Page 24 of Shelter for Martina

“That he and the girl came out here and got stuck, and that she went off one way and he went the other.”

“But there’s only one set of footprints, and it doesn’t appear there was anybody else out here to help them. No one came with a chain and pulled it out. If it was stuck, it wasn’t for long. See? Over there is the first set of footprints. As they get closer, they get deeper. That’s from him pushing on it, probably while he throttled it up. And up there,” he said, pointing the other direction, “is where they became shallower as the thing moved forward and he wasn’t having to exert pressure against it anymore. And he climbed on and rode it out.”

“So the story about sitting out here with it stuck, that’s a lie.” Bud shook his head. That insignificant detail about getting his truck to pull it out wasn’t so insignificant anymore, considering it wasn’t true. “Why am I not surprised?”

“If that girl was out here, she never got off the thing. And I have a hard time believing he would’ve let her sit on it while he was trying to get it unstuck. But I don’t see any other footprints anywhere. None.” Bud watched as Conor’s eyes swept around again. “Nope. None. So that story is bullshit.”

“No surprise there either.” Bud stood there and stared at the spot. He had this sick feeling that Renita had never been in the woods. Something had happened to her before she ever got there. “Would you be willing to testify to what you’re seeing if you were called to do so?”

“Sure.” Conor pulled out his phone. “Let me make a few photos so I have them as reference, and I’ll mark them up too with my observations. But if it takes me coming back to testify, I will.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” The three of them stood for a few more minutes as Conor made a dozen or more photos. “Can you send those to me too?” Bud asked.

“No problem. Be glad to. And if I can help in any other way, I’ll gladly do so.”

Bud extended his hand and Conor shook it. “I appreciate the help, and thanks to both of you for taking time out of your own work to help me. I know the family would appreciate it.”

“Good luck, detective. Guess we’ll stomp around down here a little and see if we see any signs of armadillos. Might as well—we’re already here!” Tanner said with a little laugh.

“Y’all be careful and thanks again. Catch up with you later.” Bud gave them a wave as they all parted and he headed back to his truck. He mulled over the information all the way back.

Somebody was lying. Renita had never been in those woods. So who was it? And which time? The lies were churning here and there and everywhere, and it was becoming impossible to figure out what the truth was. All he could hope for was a break that would shake everything up.

Chapter 4

“You didnothaveto do this!” Martina said for at least the tenth time, laughing.

“I know, but I thought it would be fun. I wish my three were here to enjoy it.” Bud was having a great time watching Martina’s oldest granddaughter, Annie, playing in the ball pit. Gabrielle was sitting at the table with them in a high chair, making a huge mess with a piece of pizza. “She seems to be enjoying herself.” He watched as Annie picked up an armload of balls and threw them up in the air, giggling, while two other kids in the ball pit did the same.

“Where do they live?”

“Oh, not far away. Riley and Dimitri live in CrittendenCounty, right outside Marion, and Blake and Maeve live in Princeton. So the kids aren’t far away, but they’re not right here. They’re all really active in the community, and Blake and Maeve live in a large subdivision with a lot of other kids, so they’re all busy. Too busy to come see their old dad.”

“Oh, I bet that’s not true. I’d love to meet them sometime.”

“Speaking of that, we all get together at my house for LaborDay. I’d love it if you could come.” Bud reached out and took her hand. “You’re welcome to bring these two with you. They’d fit right in.”

“I’d like that a lot. If Darnell’s home, they’ll be with him, but otherwise, yeah—I’m sure if Nola has them, she wouldn’t mind if I brought them. It would be fun for them.”

“I want to show them the horses too. I think they’d get a kick out of them.”

“Oh, yeah. Those little guys are really cute.” Martina watched Annie as she ran over to another game and started trying to hit a ball with a little bat. “Gabby, honey, are you about done?”

“Akkk, mamamamama,” the little one babbled.

“Are they doing okay?” Bud asked as Martina struggled to clean the baby up.

“Yeah, as good as can be expected. It’s not as hard on Gabby, but Annie keeps wanting to know when Mommy’s coming home, and we don’t know what to tell her. It doesn’t seem right to keep telling her it’ll be soon, but we also can’t say never. It’s just… hard.”

“Babe,” Bud said, laying a hand on her arm, “I’m trying.”

“I know. And I appreciate it.”

“I have to believe we’ll eventually get down to the bottom of it.” He looked around to find Annie. “I’m going to pull her over here and put her shoes on her so we can go. I think it’s past somebody’s bedtime,” he said, watching Gabby yawn.

“Yeah. Can you help me get them in their car seats?”

“Of course!” He wrangled Annie over to the table and helped her put her little western boots on, then took her hand as Martina carried the baby on her hip.

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