Lauren took a two plus hour walking tour of the downtown area. She set pin drops in her maps app for city hall, the public library, a commercial and residential real estate agency, the Shrouded Lake Memorial Museum, and a few of the downtown business. She arrived at Ms. Lina’s bed and breakfast sweaty and smiling and proceeded to get more information from the longtime resident about the governing of the town, about the residents it might be good to follow up with, and most importantly the town gossip. After extracting information from Ms. Lina, Lauren showered, pulled her laptop out of her bag, and plopped down at the desk facing a window overlooking the side yard, then she got to work.
CHAPTER 6
After he andRoan cataloged the evidence to be sent to the lab in Meadow Glen, Santiago uploaded the photos from old Mrs. Willoby’s house into his computer. Until he received a definitive cause of death, the case would continue to be investigated as a crimedespiteEdgar’s objections. Edgar had returned “for a few important items,” while they’d been gathering evidence. He didn’t like having to stay on the other side of the yellow tape. He especially didn’t like that the house wouldn’t likely be released for another twenty-four hours.
“I don’t care what y’all say,” Derry said, looking over Santigo’s shoulder at the images. “That right there looks like something evil did it.” He pointed to the picture of the broken vase and the decomposing chicken hearts.
“Space,” Santi grumbled.
“Sorry, Sheriff,” Derry said, backing away.
Roan sat on the other side of Santiago’s desk, waiting for shift change. “Not something,someone.” She already told them about their run in with St. James—skipping the screaming and falling in the mud part.
Santiago snorted.
Roan’s actions in and outside of Ms. Willoby’s house confirmed she held the same otherworldly beliefs as Derry, but her dislike of St. James made him a safer—and more tangible—suspect.
Roan backed her chair up until she was right outside Santiago’s office.
“The way you always try to find the worst in that man makes me wonder if your dislike is coming from someplace a little more…personal.”
Santiago looked over at Roan with a questioning brow.
“If y’all gossips could be considerate enough to let a man rest, it be greatly appreciated,” Clyde shouted from his cell.
“Why’s he still here?”
“Unlike his rich friend, Andy Archer, he’s too broke to afford bail,” Derry said, returning to his desk to pack his things.
“As a matter of fact,” Clyde snapped when Santiago walked into the common area. “Do I need big tits and ass to get royal treatment like that Black lady? Hell,” he mumbled. “Maybe I got grounds for a discrimination case.”
“You ain’t even got grounds to pitch a tent,” Derry snapped. “You best be glad we gave you time to sleep off your hangover. The bus for Carson City will be here in the morning.”
“Wait…Sheriff, you’re sending me to Carson City Jail. Withcriminals?”
“You brandished a weapon, you idiot. That comes with consequences,” Santiago said.
“The gun wasn’t even loaded!” Clyde said, gripping the cell bars. “It was broken when I found it!”
“You were shit-faced and you raised a gun at me; you’re lucky you’re still alive.”
Clyde sat down heavily on his cot. “I was drunk, wasn’t in my right mind.”
“Because you’re always trying to impress Andy Archer, have been since we were kids,” Derry said.
“I’ll…I’ll go to them AA meetings at the community center,” Clyde promised fearfully. “My momma and sister won’t make it here without me, and you know that’s the truth.”
It was the truth. When he wasn’t drunk off his ass, Clyde was the only one who helped his sister take care of their mother; helped with his sister’s three kids when she had to work long shifts at the nursing home two towns over.
“Thirty days, thirty meetings. Get’em signed off by Franklin, who runs the group, and bring them to me every day,” Santiago said. “Oh, and I hear Saige over at The Mystical Market needs some help. I’ll call her, and if she’s willing to have you, you’ll volunteer there twenty hours a week starting tomorrow. I get a whiff about you drinking, I’ll file those charges, and youwilldo hard time.”
“Yes, Sheriff, I promise I’ll get my shit together. I promise.”
Santi nodded to Derry. “Drop him at his sister’s on your way home. Let her know I’ve got him on a special work-release program, see if that gets him a steady place to sleep again. If not, take him to the men’s shelter.”
Derry nodded and unlocked the cell.
“And Clyde, you stay away from Andy,” Derry said. “Anybody who likes you more drunk than sober ain’t your friend. The fact that he ain’t even come to visit or bail you out should prove that.”
