Sheriff Jalen Reyes questions Jonah about the shooting, but the former sheriff's answers only deepen the mystery surrounding the fifteen-year-old Wyatt case.
Episode 6 | The Questions Begin
A soft knock broke the silence.
Tessa looked up from the chair beside Jonah's bed.
Sheriff Jalen Reyes stepped into the room, his Stetson tucked beneath one arm. He looked younger than most sheriffs she'd known—broad shoulders, neatly pressed uniform, dark eyes that missed very little.
His gaze settled on Jonah.
A corner of his mouth twitched.
"Evening, Jonah."
Jonah cracked one eye open.
"Didn't expect to find me conscious?"
Jalen shook his head.
"I was going to say alive."
A faint grin tugged at Jonah's mouth.
"Sorry to disappoint you."
"I'll survive."
Jalen stepped closer to the bed, studying the retired sheriff for a long moment.
"You look terrible."
"You should've seen the other fellow."
"I'd like to."
The humor faded between them.
Jalen glanced toward Tessa.
"You mind giving us a minute?"
She straightened in her chair.
"I'm his daughter."
"I know who you are."
His eyes lingered another second.
"Tessa James."
"The lawyer," Jonah muttered.
Jalen nodded.
"The lawyer."
Tessa folded her arms.
"I'm not leaving."
Jalen looked to Jonah.
Jonah gave the smallest nod.
"She stays."
"Fair enough."
Jalen slipped a small notebook from his jacket but didn't open it immediately.
Instead, he leaned one shoulder against the wall.
"I've been to Stanton Park three times today."
Jonah said nothing.
"Crime Scene says you walked in expecting to meet somebody."
"I was."
"You weren't carrying your weapon."
"I didn't expect an ambush."
"No." Jalen's voice remained calm. "You expected answers."
Jonah looked toward the ceiling.
"I did."
Jalen finally opened the notebook.
"Tell me about the phone call."
"It was anonymous."
"What'd he say?"
"He had information about Lena Wyatt."
Tessa's head turned sharply.
"Lena Wyatt?"
Neither man looked at her.
Jalen continued.
"He give you a name?"
"No."
"A meeting place?"
"Stanton Park."
"What happened after that?"
"I asked if he was the one who called."
"And?"
"He said the only thing he knew..."
Jonah paused.
"...was that Lena was dead."
Silence settled over the room.
Jalen's jaw tightened.
"Then?"
"Gunshot."
"That's all you remember?"
Jonah nodded once.
"I hit the ground."
Jalen scribbled a note.
"You've been asking questions around town."
"I have."
"About a fifteen-year-old missing girl."
"I have."
"Why now?"
Jonah finally looked at him.
"Ghosts don't rest until you find their bones."
The room grew still.
"Lena Wyatt deserves better than collecting dust in a file cabinet."
Tessa stared at her father.
"You reopened the investigation?"
Jonah didn't answer.
Jalen answered for him.
"Tasha Wyatt came to his office last week."
Tessa looked between them.
"Tasha?"
Jonah nodded.
"She said she'd been dreaming about her sister."
"And that was enough?"
"It was enough for me."
Tessa leaned forward.
"Did she give you anything? A name? A place? A witness?"
Jonah met her eyes.
"Not today, Tess."
She frowned.
"Not today?"
"I'll tell you when I'm back behind my own desk."
Jalen closed the notebook with a quiet snap.
"Jonah..."
His voice lost the edge of an investigator.
"...if somebody shot you to keep this case buried, then whatever you've uncovered matters."
Jonah's eyes drifted toward the window.
"That's what worries me."
Jalen slipped the notebook back inside his coat.
"I've got blood in the grass, one anonymous caller, and a retired sheriff who won't tell me everything he knows."
"I've already told you everything I remember."
"I don't believe that."
Jonah smiled faintly.
"I know."
Jalen sighed through his nose.
"If anything comes back to you..."
"It won't."
"...you call me anyway."
"I will."
Jalen tipped his hat toward Tessa.
"It was good seeing you again."
"You too, Sheriff."
After the door closed, silence settled over the room once more.
Tessa remained standing.
Her arms folded.
Her courtroom voice returned.
"So..."
Jonah looked at her.
"You weren't just asking questions."
"No."
"You were getting answers."
A slow smile crossed Jonah's tired face.
"Now you sound like a James."
Tessa's eyebrow lifted.
"What did you find?"
Jonah studied her for a long moment.
"You sound like you're thinking about finishing what I started."
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