“It looks like they took sledgehammers to the walls and floors, ripping holes in them.”
“Hijo de puta!”
Will wasn’t real sure what that meant, but he didn’t think it was good. “Someone died because they felt the need to vandalize Hector’s house?”
That just didn’t seem right.
“I don’t think so, no.” The sheriff shook his head. “I actually think they were looking for something, Will. The placement of the holes was too strategic to be simple vandalism.”
“Something in my house?” Hector asked.
“It looks that way,” the sheriff replied.
“But what?” Hector shook his head. “It’s just an old farmhouse. What could they possibly be looking for?”
“I was wondering if you could come back to the house and take a look around, maybe help me figure that out.”
“Yeah, I can do that,” Hector said, but he didn’t sound happy about it.
When he turned, Will braced himself for what the man was going to say. He was pretty sure he wasn’t going to like it.
“Do you want to stay here or go with me?”
Will’s eyes widened. “I have a choice?”
Hector’s dark eyebrows snapped together. “Of course you have a choice.”
“Oh…um…I’d prefer to stay with you if that’s all right.” He really didn’t want to let Hector out of his sight. Things just seem to go better when he was around.
Hector didn’t say anything. He just drew Will to his side before turning toward the sheriff. “When would you like to go?”
Sheriff Riley glanced between Will and Hector before saying, “Now, if you can.”
“Have things…been taken care of out at the house?” Hector asked.
The sheriff nodded. “That’s what took us so long to get here. The forensics’ team is still out there, but the coroner has already come and gone.”
Will sagged a little at hearing that. He really hadn’t wanted to go home and see a dead body on the porch. The mere thought of it made his stomach twist and knot.
“Were you ever able to figure out why the FBI wanted Will?”
“No,” the sheriff replied. “I’m not sure we’ll find out until the feds get here, and even then it’s a fifty-fifty chance. Federal agents don’t typically like to share information, even with other law enforcement.”
Again, the sheriff did not sound happy.
Hector didn’t look happy.
Will felt as if he was going to throw up. “I swear I didn’t do anything except for that thing with Terry, and once Officer Wilson was locked up, I did my community service. I haven’t even jaywalked.”
“I believe you, Will,” the sheriff said. “I don’t actually think this has anything to do with something you’ve done.”
“What?”
“If they had wanted to take you into custody, they would have put out an APB on you. They haven’t. I’ve checked all the way to the federal level. Those agents might have been looking for you, but it’s not because they wanted to arrest you.”
That left Will even more confused. “If they didn’t want to arrest me, then why were they looking for me?”
“I’m afraid I don’t have an answer to that, Will,” the sheriff said, “but I promise I won’t stop digging until I do.”
