“That’s it. I was at the hospital for a while and then I came here and spoke with Sheriff Bingham. I told him the same thing I’m telling you, exactly as it happened. Is there anything else? Am I under arrest?”
“No, you are not,” Tanner says reluctantly, which makes no fucking sense.
“I thought they got the other guy,” I reply. “I’m not sure what the problem is.”
“There’s no problem—” Lightfoot starts.
Tanner interrupts. “We’re just in the middle of a multi-state investigation. There’s evidence that Douglas Smith, the man you killed, and his accomplice are connected to a series of murders across the national parks system.”
“And that’s why the Feds are involved.”
“That is correct.”
I stand and slip my hat back on. “Well I’m not going anywhere if you have any more questions.”
“Thank you. Let’s see if we can get one of the deputies to give you a lift back up to the Tierneys’ place. Is that where you’re staying?” Tanner asks.
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you head back up there?”
“And what about my truck?”
“We’re just giving it a good twice over,” Lightfoot says. “We’ll let you know when we can turn it back over to you.”
“Thanks,” I say, my tone dry.
Sally Morgan is on the day shift and she’s waiting for me with her keys when we come out of the interrogation room. I hate seeing this look on her face. She’s nervous as hell. Most action she’s seen since joining the force is a hiker who broke his ankle.
“You ready, Shep?” she says, her eyes darting between me and Tanner, who thinks I can’t be trusted to walk to the front of the station.
“Yeah. Thanks for the lift,” I say as she leads the way outside. “You okay?” I ask when she’s behind the wheel.
“Yeah. I’m fine. It’s just—I wasn’t expecting this when I came into work this morning. I mean, I’m in uniform, but…”
“I get it.”
“I feel like—I feel like I should quit.”
“Hey.” I look over and see Sally is dashing tears from under her eyes. “Jer told me I would answer the phones, direct traffic, and poke Mr. Harmon to make sure he’s breathing when they have to stick him in the drunk tank.”
“Here, pull over.” I was sure she could see, but she was starting to hyperventilate and it was starting to rain. She doesn’t need to swerve into oncoming traffic. The shoulder is clear up ahead and she stops and smacks the hazard light. I reach up and turn it off.
“Someone will think your cruiser’s broken down.”
“Right.” Sally lets out a shaky breath, then she turns to me. “They sent me up to your house this morning. The body wasn’t even covered. Jerry told me there was a body, I just didn’t expect it to be out in the open like that. I’m not cut out for this.”
“Don’t quit, Sal. Really. This will be over soon. And I promise I won’t shoot anybody else as long as I live on the mountain,” I say, then nudge her shoulder a little with my closed fist.
When she looks over at me her eyes are still watery. “Oh Shep. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, really.”
“I should quit anyway. You’re going through all this, I’m just a spectator and I’m crying all over you. Let me get you back up to Jad’s.”
“Actually, can you drop me back at the hospital?”
“I can’t, Shep. Strict orders. I have to take you back to the Tierneys’.” I can hear what she’s not saying. The last thing she needs is to get chewed out by Jerry or the FBI just because I’m not good at following instructions. She’d quit for sure.
