Page 10 of Sour Layer

Chapter 6

As we walked back, Dorothy made idle chitchat, asking me about my own family, sincerely fascinated by what I was capable of. She led me across the street instead of turning back down Main Street toward the inn.

“Shouldn’t we have turned?”

“No, dear.”

She led me up the steps into a building where the police station sign looked just as battered from the elements as the Mountain View Inn sign. I stopped walking, done with trying to explain things.

“I’m not going in there. I’ve already met the Sheriff. He didn’t like me much, and I haven’t broken any laws.”

“You sure are a suspicious thing. Relax, Mercy. This is me helping you.”

Helping me to a spot behind bars.

That I didn’t need. I’d crossed my arms, refusing to go through the doors, when a car pulled next to the curb. Sheriff Weller got out and sauntered up to us.

“What are you doing here, and why did you bring Ms. Bennett?” he asked Dorothy instead of me.

“She’s going to give you some…insight into one of your cases.”

“Seriously?” I asked raising a brow at Dorothy.

“Is that right?” he asked, earning my attention.

“I guess, I am. If it’s the price I have to pay to find my ancestors, then why the hell not?” I tossed my hands in the air, ignoring the pinpricks of an oncoming headache.

Clark cleared his throat and rested his hands at his hips while pegging Dorothy with a stern gaze. “We don’t know this woman, Mom. You shouldn’t be bothering her.”

Mom? I hadn’t seen that coming. Although now it explained a lot. Clark and Dorothy were both suspicious and asked a ton of questions. I should have seen the resemblance.

“Son, you know my motherly radar is never wrong. If she helps you, then we’ll help her, and that’s final.” Dorothy’s voice turned stern.

Clarks face reddened, and his jaw ticked. He probably wasn’t used to being put in his place while wearing the badge. Something told me that no one else in town would make the same mistake and live to tell the tale. Clark yanked the door open and made a sweeping motion with his arm. “Let’s get this over with.”

I stepped inside the building. A small counter separated an area with two desks from the single office with a door that closed. The entire building was small and not in a cozy way. A county map hung on the wall behind glass. Next to it was a corkboard with flyers of missing kids, along with other community announcements.

The young guy and the woman stared at me as I followed Dorothy into the space. The woman behind the counter bustled through the little gate and pulled Dorothy into a hug.

I slipped my hands into my pockets; afraid I might actually touch one of them.

“Mrs. Weller, it’s so lovely to see you,” the gray-haired woman said with a smile. “Had I known you were coming I would have had a fresh pot of coffee waiting on you.”

“You’re so kind, Mavis.” Dorothy’s smile reached her eyes. “I’d like you to meet our new tourist, Ms. Mercy Bennett. Mercy, this is Mavis and Brandon.”

I nodded with a tight-lipped smile. “It’s a pleasure.”

A twinkle appeared in Brandon’s eyes. “Welcome to Mountain View, Mercy. Let me know if you ever need a tour guide.”

“She doesn’t,” Clark answered as he held the little swing door open for us to pass. Dorothy led the way to the only office and took a seat while gesturing for me to take one, too, like she was the real person who ran this office.

Clark walked in behind us and shut the door. “Okay, Mom, start explaining.”

And his mother did. She blurted out everything I’d told her about my ability and the real reason I was there. She gestured to Clark. “Show him the picture, dear.”

I slipped my phone out of my pocket and pulled up the look-alike picture of Talia and slid the phone across the desk in an attempt not to touch him. He took one look at it, and his jaw ticked. A twitch I was beginning to associate with his aggravation. His gaze hardened when he looked up at his mother. Something unspoken passed between the two before he turned his attention on me and slid the phone across the wood desk. “You say she’s in trouble?”

“No, I said shecouldbe. The FBI is looking for her, and I just want to make sure she’s all right. That’s all.”

---