Page 6 of Shelter for Sharla

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“Hello?”The female voice seemed timid and distant.

“Ms.Barker? It’s SheriffMelton.”

“Yes, sheriff. Can I help you?”

“Are you in the middle of something, or can you talk?”

“Can you hold on just a second?” There was a sound he couldn’t identify before her voice came through the phone again, at once louder and stronger. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to color my hair and it’s hard to talk on the phone with a plastic bag over my head,” she said, a nervous giggle following.

“Oh! I’m so sorry. Should I call back later?”

“No, no. It’s fine. How can I help you?”

“Ms.Barker, did you know Tamara had a tattoo?”

“No, but I’m not surprised. All the college kids love them.”

“So you didn’t know she had a new one?”

“No, sir.”

“Could we set up a time for me to talk to your daughter and your nephew?”

“Certainly. I mean, can’t it wait, though? We’re going to have a funeral to do and?”

“No, ma’am. It can’t.” Carter knew she was going to start asking questions, and he really didn’t want to have to answer them. “There’s a bit of urgency in this request.”

“I see. Well, they’re at the school now, but they’ll both be coming home tomorrow and staying the weekend.” The phone was silent for a few seconds and then she asked, “Have you found out anything about Tamara? I mean, her death? Why she was acting that way and why she did the stuff she did?”

“Actually, yes, but I’d rather not get into that on the phone.” Not only did he not want to talk about it on the phone, he didn’t want her to be able to tell Chelsea and Lionel what had been found before he got the chance. If they did actually have something to do with it, that would give them time to tip off the person or people involved. He couldn’t risk that.

“Okay. So maybe tomorrow evening after seven?”

“I’ll be there. Thank you, Ms.Barker.”

“You’re welcome, sheriff. Goodbye.”

Carter sat there for a few seconds, thinking about the tattoo, but then his thoughts shifted to the woman he’d just spoken with. He had no reason to think she had anything to do with any of the goings-on, but he hoped when he gave her the information he’d received, she’d make sure Chelsea and Lionel cooperated.

It was almost five before he headed back to the TriggCounty Sheriff’s Department’s office. “Anything going on that I should know about?” Carter asked his chief deputy, GrayLewis, through the cracked office door as he changed into street clothes.

“Nope. Arrested BenTaylor again.”

“Another DUI?”

“Yep. Ten thirty in the morning at that. They guy just can’t seem to help himself,” Gray said with a grin.

But Carter was in no mood for witty banter as he zipped his jeans and buckled his belt. “No. He can’t. Anything else?”

“JudgeMichaels threw out four of our ten traffic citations.”

Strolling out into the main office, Carter looked from the stack of papers on the front desk and back to Gray with one jacked-up one eyebrow. “And why was that?”

“Said the ticket wasn’t filled out properly.”

“Don’t tell me?Edwards.”

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