Page 63 of Unexpected Danger
“Why don’t you and Kit try to find some bugs?”
“What kind of bugs, Daddy?”
There was a pause, and it sounded as if Roarke had gunned the engine. “Any kind of bugs. Maybe box elders.”
“Pill bugs?”
“Sure. Do you remember the other name for pill bugs?”
“Yeah. Roly polies.”
“Yep. You and Kit try to find some bugs hiding in Mom’s shoes or maybe along the molding.”
“And what if we find some?”
Mila handed Xander a plastic container. “You can put the spiders in here.”
“And here’s a flashlight,” said Londyn, withdrawing one from a corner of the closet.
“All right. Love you, Daddy.”
“Love you too, son. I’ll be home soon.”
“Hey, Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Who was that guy outside in the field? He wasn’t a ranch hand, and he wasn’t Uncle Brodie. Who was he?”
Londyn’s gaze connected with Mila’s.
“I’m not sure, Xander. Maybe the guy from the electrical company or something.”
“Yeah. Probably so. They come to our house and see if we left the lights or the heater on, huh?”
“They do. All right. I’m gonna go now, but I’m almost home. Uncle Brodie will be stopping by, too.”
“Oh, good. I want to tell him all about my swimming lessons.”
Xander handed the phone back to his mom. Londyn strained to hear if Dustin had gotten inside the house.
Where were the police?
What was taking so long?
Had Aileen returned from town? “We need to text Aileen.”
Mila did so while Londyn remained on the line with the dispatcher.
“The sheriff and a deputy have arrived. They will check the perimeter for the suspect first before coming to the door.”
Londyn thanked the dispatcher. Would law enforcement find Dustin? The man up to now had been elusive. Where was he even staying? Why hadn’t the BOLO law enforcement shared produce any results?
Why had no one found him, even though he always seemed to find Londyn?
Brodie entered the sheriff’s side of the law enforcement center in Pronghorn Falls. It had been an uncharacteristically busy morning. Aiding the police department with an issue, assisting a motorist on Antelope Road, answering a domestic, followed by a report of someone driving without an interlock device, and finally rounding up some loose livestock monopolized his morning. He glanced down at his boots, still caked with mud. Most of it, he’d been able to scuff off outside in the grass. He immediately headed to the staff room and poured himself a much-needed cup of coffee, which he doctored with a generous amount of creamer and two sugar packets. Some peoplerequired strong black coffee when under stress. Brodie? He preferred extra condiments when that occasion arose.
He nodded at two employees in the staff room, the newest deputy, Tanya Overton, who had taken the place of Deputy Garriot when he was fired after deciding to side with criminals in the murder that Mila had witnessed. Overton was chatting with the temporary dispatcher, Juanita Andrade, who was filling in for the regular dispatcher on maternity leave.
