Page 59 of The Killing Plains

“Or someone’s stealing.”

“Either way, proves Jace had access. He could’ve drugged Denny.”

“Assuming Jolene had the meds in September. But that’s easily checked.” Avery’s phone began to ring in Colly’s hand. She glanced at the caller ID as she handed it back. “It’s Russ.”

Colly was slightly annoyed until she remembered that she had switched off her own phone in the house. Checking it, she saw that Russ had tried to call her first. She also had a missed call from Brenda. Alarmed, she jumped out of the car and hit redial.

“What’s wrong?” she demanded when Brenda answered.

“We’ve had a little incident. Don’t worry—” Brenda added quickly, “Satchel’s okay. Just a little shaken up. But we need to have a conference before I can let him back in the classroom. Can you come by the school?”

Colly glanced at her watch, then through the windshield at Avery, who was still on the phone, listening intently. She looked excited. When she saw Colly watching, she gestured for her to hurry.

Telling Brenda she’d be there soon, Colly hung up as Avery climbed out of the cruiser, her camera over her shoulder.

“Be right back,” she said and raced up the driveway, disappearing behind the trailer.

As Colly was considering whether or not to follow her, Avery returned. “Boss wanted some shots of Hoyer’s truck.” She buckled her seatbelt. “Hope Jace didn’t see me.”

“What’s up?”

Avery was already backing down the drive. “We’re supposed to get to the ranch, ASAP. Earla found something.”

“I’ll have to catch up later,” Colly said. “Run me by the station—I need my car.”

Chapter 17

Too impatient to search for a space in the crowded lot, Colly parked on a side street and hurried to the school. Brenda was waiting at the entrance.

“What happened?” Colly demanded.

“We haven’t gotten the whole story yet.” Brenda led her inside and down the hall. “Satchel brought matches—from the farmhouse, I assume. Or maybe from Iris’s. He won’t say.”

“Oh, God. Is everyone all right?”

“Satchel’s got a couple minor burns, but Wanice caught him before anything horrific happened.”

“It’s been months—I thought we were past all this. Do I need to take him out of school?” Colly wondered how she would manage a murder investigation with a seven-year-old in tow.

Brenda paused at the door to the central office suite. “Hopefully not, but we’ve got to be sure he won’t do it again. We thought if you talked to him—”

“Where is he?”

“Wanice’s with him. The other kids are at lunch.”

Colly followed Brenda past the front desk and through the door marked “School Counselor.” The office appeared empty; it took a second for Colly to spot the top of the teacher’s head.Wanice Boyles was seated on the floor behind the desk. Hearing the door open, she clambered stiffly to her feet and smiled.

“Satchel, look who’s here.” Wanice met Colly’s eyes and pointed downward.

“No hurry,” Brenda said. “We’ll be in the classroom.”

After they’d gone, Colly stepped behind the desk. Satchel was curled in the cramped space beneath it, hugging his knees and sniffling into the crook of his arm. His white-blond hair glowed in the dim light.

Colly sat cross-legged on the floor. “Satchel, what were you thinking?”

The boy shivered.

“You’re not in trouble. Tell me what happened. Where’d you find the matches?”

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