Page 13 of Barry

Ken got back into the SUV and made a three-point turn, heading back to the station. There was enough sighing and noise from the back to know for sure the older woman was working herself into a tizzy of monumental proportions.

Barry tried to smooth the waters he’d definitely ruffled. “Edna?—”

She snapped at him, “Shut it, mister. I don’t want to hear a word from you.”

Ken chuckled quietly, and Barry sent him a look that should have singed his ass, but the guy seemed to think the whole situation was funny.

They pulled up to the station, and Ken got out, opening the back door for Edna. She huffed past him and walked into the station. “JD, could you bring us all a cup of coffee?” Ken asked as he escorted Edna toward his office, Barry following along.

“Coming right up,” the man said from behind them.

“All right, Edna. Have a seat.”

The woman plopped down in the chair with a huff that declared her displeasure. Barry stood behind her and leaned against the wall. “Edna, I’d like to see that picture, please.”

“Get a warrant.” The woman huffed again, and her arms were crossed over her purse as if she thought Ken would rip it from her.

“I can do that.” Ken picked up the phone and started pushing buttons. He leaned back into his chair and stared at Edna. “Debbie, this is Sheriff Zorn. I need to talk to Judge Kendrick.” He held the phone away from his ear, and everyone in the room heard the woman’s response.

“Hey, Ken, sure thing. It may be a couple of minutes; he’s finishing up a meeting with the DA.”

Edna blinked and sat up straighter. “You’re serious?”

“I don’t lie, Edna.” Ken stared at her. His hard-ass expression was one he must have practiced or learned through adversity because Barry believed it.

She deflated. “Oh, hang up that phone.”

“I’ll call back later, Debbie.” Ken lowered the receiver as JD brought in three cups of coffee and pulled sugar and small creamer packets from his pocket.

“Anything else?” JD asked.

“No, and thank you for this. I owe you breakfast,” Ken said as he lifted his cup.

“I’ll take you up on that someday.” JD smiled and exited quietly.

Ken extended his hand. “Let me see the picture, Edna, and fix yourself a cup.”

“I’ll take mine black,” she said, opening her purse. “I want this back. You can’t keep it.”

“When the investigation is over, you can have it back,” Ken acknowledged.

Edna glared at Barry. “Couldn’t keep this to yourself, could you.” She handed Ken the picture while staring at Barry as she spoke.

“I would have, Edna, but what you captured is a man in a ghillie suit. I believe he’s carrying a rifle. A rifle is what was used to shoot at Tegan and me at the stockyard.”

“And to kill our victim,” Ken said as he stared at the picture. “Edna, I’m going to have to ask you for any other footage you have from this camera.”

“It's on the Cloud. It’s a game camera triggered by motion. I put it out past the stockyard. I can take you to it. You really think that’s a man in a suit?” Edna asked as she looked at Barry.

“Yes, ma’am. I’ve seen those suits and trained with men who wore them.” He’d worn them, but he wouldn’t tell her that.

“So, the killer is military?” Edna spun to look at Ken.

He shook his head. “Not necessarily. These can be made or purchased, for that matter. What date was this taken?”

“The date is on the back. I wrote it down so I could log my sightings. The girls and I were going to pull down the rest of the pictures after the crochet circle met today.” Sheturned to Barry. “That’s where we were going when you stopped us.”

Ken flipped the picture over and looked up at Barry. He nodded ever so slightly. “Edna, I’m going to ask you to keep this conversation to yourself. You can’t even tell the ladies about this. Think of it as a safety measure. If anyone got wind you had evidence of this killer because of something someone with loose lips said, you could be in danger, and I wouldn’t want a citizen who’s helping us placed in that type of position.”

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