Page 41 of Long Gone

He made a face. “Suurrre do.”

I rested my hand on the edge of the counter and leaned closer. “I take it you don’t think much of him.”

“Thinks he’s God’s gift to this town and he ain’t even from here. He’s from Mississippi.”

“I heard he’s brought in a bunch of businesses to the area.”

He released a bitter laugh. “If he says so.”

“He hasn’t?”

“If you ask me, he’s almost as much of a shyster as that Burton fella.”

“He’s taken people’s money?”

“In a roundabout way.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “He’s on the county board, and he makes sure that contracts and such go to his own businesses.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s not legal,” I said.

He shrugged. “He covers his tracks by having corporations that don’t have his name on them get the winning bids, especially his construction company, but if you dig deep enough, you’ll find that he owns them.”

Corporations without his name on them? Was Brett Colter behind Larkspur Limited after all? His side corporations were definitely worth looking into.

“What about Skip Martin? Do you know anything about him?”

He paused. “He lost money in his dealings with Burton, but it didn’t do him in. He owns the Ford dealership here in town.”

I’d definitely be talking to him.

I glanced at my phone and saw it was almost time to meet Anton. “Thank you for your time, Mr…?”

“Name’s Carl Edmonds,” he said with a grin, sticking out his chest. “And I’m happy to help a fellow officer of the law.”

I stared at him in surprise.

He chuckled. “It wasn’t that hard to tell you’re a cop.”

“I’m currently a P.I.”

“But you were a cop, and I’m glad someone’s finally trying to find the bastard.”

“You said fellow officer of the law?” I prompted.

“I was in the Lone County Sheriff’s Department for nearly thirty years before I retired and opened this store, although I’m not sure how much longer I’ll keep it open. Business ain’t what it used to be.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

He shrugged, not looking concerned. “It’s the way of the world, and besides, my wife has been begging me to retire for years. I just don’t know what I’ll do with myself. I kind of like being downtown, seeing what’s going on.”

I thought of my own semi-retirement. “I understand completely.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I suspect you do.”

His scrutiny made me uncomfortable, like he could see right through me.

I lifted the map. “Thanks again for the map, Officer Edmonds.”

“Anything I can do to help. If you’re looking into any older cold cases, feel free to come back and ask me questions. I might remember something from back in the day.”

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