“You think Laura’s crush is the same thing?”
Win nodded. “But she doesn’t realize it’s not real. For right now, this fantasy of you is what’s keeping her alive.”
“You think she’s suicidal?”
Win shook her head. “No idea. That’s a question for Emily. I was hoping to hear from her with another bunk for Laura.”
I put my arms around her and drew her to me. “It never gets easier, does it? We survive one crisis and another comes.”
“This one’s my fault. I shouldn’t have brought her here. But I couldn’t leave her there alone. She hadn’t been eating, probably not sleeping. In a deep state of hypervigilance.”
“It’s a no-fault situation. You didn’t have another option and I know that.” I lifted her chin, kissed her and pulled her closer. “Do we have to be celibate tonight?”
Win groaned. “Maybe just quiet. I’ll post Des outside the bedroom door.” She started to unbutton my shirt, but stopped after two buttons. “I don’t want to have to tiptoe around our own home. I want to get that room ready for Bahar and Dorri. I want to teach. Live life like a normal human being. I’ve had enough drama in my life for ten lives. Am I being selfish, Sarah?”
“No. You deserve a peaceful life, even if your wife’s the sheriff.” I pulled her into a long kiss, feeling her full response. “We’ll call Em the first thing in the morning. I was going to take tomorrow off, but maybe I better wait until she’s out of here.”
“I’ve been looking forward to your day off.” She unbuttoned another button. “But I can wait until it’s safe to play in the whole house all day long. As long as we can play a bit tonight.”
“Give Des her last walk for the night and I’ll be waiting for you in our bedroom.”
* * *
At dawn, I left our warm bed before Win woke up, understanding only a bit what Win had told me about creating fantasies. If I didn’t want to think about something, I just didn’t. I heard Em’s voice in my head saying, “And how’s that opening you for new growth?”
I congratulated myself for remembering to leave my anonymous letters on Win’s desk and grateful she hadn’t asked about them last night. Maybe she’d be able to remove the gray sense of dread I felt when I handled them.
The countryside was tucked underneath a heavy coverlet of snow, nothing breaking the sculptured surface but trees. I watched four ravens swim across the gray sky. They made it look so easy. Did they ever wish for a normal life, one without drama? Was a commonplace life the only norm they knew?
Not wanting to be there I pulled into the lot behind our building. I’d been going full steam for over a week and I desperately needed a break. I went straight up to our forensics lab on the back half of the third floor. Detectives occupied the front, but I saw a glow from only one desk lamp. I took the evidence envelope Win had picked up at the Brownes into the darkened lab, flipped on a light and wrote a brief note to examine the letters for fingerprints and DNA.
I walked back to the detectives’ loft and poked my head around the corner to see John Morgan, head of the Investigation Division, bent over a report on his desk.
“Awful early for you to be here, John.”
He jumped and looked up. “Morning Sarah. I woke up thinking about those damn letters and it occurred to me maybe we were headed down the wrong path. Some of the language reminded me of this.” He punched up a website on his computer.
I scanned the site. “McCrumb County Rangers? Is this new?”
“This MCR site’s been online about a year, but there’re others. They’re one of the militias that’ve joined forces with the sovereign citizen movement.”
“How long have you been following these groups?” I asked.
“Since I was on patrol and had an unfortunate experience with a sovereign citizen.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Seemed to me at the time we were dealing with a bunch of crackpots, but I checked out one of the sites. They’d had over a hundred and fifty thousand hits. Scared me.”
“That was the guy who shot at you, wasn’t it?”
John nodded. “Claimed I didn’t have the authority to arrest him. Then he refused the authority of the court. Judge sent him away for a long sentence and he’s been in trouble ever since.”
“You think he or one of these people might have sent the letters?”
“Possibly. We can’t prove it, but some of the language on these websites is identical. Don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.”
I did. We’d thought the threats were directed at the first openly gay sheriff in southern Indiana. Me. But maybe we’d assumed something we never should’ve. “Send me what you’ve got on all of these groups. Notify our internet czar about this particular one.”
“I presume you mean Nathan.”
I started to leave. “Oh, and there are similar letters from the Browne home. Take a look at them when Leslie finishes dusting them.”
John nodded. “Right. Rumor has it the Brownes were harboring a CIA agent and that fits right in with the kind of paranoia MCR exploits.”
“CIA?”
“I don’t know anyone who trusts the CIA, but these guys are much worse. New world order, also called Obama World Order—imagine Nineteen Eighty-Four on steroids—all facilitated by the CIA.”
“Hell. If these idiots did anything to cause the Brownes to run off the road, we can go after them hard.” I glanced at my watch. “I doubt if we’ll hear anything from Mike before noon. Have Leslie let me know when she’s finished.”
Barely eight in the morning and already I had full day’s work ahead of me. Rangers?
* * *
When I got back to my office, I called Em. “We’ve got a situation.”
“Laura?” she asked.
“Yeah. Win thinks she’s unraveling quickly.” I told her how Win had found Laura in our bed, hugging my pillow.
“Shit. I don’t have anybody lined up yet who can take her right away.”
“Can you talk to Laura? If you want to take her up to Indianapolis, I can arrange a ride with our deputies. Interstate just opened.”
“I hate to push her, but that’s a possibility. Let me make a few more phone calls, Sarah.”
“Uh, one thing you might take into consideration is that she was the target of threatening letters sent to Barry and Linda Browne. We found their car and they’re dead. It could be an accident from the storm, but we’re running a death investigation.”
Em didn’t say anything for a long time. “That changes things. Can Win bring her to my office?”
“Sure, but clear it with Win. She seems to understand what’s going on with Laura and tried to explain it to me, but Em, I don’t understand. I don’t want her in our home. That kind of behavior really spooks me.”
“I’ll call now.” Em disconnected.
Around nine thirty, Mike walked into my office and placed an evidence bag on my desk. “Cause of the Browne crash. Found it in the flat tire.”
I examined the slug in the bag. “Rifle?”
“Looks like a thirty-aught-six to me, but Vincente will have to verify.”
“So it wasn’t an accident. Well, hell’s bells.”
Chapter Six
Win
I got off the phone with Emily, got Laura packed up. With Des riding behind me and Laura at shotgun, we headed for Emily’s office in Greenglen. At this point, I’d tried everything I could. Laura was in her own world. This morning she’d wept and apologized for sleeping with Sarah.
“We were just swept away. I never meant to hurt you, Win,” she said, looking so mournful. She glanced at me without turning her head.
What the hell could I say to that? She’d lost touch with reality. I shivered. Maybe because I could’ve slipped into that same mist so easily.
I deposited Laura and Des in Emily’s waiting room, then tapped on the door. I went in, closed the door behind me. “She’s flipped out.”
“Tell me what happened,” Emily said. After I did, Emi
ly’s response was short. “Crap.”
I started pacing. “Are you going to have the deputy drive you there?”
“I didn’t think it’d be necessary.”
“Is that a no?”
“I didn’t make arrangements.”
“Let me go with you. She’s not only fragile but…”
Emily stared at me. “You think she’s dangerous?”
I nodded. “Explosive. Maybe. I don’t know, but I’m getting a feeling.”
“Then let’s get going, and I’ll be glad to have you ride with me.” Emily grabbed her coat.
“Give me a minute,” I said. “I need to let Sarah know where I’m going.”
She nodded and went out her door and into the waiting room.
I called Sarah, told her what was going on. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take to get her admitted, but I should be back by dinnertime.”
“You think Laura’s dangerous?” Sarah asked. “I mean, able to hurt someone?”
“I don’t have a good answer. She’s on the edge, but I don’t know which edge.”
“Is Laura armed?”
“Oh, crap. I hope not. I didn’t even think of it and I should have.” She’d come with her service weapon, but I’d lost track of it.
“Check before you leave, Win. Please stay safe.”
“You too.” We disconnected and I opened the door.
The waiting room was empty. Except for Des, her lead tied to a closet door.
* * *
Des whined, clearly uneasy with what had occurred. I untied her and ran out the door. I slid to a stop at the empty space that had held Emily’s Jeep when we pulled in. I let Des jump in my truck first, followed her with my key turning the ignition before my feet were all the way in.
I followed the Jeep’s tracks to the street entrance, turned right to follow them. Fairly easy since the street hadn’t been heavily used. But when I came to an intersection with Market Street, the slush was too churned up to yield any information.
I called Sarah as I began a sweep of the area for a battered old blue Jeep.
“She did what?” Sarah asked. “Are you sure Emily didn’t just take off?”
“I’m not sure of anything, Sarah. Is this my paranoia kicking in? Possibly. But Emily asked me to come along. Why would she leave without me? My gut’s telling me Emily’s in danger.”
“I’ll put a BOLO out and notify Greenglen PD. Where are you?”
“Doing a grid search. I lost the trail at Market, been working my way north. I don’t have Marty’s number with me. Could you call her? Find out if she’s home?”
“You think Laura might head to her home? What happens if she meets Em’s partner? Will that blow her up?”
“Don’t know. Where else around here does she have?”
“The Brownes’ empty house. I’ll be with you soon.”
“Thanks, Sarah. For not doubting me.”
As I headed back south minutes later, I saw headlights flashing in my rearview mirror. Pulled over. Got out with Des and walked to Sarah’s SUV. I opened the back door, Des jumped in. I followed into the front seat at shotgun. “Hear anything from the BOLO?”
She shook her head. “I called the woman who lives across the road from the Brownes. Nobody’s been there since you left with Laura, but she’ll keep an eye out and call if they show up.”
“Then it’s Emily’s. You want to do a drive-by?”
“Slow down, Win. We don’t know they’re at Em’s. Laura knows this car, so a drive-by might heighten whatever she’s feeling. Do you know what she’s feeling?”
I leaned back, closed my eyes. Tried to get back into the old frame of mind. “I think she’s had a break with reality. I did, but mine lasted a couple of minutes at most. This seems longer, maybe a deeper break.” I opened my eyes. Didn’t want to dwell in that black space anymore. “Those days alone must have terrorized her. Maybe this is her way of regaining control.”
“Do you think she’s capable of violence?”
“Yeah. There’s nothing worse for a marine than feeling afraid and not being able to take control of the situation. Even though she spent most of her career behind a desk, Laura’s a marine.” Had been trained to stop the enemy. To kill. “I didn’t even think about her service weapon, just assumed someone had taken it away.”
Sarah rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands. “I called Marty. She’s not at home and Em doesn’t expect her until dinnertime. She also said they don’t lock their doors, front or back.”
“We need to get close to the house, Sarah. There’s a woods behind it. You know the quickest way in?”
“How fast is the clock ticking?”
“Fast.” I hit the dashboard. “My whole perspective could be skewed because I owe Emily my life. If she hadn’t been there for me, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be with you. Let me get to the back of the house, get eyes on what’s happening.”
“Are you armed?”
“No.”
“We’re not even sure Laura’s there. Win, we’re not sure of anything.” She shifted into drive and began to head for Emily’s house.
Chapter Seven
Sarah
My phone rang just as I pulled up to the path through the woods. I checked the caller ID. I put my hand on Win’s arm. “Wait, it’s Em.”
“This should be interesting. Prove whether I’m nuts or not.” Win turned to me. “Play along with whatever she says. If I’m right, the call’s coerced.”
I put it on speaker. “What’s up, Em?”
“Hey, Sarah. You have any idea where Win is? This is the second appointment she’s missed without calling.”
“No idea.” I watched Win pantomime driving. “I’m out on patrol and haven’t heard from her since I left this morning.”
There was a long silence. “Uh, do you think she’s been acting strange lately?”
Win nodded emphatically. Wrote on a pad.
“Yeah. Sometimes I get the feeling she’s not living in the real world. Uh, says things I know aren’t true. How do I handle that, Em?”
“Play along.” She paused and I heard whispers. “Sarah, I’d like you to come over and we can talk about this. For Win. Come to my house. Let me give you directions. Have something to write on?”
“Hold on.”
Win pointed to her watch, then made a stretch it out sign.
“Okay.” Em gave detailed directions which I didn’t need since I’d been there numerous times. “As long as I don’t get called out, I should be there in about forty-five minutes.”
“You can’t make it sooner?” Emily asked.
“Not unless you want me to slide into your driveway with siren and lights flashing.”
I disconnected. “You’re right. She made the call under duress. I’m calling SWAT.”
“No,” Win said. “I don’t want to make this into a standoff. Before you do anything, let me get eyes on the house. See if the back door is unlocked. We need intel first.”
“Don’t take any action on your own. Promise me.”
“Promise. Come along if you want. But not you, Des. Stay.”
I parked at the back of the woods and we jogged down the trail to the place where it opened to backyards. Win turned into the woods, and even though they didn’t provide a lot of cover in their winter nakedness, Laura would have to be looking out a back window to see us. We stopped behind Em’s and sank behind a big oak still feathered with a few dried leaves.
“How do we do this?” I asked. “If we rush the back, she’d have time to hurt Em.”
“You’re going to have to go in, at least walk up the front walk. I can rush her while her attention’s fixed on you.” Win searched my face, for what? Fear? Uncertainty? “I can slip in the back. If the door’s unlocked.”
“Marty said—”
“Laura may have locked it.”
“But there’s no way to know and you can’t check now because she could see you.”
Win shook
her head. “I’ll work my way farther down, come from next door. Cover me?”
“Don’t take unnecessary chances. Please.”
She began working her way through the trees and brush parallel to the houses. When she got two doors down, she walked casually from the woods to the back door of the house, the hood of her parka up and with the shorter gait of an older person. As soon as she was out of sight from Em’s, she moved rapidly to the back of the house. She ducked under windows and moved to the kitchen door. Slowly she reached up to the doorknob and turned it. I could see it turn all the way.
Win signaled success and got her phone out. “Go on,” she whispered. “When you get back to your truck, call Emily, tell her your callout was canceled. Ask her if you should wait or come on. When you get to the front door, I’ll begin entry. Keep this line open so I know what’s going on.”
“Affirmative.” I disconnected, kept as low as I could and ran as soon as I hit the trail. When I got back, I opened the car and started the engine. Des whined and kept looking through the woods. “It’s okay, girl. Win’s okay.” I reached back ruffled her fur and took her lead off. She’d managed to get it tangled on the console between front seats. I imagined she’d done a lot of pacing while I’d been gone. The heat felt good on my feet.
I made the call. Em didn’t pick up until the fourth ring. “Call was canceled and I’m making better time than I thought. Should I stop at the station or are you ready for me?”
A pause. “I’m not doing anything but waiting for you, Sarah. Front door’s open, just come on in.”
“See you soon.” I disconnected and called Win. “She’s left the front door open and I’m supposed to just walk in. I’ll knock on the door before I go in.”
“Roger that.”
I unzipped the slash pocket on the front of my parka and tucked the phone in. “Can you still hear?”
I heard a muffled “Affirmative.”
“Here we go.”
I drove slowly, around the block twice and back to Em’s street. As Em’s modified A-frame came into view, I said, “Target in sight. Pulling into drive.”
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