Page 13 of Midnight Ride

Travis’ phone rang in his pocket, and he could see it was Molly when he pulled it out. “Molly? You need me for something?”

“I have a situation here in the office, Sheriff Frost. One that requires your immediate attention.”

Molly never called him Sheriff Frost and it put Travis on edge. “Who’s there, Molly? Are you in danger?”

“Not as such, Sheriff, but Mrs. Oliver has arrived unexpectedly from Idaho with the victim’s twin brother.”

“I understand.”

“What’s your ETA, Sheriff?”

Travis estimated how long it would take to get back to the squad and then drive back to Coyote Creek. “Twenty minutes, Molly, and while the new arrivals wait for me, ask for written descriptions of everyone in the hunting party. It will help us out a lot.”

“Certainly will. Thank you, Sheriff. See you soon.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Virge. “Why are we going back to the road?”

“Molly has company at the shop. The dead guy’s wife and twin brother showed up.”

“From fuckin Idaho?”

“Yep. They’re in our office.”

“Shitdogs, boss.”

“Yeah, they’re stressing Molly out. We’ve got to get back there and help her out.”

“Did you saytwinbrother of the dead guy?” Virgil rolled his window down and lit up a smoke.

“Yeah. More fuckin twins.”

“Must run in the family,” said Virge.

“I might’ve heard that, Virge. Might be a thing.”

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Travis got back to the station as fast as Virgil could get him there. Molly had handled the confrontation fairly well, bridging the gap with coffee and leftover donuts from the morning.

Trevor Oliver had a familiar look to him. Identical twin to Steve Oliver, the murder victim. After seeing Steve in the body bag at the crime scene, it was kind of spooky to see him up walking around again.

Virgil noticed it too. He stared at the brother for a minute and then looked away.

“I’m Travis Frost, the sheriff of this county. Come into my office and have a seat.”

Mrs. Oliver’s butt barely touched her chair, and she was yelling at Travis, “What have you done to find my sons, Sheriff?” Alison Oliver had a high-pitched whiny voice that was hard on the ears.

Travis winced. “We’re doing everything we can, ma’am.”

“I’m calling in the FBI. My sons are missing, and you can’t find them.”

“Your sons were not kidnapped, ma’am. I doubt if the FBI will show up at your request. They aren’t dogs you can whistle for, ma’am. If you can calm down a bit, I’d like to ask you some questions.”

“I’m not staying here long enough to be grilled by you, Sheriff. Trevor and I are going out looking for the boys on our own.” She stood up and Travis gave her a hand signal.

“Sit down, Mrs. Oliver.”

She glanced at the brother-in-law and sat down.

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