Page 30 of Tempting Fate
“But you didn’t see anyone when you were out there?” He shook his head. “Did you check the pack? Maybe it has identification in it.”
“I’m leaving that to the police.”
“That’s who you were on the phone with? Seems like overkill, don’t you think? It’s just a backpack, for God’s sake.” She laughed. “Unless you think the Taliban planted a bomb in Sierra Heights.”
He pinned her with a look and she immediately became contrite. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me, but…”
“But what? You think I overreacted because of Hope…Harper? You’re damned right.” He walked away, because he didn’t want to fight with her.
She didn’t follow and he heard the bedroom door slam.
Fifteen minutes later, the police chief pulled up. Drew had only met him a few times and knew Emily thought the world of him. Even so, Drew prepared himself for what he knew was coming. It was a small town and the chief had to appease the citizens to keep his job. But he’d passive aggressively let Drew know that he’d wasted his time. Seven years of dealing with law enforcement while searching for Hope had taught him that.
Drew got off the couch and opened the door as Chief Shepard came up the slate walkway. He wasn’t in uniform and Drew noted that he had a sports coat on. No jacket. “Thanks for coming.”
The chief nodded. “Nice place you’ve got here.”
“Thanks.” He ushered Shepard in. “It’s around back.”
The chief wiped his boots on the mat, took a curious look around, and followed Drew to the kitchen.
“I was getting a glass of water here when I saw…a shadow, I guess. I can’t say for sure whether it was a person.”
Shepard joined Drew at the sink and peered out the window. “How far away was it?”
“Near that tree.” He pointed at the grove. “Not much light comes in there, so it’s hard to see.”
“But you thought it was a person? Man or woman?” There was nothing flippant in the questions, at least not that Drew could detect.
“Difficult to tell,” he said. “The knapsack is over there.” He motioned to where he’d found it.
“Let’s have a look.” Shepard waited for Drew to lead the way.
They walked through the yard together, leaves crunching under their footsteps. The chief was taller than Drew and broader through the shoulders. His gait was brisk and efficient, making Drew wonder if he was in a hurry to get this over with.
“Did you touch it?”
“No. Look, I know this seems crazy. It’s a planned community for God’s sake. But…”
“You don’t have to explain.” The chief stopped and turned so he faced Drew. “People should follow their guts.” He continued to the spot where Drew had found the pack.
As they came up on it, the chief stuck his arm out to stop Drew from walking, pulled out his phone, and snapped a few pictures, first of the backpack and then of the canteen. He hiked around the area, checking the ground and the trees. Then he slipped on a pair of latex gloves and proceeded to rifle through the bag’s contents. Drew wondered if it was an elaborate charade to mock him.
Shepard circled the site and snapped a few more photographs.
“Do you think there is something sinister here?” Drew asked, feeling stupid for having gotten the ball rolling in the first place. He was starting to wonder if the chief was a nut.
“Not necessarily. You were smart to call, though.” He picked the pack up by its strap and grabbed the canteen. “I’m going to take these with me. You’ll call again if you see anything suspicious.” He didn’t pose it as a question, but Drew nodded anyway.
Instead of going through the house, the chief walked around the side of the garage to the driveway, where he opened his tailgate and dropped the items in his trunk. “You take care now,” he drawled in an accent that seemed to come and go. Maybe the south, Drew couldn’t tell. And with that, Shepard drove off.
Chapter 9
Raylene rubbed her hands together. Even with gloves on, her fingers felt like they were about to fall off.
“Bet you wish you were in LA right now.” Gabe came down from the ladder and stood back to view the sign. “Looks good.”
“It does, doesn’t it? You think they’ll like it?”
