Page 46 of Dangerous Secrets
“You called and asked if Icould help you understand what was happening in the sheriff’sdepartment at the time you were falsely accused.”
That stopped him short.“Did you knowI was being framed?”
“Not at the time.I thinkNeil knew I wouldn’t stand for it, that I’d speak up if I foundsomething illegal going on, so he kept it from me.I’m sorry.Iwish I’d known.”The passing of years had done nothing to dim theintelligence shining from her clear eyes.
“You helped my grandfatherand Clara Bryant when they were trying to clear my name,” Walkersaid.
“I did, but I couldn’t domore than tell the truth about what I knew.I’m sorry it wasn’tmuch help.”
“It helped build acomplete picture.Thank you for that.”
Mrs.Watkins nodded and Walker wenton.“When I called yesterday, it seemed like you were expecting tohear from me.”
“I knew you were back intown and figured you’d want to learn for yourself what I know.”Shegestured to the box.“A lot of it’s in there.Take the box withyou.When it came out that Neil was mismanaging the office, and waspossibly involved in criminal activities, I made copies of what Ithought might be important.I didn’t want the records todisappear.”
She sipped her tea, then set her glasscarefully on the table, seeming to gather her thoughts.“Rememberthis: people are rarely all good or all bad.We’ve all got placeswhere we blur the lines.Neil Grafton wasn’t a bad man.Early inhis career, he’d never have made the choices that ended up costinghim his job and the respect of the community.But eventually hesacrificed his integrity to keep his position and convinced himselfhis choices were righteous.They weren’t, and now he has to livewith the consequences of those choices.”
She indicated the box.“Look throughwhat’s in there.I don’t know how much of it will be useful, butthere might be something.”
Laney rose from her seat.“Thank you,Mrs.Watkins.Can I take the glasses and tea inside foryou?”
“No, I’ll do it, but thankyou.”
Walker lifted the banker box, thenpaused.“Mrs.Watkins, don’t tell anyone you spoke to us, or thatyou gave me what’s in this box.”
She nodded, but the shadow crossingher expression made him prod her further.
“Did you tell anyone youmade these copies?”
“I mentioned it to mydaughter, Valerie.She lives in South Tahoe and we talk every day.She wants me to live with her, but I plan to stay in my home aslong as I can.”
“Ask her to keep it toherself.And be careful,” he warned.When she frowned, he pressed,“Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
She sat up straighter, seeming to havecome to a decision.“Yes.I don’t believe Jerod Fetterly isdead.”
Walker set the box back on the table.Laney stood next to him and appeared shocked.“You’d betterexplain.”
“About a year ago, mydaughter picked me up to take me to her home for a visit.Westopped at a gas station in a little town near Tahoe.”She gaveWalker a direct look.“I saw a man I believe was Jerod Fetterlycoming out of the gas station market.”
“Are you sure it washim?”
“Not a hundred percent,but I think so.He always liked junk food, and this man had a bagof chips, a couple of those skinny packages of beef jerky, and abeer.If it was Jerod, he’d put on a lot of weight and didn’t lookhealthy.He was wearing a ball cap down low over his forehead so Icouldn’t see his eyes.He opened that beer right there in theparking lot before getting into a Chevrolet Malibu.”
“Do you recall the name ofthe town?”
“It was a little placecalled Ponderosa Flats.Not much more there than the gas stationand market.”
“Any chance he saw you oryour daughter at the gas station?”
“I was sitting in the car,but he did look my way.I suppose he could’ve seen Val when shewent in to pay for the gas.They were in school here in Sistersabout the same time, so he might’ve recognized her.”
“Did you tell anyone yoursuspicions?”
“Only mydaughter.”
“Mrs.Watkins, you need tobe on guard.”He pulled out his phone.“I want to give you my cellnumber.”
“I have it from when youcalled.”
