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hit my face. I looked up and saw Gertie standing on the sidewalk directing a water hose onto the fighting crowd. Paulette screamed like a banshee and showed no sign of letting up, so I did the only thing possible.  
    I clenched the ponytail as tightly as I could and swung around, flinging Paulette toward the sidewalk. She stumbled as she whirled around, and let go of my hair as she completely lost her balance and ran straight into Gertie, knocking her to the ground.  
    Carter chose that exact moment to open the door to the sheriff’s department, and the spray of hose water caught him right in the face.  
    It was like a gunshot went off. All fighting ceased and the mob scattered in every direction, leaving only me, Gertie, and Sheriff Lee standing there, dripping and clearly guilty.
    Carter wiped his hand across his eyes then shook the water off. He pointed at Sheriff Lee. “Go to the Williams house and sit on Paulette. I don’t want her walking out her front door until I say so.”
    Sheriff Lee, looking happy to escape, hustled off down the street at a faster clip than I thought possible.
    Carter turned to Gertie, who still clutched the dripping hose. “You, put down the weapon and go home.” He pointed at me. “You, get inside.”
    I threw my hands up in the air. “I never even threw a punch. I’m the victim here.”
    Carter raised one eyebrow. “Somehow I find that impossible to believe. Inside. Now.”
    He stepped to the side and held open the door.
    Gertie sprang up from the sidewalk. “She’s telling the truth. You’ve got a lot of problems in this town, but Fortune is not one of them.”
    He pointed his finger at her. “Home. Now. Or I’ll arrest both of you.”
    Gertie’s mouth set in a grim line. She glanced over at me, and I gave her a small shake of my head. Whatever Carter had in mind for me, Gertie’s continued protesting would likely only make it worse.  
    I could tell she wasn’t pleased, but Gertie shut off the water and with a final glare at Carter, stalked off down the sidewalk, her shoes squishing as she went.  
    Ida Belle sat in a chair in front of the metal desk at the front of the sheriff’s department, and looked up in surprise when I stepped inside. Deputy Breaux perched in the chair across from her, looking even more uncomfortable than he had at Ida Belle’s house. The blinds on the front windows of the sheriff’s department were drawn, so they couldn’t have seen the fray, but I was certain they’d heard it.  
    Carter pointed to a room diagonal from where Ida Belle sat and I stepped inside and flopped into a chair in front of a makeshift desk. Carter closed the door behind him and it didn’t take a second before he unloaded.
    “What the hell were you thinking?”
    My mouth dropped. “What was I thinking? Look, I know you find it impossible to believe that I’m not looking for trouble, but I assure you, I did not start that fight. I was only defending myself.”
    “Uh-huh.” He didn’t look remotely convinced. “Do you realize you have to defend yourself more than anyone I’ve ever met in my life? Professional football players defend themselves less than you do. Freedom fighters pale in comparison to the record you’ve established in just two weeks in Sinful.”
    “I see. So it’s my fault this town is full of bigots and idiots.”
    He stared at me for several seconds, his expression a mixture of aggravation and exhaustion. Finally, he sighed and slumped into the chair behind the desk.  
    “You don’t have to tell me about this town’s prejudices. I’m not stupid nor am I deaf and blind. But you unnecessarily aggravate an already-volatile situation simply by your presence.”
    “So you’re saying I should spend my entire summer in Sinful locked in my house so that I don’t cause the kindergartners to get restless and create more work for you?”
    “No, damn it.” He ran a hand through his hair. “But can’t you exercise a little more discretion? Did