Page 74 of Three-Inch Teeth

“I don’t know what that would be.”

“Are you in good enough shape to check on something for me?”

She looked up. “I wouldn’t mind a distraction.”

“Who accessed the club this morning? Do you have the video from the gates?”

“I do, in my office,” she said.

“Could you please go there right now and call me with what you find?”

She agreed and climbed into the Suburban she’d parked on the fairway. “I’ll call you in a few minutes,” she said.

“Thank you. And if you have a vehicle on tape, please send that to me, Elaine, and Jackson Bishop.”

“Where are you going?” she asked. “To the school?”

He shook his head. “No, I think they’ve got enough bodies on the scene and they probably don’t need another one. I’m going to go to the hospital to check on Judge Hewitt’s condition.”

“I’ll pray for him,” Judy said. “And I’ll pray for that thirteen-year-old girl.”

“Me too,” Joe said as he strode toward his pickup.

*

MARYBETH CALLED AS Joe exited the Eagle Mountain Club through the main gate. She was driving to work.

“Did you hear about the shooting at the school?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Have they found who did it?”

“I don’t think so.”

“I saw on Facebook that a couple of the kids said they saw a white SUV with California plates on the street outside the playground. I think that’s what they’re looking for.”

“That should be fairly easy to find,” Joe said. “But I’d caution against putting too much stock in that information this early.”

“Of course,” she said. “I’ll find out more when I get to the library.”

He had no doubt that she would.

“What’s Judge Hewitt’s condition?” she asked.

“I’m on my way to find out now.”

“Was it the same bear that got Clay Junior? And Dulcie?”

“We don’t know anything yet,” Joe said.

Before he could continue, another call came in. It was Judy.

“I’ll call you back,” he said to Marybeth.

“Good, because I have a lot of questions.”

Joe disconnected the call and punched up Judy.

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