Page 62 of Hard Heart

“Because he wouldn’t arrest his kid?”

“Because money talks with Sheriff Mullen. A few years ago, a student did a project on arrest records and democratics and published it in the high-school newspaper. And do you know what? Rich people don’t end up in jail around here.”

“Do you mean demographics?”

“Yes, those. And you know who did end up in jail? The student. A deputy caught him drinking alcohol, and instead of giving him a warning or community service, they locked him up for six months.”

“So you’re saying there’s corruption in the sheriff’s department?”

Bitsy pointed a finger in my face. “Exactly! Everyone thinks I’m just a crazy old woman, but I’m right. Let’s sit down.”

She led us into a living room no bigger than the kitchen, and we dutifully obliged. The walls were filled with framed photos and the occasional newspaper clipping.

“Are you familiar with a group called Save Our Planet?” I asked.

“Those nice young people with the placards? Why, yes. They cared more about August than his own family. His wife ran off with a podiatrist, must be fifteen years ago now, and then his son moved away for college and never came back.”

“Did you tell them about Robbie?”

“August’s wife? I don’t know how to get in touch with that hussy, but his son came to the funeral.”

“No, I meant the folks from Save Our Planet.”

“I didn’t find out about Robbie until after they left town. I thought I had a number written down, but…” She gestured to the space around us, a hodgepodge of mismatched furniture with knick-knacks on every surface. “I’m sure I’ll find it someday.”

Then Bodhi and Bliss could run wild with even more conspiracy theories. Police corruption, a cover-up, a murderer overrun by guilt… They’d have a field day.

“I heard there were two perpetrators seen running from Professor Groveland’s home that night. Do you know who was with Robbie?”

Bitsy shook her head. “No, no, I don’t know. Robbie hung with a bad crowd. Could’ve been any one of them, or maybe the goatman.”

I glanced at Heidi, and she gave the tiniest shrug.

“I’m sorry, the…goatman?”

“He lives in the forest around here and preys on dogs.” She reached down to scritch the dachshund between the ears. “Poor Pebbles almost died that night.”

“Is a goatman some sort of animal?”

“Half goat, half man, just like the name says. If you think our government isn’t doing all kinds of experiments behind closed doors, you need to open your eyes, missy. You want more coffee?”

So near, yet so far. I really thought we were getting somewhere, only for us to trip headlong into a couple more conspiracy theories.

“Actually, we need to get going. It’s a long way home.”

“But you’ll be back soon?”

Heidi pasted on a bright smile. “We sure hope so. Lovely to meet you and Pebbles.”

Out in the car, I leaned back in my seat and sighed. No wonder Levi was in prison. He and Matt Greaves had both been right—his guilt was the only thing that made sense. What else would the cops do? Set out to hunt for a freaking cryptid in the Virginia wilderness?

“Are we still going to visit Reba Sharp?” Heidi asked.

“Might as well, seeing as we’re here.”

And nobody had mentioned dragons or trolls yet. Who knew what Reba would come up with?

Reba Sharp only agreed to speak with us after I mentioned Maddy Parnell’s name and also swore we had nothing to do with Save Our Planet. Apparently, they’d made enemies around here—Bitsy Reynolds excepted—after they elevated August Groveland to martyrdom and set up an encampment in his yard.