“What does he want?” Bree asked.
Rogers’s cheeks reddened. “I don’t know. I didn’t call him back.”
Lawyers were usually persistent. He’d be back. Then Rogers would have to decide if he was going to come clean about the past or not. And if not, could he live with the shame Matt was pretty sure he was feeling right now?
“Do you know if Oscar still kept in touch with Dylan?” Matt asked.
Rogers nodded. “They stayed tight.”
Bree asked, “Do you know where we can find Dylan?”
Rogers looked away for a second, then returned his gaze to Bree’s. “He went to the Scarlet Falls PD when he left the sheriff’s department.”
“Have you seen or talked to Dylan recently?” she asked.
“No.” Rogers crossed his arms over his chest. His lips mashed together, as if he was thinking about something but didn’t want to share.
Technically in Randolph County and part of Bree’s jurisdiction, Scarlet Falls had its own police department. The sheriff mostly provided backup to their officers.
Rogers leaned a hip on the counter, as if his confession had burned off all his energy and he needed the support. “The worst part is, I’d forgotten all about that case until Oscar called me.” His eyes went bleak. “How could I have forgotten about ruining a man’s life?”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
An hour later, Bree faced a small mirror in the restroom of the sheriff’s station. She smoothed a few wrinkles from her uniform shirt and tucked a hair back into her bun. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she’d skipped lunch. But she had no time—or appetite. The press conference would start in ten minutes.
The door opened and Marge walked in, tsking.
“I hope you’re not going on camera like that.” In her hand, she held the cosmetics bag from Bree’s desk in her hand.
Bree sighed. “I was. Are you here to tart me up?”
Marge shook her head and opened the bag. “At least put on some concealer and powder.”
“I’m investigating a real murder, not filming an episode of CSI.”
“I’m not suggesting you wear stilettos,” Marge deadpanned, crossing her arms. “But you’re shiny, and somehow also pale. You want to look cool and collected.”
Bree turned back to the mirror. She was shiny and pale. “I hate worrying about appearances when I should be focused on the case.”
“You’re a public figure. You need to do both.” Marge handed her a tube of liquid concealer and a compact. “Appearances matter.”
Knowing Marge was right, Bree dabbed concealer under her eyes and applied a light layer of powder. “OK?”
Marge’s scrutiny felt like a spotlight. “Almost.” She held out a tube of lipstick.
“Really?” Bree sighed. “I don’t like lipstick. It’s gummy and sticky. When I wear it, all I can see in the mirror is lips.”
“This color is subtle.” Marge took back the concealer and powder. “Trust me.”
Bree did, but she applied the lipstick sparingly. It was barely a color, but the combination of cosmetics made her look less pasty.
Marge eyed her face. “You’re passable.”
“Gee, thanks.” Bree closed the lipstick.
Marge took it from her hand and put it back in the bag. “Go.”
Bree left the restroom, then waved to Matt and Todd for them to follow her outside. She wanted their presence to show that the department was devoting resources to the murders. With the men behind her on either side, she stepped up to the microphone that had been set up on the sidewalk in front of the station. She faced the parking lot, where news crews and reporters jockeyed for position. After seven months as sheriff, she knew a number of reporters on sight.
“Yesterday, we responded to a call for a well-being check,” Bree began. “We discovered two bodies, both dead from gunshot wounds. The victims have been officially identified as Eugene Oscar and his mother, Camilla Brown. Their deaths are currently being investigated as a double homicide.” She gestured behind her. “Investigator Matt Flynn and Chief Deputy Todd Harvey are assisting with the investigation with the support of the entire sheriff’s department.”
A reporter shoved a mic at Bree. “They were murdered?”
Bree nodded. “Yes.”
“Is this the same Eugene Oscar you fired two months ago?” a reporter yelled. Bree recognized the voice and zeroed in on Nick West from WSNY News.
Bree chose her words carefully. “Eugene Oscar recently retired from the sheriff’s department.”