
"I don't know what it was like in Garden Grove under Sheriff Cooper, but I don't give a damn if you're the mayor or the garbage man. If you break the law—I'll put you'll in handcuffs and haul you in." He held up the box. "Your choice, Ms. Miller."