Page 24 of Deadly Deception
I felt a pang of regret and said, “I’m sorry, Nana. I don’t mean to worry you.”
“I know that, and I already told you to stop apologizing. That makes three times and that is far too often. Be safe and call when you can. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I answered easily before ending the call. I was still staring at my dark screen when Boone opened the bathroom door, his body surrounded by a warm fog.
“Everything okay?” Boone worriedly asked.
“It’s fine,” I answered and hoped I wasn’t lying. “Let’s get you some waffles.”
“Ithink I’ve gained ten pounds between last night’s pizza and the waffles this morning.” Boone patted his belly. It was impossible to see him below the puffy parka he’d purchased last evening. It was probably a size too big and thicker than the natives in the area would wear given the current temperature. They’d reserve coats like this for after Christmas. Boone looked ridiculous in the most endearing way possible. He also looked warm and toasty.
“You’ll probably walk it all off today.” I was glad I’d brought comfortable shoes and even happier I’d insisted Boone pack his hiking boots.
“Don’t remind me,” Boone lamented. “Remember when you said you’d roll me around last night? Is that offer still on the table?” I thought Boone was only half teasing.
I chuckled. “I don’t think you’ll want to do a lot of rolling around on the streets we’ll be walking.” I recognized the area where Navarre had been picked up and suspected today could be dicey. I hoped Sheriff Henson planned on sending a couple boys or girls in blue with us.
We arrived at the sheriff’s office and headed inside. Tompkins was already there, leaning against the front desk and speaking with his niece, Sara. I hadn’t gotten a chance to berate him yesterday for promising Henson Boone’s services before asking Boone himself if that was okay. Boone had a big heart and inevitably erred on the side of being helpful, even to his own detriment. That didn’t mean others should take advantage of him. Right or wrong, I was beginning to view it as my job to run emotional interference.
“Tompkins,” I greeted while holding out my hand. Tompkins shook it, and I immediately turned to Sara and offered the same greeting. Boone stood by my side and offered his own verbal greetings, but didn’t offer a handshake.
I looked around the quiet lobby and asked, “Is Sheriff Henson in?”
“He’s in his office,” Sara answered. “I can’t say that a night of sleep made him any less prickly.”
“Maybe he didn’t sleep well,” Boone posited.
I had no idea and cared even less.
“Ah, the gang’s all here,” Sheriff Henson said as he walked down the hall and toward the lobby. He still smelled heavily of aftershave, the scent hitting me nearly before his voice. Henson didn’t take us to his office. The lobby was clear enough that he said, “I’m not sure how you plan on finding our victim, and honestly, I don’t care to know.” Henson held up his hands, palms out, and glowered Boone’s direction. “I’m sending Officer Witkowski with you today. I’m not holding out a lot of hope for this plan, but if by some miracle it works, you don’t touch anything.” Henson pointed his finger at my chest.
Feathers ruffled, I said, “I’ve worked homicide for over ten years. I believe I know how to work a scene.”
“I’m not saying you don’t. What I am saying is that you don’t have jurisdiction here, and I don’t want a technicality screwing up this case anymore than it is already.” I didn’t think the case was so much screwed up as complicated, but I kept that thought to myself. “If you do find anything, you let Officer Witkowski take over and you get out of his way. Got it?”
“Got it,” Boone quipped back with an exaggerated two-finger salute. “We will be good as gold,” Boone promised with an obscenely wide, fake smile.
Unimpressed, Henson rubbed his hands up and down his face and mumbled, “God help us,” before hollering, “Witkowski,you’re up.” With that, Sheriff Henson appeared to be done with us. He walked back down the hall, and we all heard the slam of his door.
“He’s not as bad as all that,” Tompkins offered. “I’ve known Alfonse for over two decades. He’s got his faults, but at the end of the day, he’ll value the truth over his own prejudices.”
“I suppose that’s something,” Boone answered as we waited for Officer Witkowski to rise from his desk, grab his coat, and head our direction.
“You folks ready to head out?” Witkowski asked.
“As ready as we’re going to be. Lead the way,” Boone answered.
I noticed Tompkins didn’t follow and turned to ask, “Aren’t you coming?”
Tompkins shook his head. “With my shitty back, I’d just slow you down. I’m going to visit with Sara a bit longer and then go home.”
I wondered why Tompkins had made the effort to show up at all but figured he wanted to make certain Henson followed up on his word. Either that, or he simply enjoyed visiting with his niece.
“I’ll see you later,” Tompkins promised before turning his back on us, dismissing me from view.
“We’ll take the cruiser,” Witkowski said as I caught back up with him and Boone. “I hope you don’t mind riding in the back. I promise not to lock you in,” Witkowski joked.
I noticed Boone remained silent and wondered if he really was afraid of riding in the back seat where criminals were shackled and kept apart from general society.
