As he walks in, he says, "I know you think I broke into your place, Val, but I didn't."
"She realizes she was mistaken," I say.
He nods, but his gaze shoots to her, apprehension lingering. I motion for him to sit. Then I say, "A few months ago, I mentioned that Val had been attacked in the forest. What did you say?"
His brows furrow.
I continue, "I said she'd been attacked, and you said..."
He takes a moment, as if struggling to shift mental gears. "I said I knew she'd gotten lost. I was there when they found her."
"But she didn't mention an attack."
"No."
"Phil had a private talk with you a few weeks later. About what happened to Val. Do you remember it?"
Another moment, as he thinks back. "Okay, yes. He told me not to make a big deal of it, that Val was embarrassed over getting lost and I was to drop the matter entirely. I said I never did make a big deal of it. Getting a scare like that is lesson enough."
I glance at Val. She's not leaping in to correct him, just sitting stiffly, chin raised, prepared for battle but waiting for the first volley.
"Did Phil tell you she'd been attacked?" I ask.
"What? Fuck--" He stops himself. "No. The first time I heard that was when you told me. Otherwise, I'd have needed details. Of the attackers, that is. So I could see if any of my contacts recognized them."
"And what would you have done if you'd found them, Sheriff?" Val asks.
"That's up to the council. Same as with any major crime."
"Before Val went on that patrol," I say, "you strongly advised against it."
"Hell--" He stops again. Restarts with a quiet "Yes."
"You have forbidden others to do the same. Including Will when he first arrived."
"Yes. I can bring in a half dozen guys who wanted to go out on patrol too soon. They'll confirm I told them the same thing."
"Exactly what did you warn them about?"
"What didn't I warn them about?" He looks at Val. "It was the same lecture you got. Everything from the threat of wildlife to the hazards to getting lost."
"Hostiles?" I ask.
"I warn about people in general. I don't talk about the hostiles specifically--I don't want to scare anyone like that. But I'm very clear that there are people out there and that encounters with them can be fatal."
I turn to Val. "Is that what he told you?"
She nods.
"With no particular emphasis on the people over other dangers?" I ask.
She nods.
"If Eric was using the hostiles to frighten people, don't you think he'd hammer on that point?"
"What?" Dalton says. "Using the hostiles?"
"The council believes you facilitate--possibly even orchestrate--hostile activity as a form of control over residents. Frightening locals so they don't wander or run off."