Page 98 of All You Want
This is now a kidnapping case, and I cannot obstruct my own investigation.
“Shane, I have a confession to make. I was the Bigfoot guy with Tami. She wanted me to be incognito because she didn’t want police presence at the party. I danced with Larissa, and she took my glove and my star badge. But I did not kidnap her.”
“Sheriff Colson, you should not have left this detail out of your report,” Shane says. “You know what you have to do. Turn yourself in.”
“Not when we have to rescue Larissa,” I lower my voice and glance around for Tami. She seems to have disappeared in the dark, and I hope she joined another group.
“Stay where you are. I’m coming over, but if this were the big city, I would have to arrest you. Was that your mask we found in Evan’s room?”
“Yes, and I don’t know how it got there. You saw me go in.”
“You went in first,” he says. “How do I know you didn’t stick the evidence in the bathroom for me to find? It’s right next to the entrance.”
“Be on your way, now.” I put on my voice of authority. “Our first priority is finding Larissa and keeping the rest of the town safe.”
“I’ll alert the deputies,” Shane says. “Let the Vice Squad know they’re in charge. I heard Al and Dillon are at the Sixty Miners. If they’re not too drunk, I’ll round them up to help with the search. But Sheriff, you can’t be in on it, and you know it. You’ll have to sit this one out.”
My stomach sinks like a rock thrown in quicksand. I’m in real trouble now. I know I had nothing to do with the murder, and the timing of the body being found works in my favor. Shane himself saw me at the station before the fireworks show.
“I wasn’t finished with the reports,” I counter, not about to take orders from a subordinate. “Since you got this search and rescue operation, I’ll relieve you at the station.”
“Text me when you get to the station, and I’ll text you when I get the search party in position.” He hangs up, and I feel like my goose is well cooked.
Why did I hide that piece of information about the guy in the Bigfoot costume? Is this how cops get corrupted? Start with something small and it grows bigger?
Was this what happened to Weaver? Could he also have not wanted certain facts to come to light?
Now that Weaver is dead, it might not matter what he hid. He never found evidence to charge anyone with a crime, and if he knew anything, the details died with him.
I sure hope this Bigfoot detail doesn’t matter, but if Shane lets it go, he’ll always have something over me, and that sucks.
Thirty-Three
~ Tami ~
I stay back in the shadows underneath a tree and watch for Todd. His hunched posture with his hand cupping the phone is not a good sign. Something must have broken on the case, but he doesn’t want to let the word out.
Police oftentimes keep things from the public, especially things only the murderer would know, in order to be able to gather enough evidence for a conviction.
He hangs up and looks around for me. I turn on my flashlight and wave to him to let him know I’m safe.
“Did something big happen?” I ask as soon as he gets close enough.
“Can’t talk about it. I’m sorry.” He gives me a hug. “I have to go back to the station. Let me walk you back to the hotel.”
“Go ahead. I’ll be okay here. I’ll join up with Rosalie and Suzette.” I press a kiss on his lips. “Stay safe.”
“You too.” He guides me toward one of the hollow trees where I hear howls of laughter and the mock screams of my friends.
As soon as he sees me going toward them, he turns around and lopes back to his police vehicle. He’s running hard, and I want to run after him. Something bad happened. I can feel it in my bones, and I hope it isn’t another body.
Shivering, I hike toward the hollow tree with the dangling ghosts and fluorescent-painted faces on the bark.
A twig cracks behind me, and I startle like a jackrabbit. I stop and prick my ears to listen. The background noise of the creek, insects, and wind, as well as the occasional shout and scream of the other participants distract me from whatever is behind me.
Maybe I’m imagining things.
I keep moving, but something taps my shoulder from behind. I let out a scream. I’ve heard the legend that if a wolf taps your shoulder, never turn around, because if you do, he’ll sink his teeth into your throat.
