Chapter 51

Two months later . . .

Sheriff Matt Kirby sat at his desk staring at the resignation letter he was holding. He glanced up at the switchboard operator. Matt placed the paper on his desk and shoved it towards her. “I'm not accepting this,” he said flatly.

Patty’s shoulders slumped. “Sheriff, it’s time. I can’t work here anymore.”

“Why?” Matt asked.

“It’s . . . personal,” she answered.

That wasn’t good enough for him. Patty had worked on the switchboard since she was seventeen. Matt stood and rounded the desk. He perched himself on top of it and faced her.

“Patty, you’ve worked here for years. Way before I was sheriff. You started off as a summer employee and worked your way up to full-time. You got years of service here.”

She looked down.

“You suffered Marty Schaffer’s Reign of Terror with us. You went with us to Lynx Lake. You’re more than just an employee, you’re family.”

Patty g