Chad Sanborn [Sanborn - Broken Heartland

Join My Reader Email - Get Free Stuff!

Do you know one of the things I share with readers like you?

A love of crime fiction. (Im assuming you at least like crime fiction because, well, youre reading this crime fiction novel I wrote.)

Thats why once a month, I send out an email newsletter highlighting crime fiction and true crime books, articles, authors, shows, podcasts, etc.

Theres so much good stuff out there, and I think you it would be a crime for you to miss out on the best of it.

Plus, I also send details on my new releases, special offers and other news relating to my books and writing lifeincluding when a new Billy Keene book is available.

(In carnival barker voice) But wait, theres more!

If you sign up for my email list, Ill give you one of my award-winning short crime stories and the novella prequel to The Billy Keene Stories.

For details on my email newsletter, your free short story, your free crime novella and to get your copies today, please see the section at the back of this book labeled, New Billy Keene Books.

Chad

Do you know one of the things I share with readers like you?

A love of crime fiction. (Im assuming you at least like crime fiction because, well, youre reading this crime fiction novel I wrote.)

Thats why once a month, I send out an email newsletter highlighting crime fiction and true crime books, articles, authors, shows, podcasts, etc.

Theres so much good stuff out there, and I think you it would be a crime for you to miss out on the best of it.

Plus, I also send details on my new releases, special offers and other news relating to my books and writing lifeincluding when a new Billy Keene book is available.

(In carnival barker voice) But wait, theres more!

If you sign up for my email list, Ill give you one of my award-winning short crime stories and the novella prequel to The Billy Keene Stories.

For details on my email newsletter, your free short story, your free crime novella and to get your copies today, please see the section at the back of this book labeled, New Billy Keene Books.

Chad

Broken Heartland

Chad Sanborn

One

Two something in the morning.

Half a moon hanging in the sky, surrounded by stars. Enough light to see but not be seen.

Rubber-gloved hands unfolding homemade stencils so large they need to be laid out on the grass like a dead body.

The stencils menacing message opened to full size.

A coyote howling in the distance. The violent rip of masking tape. The gloved hands affixing the stencils to the side of a bright white house.

Tink-tink of a metal pellet rattling around inside a spray paint can thats ready to burst.

Hissing as the built-up pressure releases a blood-red spray over the stencils and onto the house.

Two

S heriff Billy Keene behind his desk at the sheriff's department.

Cell phone to his ear, listening to the woman who held his heart not answering her cell phone.

Paige back in Boston for well over a year now. Been back home a few times, and hed gone to visit once. Had a nice dinner at an Italian fish place in the North End, The Daily Catch. Saw the sights, Fenway, Old North Church and such. A nice stroll through The Public Garden.

But over the months theyd gradually talked less and less. Each understood the other was busyPaige working as a photographers assistant and trying to build her own photography career; Billy with sheriffing back in Caulfield.

Lately, Paige not returning some of his calls. Answering fewer of them, too.

Her phone still ringing, and Billy thinking halfway across the country yet still close enough to break my heart.

Then telling himself at least that was some version of close. Would have to do for now.

Billy killing his call before again having to listen to her recorded voice tell him to leave a message. A feeling in his chest like a rusty blade sawing up through him.

Taking a sip of his morning coffee, trying wash that sawing feeling back down. Jumping a little as he spilled a few hot drops on his light brown uniform pants. Billy dabbing at the stain with a paper towel before finally giving up.

Thinking Tuesdays are getting to be about as bad as Mondays.

Paige not texting, that was becoming a regular thing too. And Billy knowing that when a person of a certain age - hers, his - wont text you back, somethings got to be wrong.

Billy leaning back in his leather office chair, considering the cell phone in his hand. As if it might have an answer for him. Dandling it like it was a Magic 8 Ball.

Try again later.

Or now.

Billy fighting the urge to hit redial. Thankfully saved by Cookie Reins, the office admin, walking past the glass walls of his office with a folder clutched to her bosom.

Reversing on her heel, popping into his doorway. Cookies lips pursed with a mixture of pity and disgust.

Put down that damn phone."

Billy with a what, me? look before laying his cell on his desk.

Every inch of Billys six-foot-three frame leaning way, way back in his chair as Cookie moved into his office. All thick thighs and tight skirt, as usual.

Just Cookie dressing like she does. Closer to retirement age than she was to Billy's age, but dressing like she was younger than him even though Billy was still a few years shy of thirty.

To her credit, Cookie still kind of pulling it off in the right light.

Billy listening to Cookie going on at him.

You're doing nothing but driving that girl nuts, everyone around you too. And allowing yourself to be treated this way, that aint making you feel any better, is it?

No maam.

Then, all due respect, boss? Cut the shit.

Feel better?Billy said.

Some. Depends on if you do like I say or not, Cookie said, smiling, flirty but not meaning anything by it.

Billy pretty sure that was the only way she knew how to smile. Asking Cookie if she invaded his office just to lecture him or was there anything else? As always, there was something else.

Want me to run down all this for you?

Cookie meaning the thick folder she was now holding out to Billy.

Billy shaking his head.

Will it keep?

Itll keep, Cookie said, frowning, for a bit.

Billy eyeing the folder.

Budget stuff for next fiscal year?

Cookie nodding, turning so everyone else in the office could hear her.

But hell, nobody here needs to get paid anyway," she said. "Were all in it for the fun of it.

Cookie turning back to Billy. Setting the folder on the far edge of his desk next to his baseball cap. A fitted cap, dark brown with a flat bill. The front emblazoned with "Caste County Sheriff" around an embroidered sheriff's badge.

Cookie keeping on him.

Better get your head in the game, right now. Hear me?

Billy nodding, saying nothing.

Still unsure he and the job were meant for each other. Same as when the local power brokers had convinced him it was a good idea to leverage his celebrity as a local sports hero in a run for sheriff.

In the short year and a half hed held the office first as interim sheriff in an emergency election, then elected sheriff proper in a general election hed seen and learned some things about the people he thought he knew.

And done some things that change a person forever.

Lately, Billy coming to realize fully that the job of saving people from themselves, it almost never stops.

A sudden small flash. Billys cell lighting up, vibrating atop his desk.

Both he and Cookie seeing it was Sara Jane calling.

Billy unable to hide his disappointment that it wasnt Paige reaching out. Still, doing a fair job of hiding his self-loathing from Cookie.