Page 7 of Jacob

Tony sighed and gestured at him to follow.“Of course.Let’s go to my office.”

“I’m really sorry to bother you, sheriff, but I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”Tony hoped it didn’t have anything to do with blankets.

He left the door open after they walked into his office.The station was empty except for Taylor, anyway.Tony hadn’t known what to expect when he’d taken the job and had found out he’d only have one deputy, but it didn’t feel like enough, even though they were dealing with vanishing blankets and not much else so far.Maybe he ought to find a second deputy—and definitely a receptionist.

“Someone’s been digging in my trash,” the man said.

Tony had to resist the urge not to show the man how dismayed he was by his words.“I’m sorry to hear that, Mr...”

“Decker.”

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that, Mr.Decker.Why don’t you tell me a little bit about what’s going on?”

“There’s not much to say.I keep finding my trashcan open.I know I close them because of the raccoons, and as far as I know, they’re not yet smart enough to open them because I bought cans with a lid that actually closes.It has to be someone with hands.”

Mr.Decker was probably in his mid-seventies.He was wearing a cardigan, even though it was warm outside, and he looked confused and worried about this trash problem.Tony had been about to point out it was probably raccoons, but it didn’t sound like it, although he couldn’t entirely dismiss it.

He picked up a pen.Now he was talking, Mr.Decker seemed more relaxed.Tony wondered if maybe the man was lonely.He didn’t want to think that Mr.Decker was lying about his trash, but it didn’t feel like something to bring to the sheriff.Of course, neither were disappearing blankets.

It only took fifteen minutes to write a report.Tony promised that he’d come around and check the area, but he wasn’t sure what he’d find.Maybe the raccoonshadgotten particularly smart.

He couldn’t exactly say that to Mr.Decker, especially with how grateful the man was as Tony walked him back to the front desk.Mr.Decker shook Tony’s hands three times, and Tony noticed Taylor at his desk, trying not to laugh from the corner of his eye.He waited until Mr.Decker had left to turn to his deputy.

“Where were you hiding?”

“I wasn’t hiding.I went to grab coffee.”He gestured at the two cups on his desk.“I’m sorry I wasn’t here when Mr.Decker arrived.”

Tony rolled his eyes and grabbed the coffee with his name on it.“You’re not sorry.”

“I am.What did he want?”

“Someone’s been going through this trash.”

“Does he have any suspects?”

“Come on, Taylor.You know I have to take these things seriously.”

“Because you’re a newbie.”

“And because I’m the sheriff.I don’t want people to think I don’t take them seriously.Besides, it’s not like there’s anything more serious I need to focus on.”

Taylor nodded.“That’s true.So you’re investigating raccoons?”

“I’ll look into it just to make sure it’s not kids having fun or something.”

Taylor hummed as he drank his coffee.“You know, we’ve been blaming kids for everything weird that’s been happening around town lately, but maybe there’s something more to it.”

“Like what?Are the raccoons planning to take over the world?”

Taylor barked out a laugh.“The world, maybe not, but Green Hill?The town isn’t that big.Hell, maybe they’re raccoon shifters.If there are enough of them, they might be able to take over the town.”

For some reason, the image of a small army of raccoons rushing down Main Street popped up in Tony’s mind.He shook his head, amused.“I’m just saying that these people need to know I take them seriously.I’m here to protect them and help them where I can, and if Mr.Decker needs me to poke around his trash cans, I’ll do it.”

“I guess it’s better than staying in the office and drinking coffee all day.At least you’ll see a bit of the town.”

“I do want to explore.I haven’t had the opportunity yet.”

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