Page 7 of Fatal Witness

“Good girl!” Mark patted her side. “Free,” he said, releasing the dog before rewarding her with one of Mr. Peterson’s treats.Then he pulled out a short, braided rope, and she scrambled up and grabbed the rope.

Mark spent a few minutes playing tug with Gem before he threw the rope, and she bounded after it. Like most of the dogs he’d trained since leaving the military, she preferred playtime over the treats, but she was really happy when she received both.

His cell buzzed, and he unhooked it from his belt. It was a call from his boss, Chief Deputy Alexis Stone, who preferred to be called Alex.

Mark was still a little bummed to lose the chief deputy spot. He was thirty-four and had hoped to be more than a deputy by this time. In fact, he’d hoped to take Harvey Morgan’s place when the former chief retired, but Sheriff Carson Stone had hired his granddaughter. She was doing a good job running the office after Carson had suffered a major heart attack. So well that she’d probably win the next election, since Carson wasn’t running again, and so far she had no opposition. Maybe he’d be made chief deputy then.

Mark slid the answer button on his phone. “Lassiter.”

“Hate to bother you on your day off, but I just got a call from Mae Richmond. She tried to reach you, but you didn’t answer.”

“Is she all right?” He’d hate to see anything happen to his neighbor and friend.

“Yeah, but...” Alex sighed. “She’s coming into the office ... something about her granddaughter. Gramps was here and he about had a fit, said she’d drive me batty if I encouraged her at all.”

He was surprised Carson had come into the office—he rarely did anymore. He must be feeling better. “Up until a couple of years ago, Mae came by at least once a month to see if the sheriff had any updates on her granddaughter and to share her latest theories,” Mark said.

Gem brought the tug and dropped it at his feet, and he threw it again. “I think your grandfather is really bothered because hehasn’t been able to solve the murders or find the granddaughter or her uncle, Keith Bennett.”

“That’s what I think too,” Alex said. “Since you and Mae are friends, I think it would help if you were here when she arrives.”

“Sure.” The request puzzled him. Alex and Mae went way back—Mae had regaled him with tales of babysitting the chief deputy. “I’m at the park. Won’t take me five minutes to get to your office.”

“See you then.”

He opened the rear door to his SUV and called Gem. Once he had her secured, he drove to the sheriff’s office, still thinking about Alex’s request when his phone rang. It was Mae.

“Lassiter.”

“Oh, good.” Relief flowed through the phone. “I tried to call you earlier.”

“What’s going on?”

“I have something to show you. Can you meet me at Alex’s office?”

“She called, and I’m on my way there now.”

“Oh.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Yes ... but if she’s already talked to you...” Mae sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

The rhythmic ticking of a blinker filled the silence. She was probably turning onto the highway to Pearl Springs.

“See you in a few minutes,” he said.

“Just promise you’ll keep an open mind.”

“Don’t I always?”

“That’s what I like about you,” she said and ended the call.

Mark shook his head. Mae was as independent as they came. Eccentric was what people usually called her. Sometimes he forgot she was a well-known potter, and that some of her porcelainart pieces commanded a thousand dollars or more on the website she designed herself.

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