Marksman POV

He undid his seatbelt, but stayed inside the car, still mulling over what his father had said. Could Marksman even contemplate leaving Hope Springs? It was true his boss had been urging him to take the detective’s exam, but Marksman hadn’t seriously considered it. Sure, in his weak moments, he wondered what it would have been like if his mother hadn’t died. He wondered what kind of life he would be living now if he hadn’t come back to Hope Springs and given up on his career goals.

No. That wasn’t right. He hadn’t given up; he’d just changed direction and there was no shame in that. Marksman...