Rasp Meadow Crossing

by Kieran York

  “That’s good information to have. Gives her more of a motive than Grace has. Grace dislikes Cal because of his womanizing when they were married.”

  “Grace was lucky she kept that marriage as long as she did. That woman’s mouth goes nonstop about how he ruined her life. I think they ruined one another’s lives.” Faye took a deep breath and then continued her tirade. “Timber City would be a nice place to live if the only women here were you, me, your mother, Gran, and the two lesbians at the newspaper. All the town’s women in my age range think I’m going for their husbands.” Faye’s laugh sputtered a moment. “Hell, some of ‘em I am goin’ for.”

  Royce grinned. She cleared her throat, “Do the husbands know you’ve got them in your site?”

  “They are the first to know,” Faye said as she ruffled her colorful curls.

  “By the way, have you talked with Luther?”

  “He’s pissed that he needs to stay here. Why would he have killed Cal?”

  “He was one of the last to see Cal alive.” Royce thought out loud, “His polygraph showed deception.”

  “But Royce, where was the motive?” Faye fiddled with her beaded turquoise necklace.

  “Maybe there was a deal going on with Cal and him.”

  Faye shook her head negatively. “They were friendly years ago. Yancy, Luther, and Cal. Before Luther went to prison.” With a grin that coveted a secret, she declared, “Maybe guns.”

  It occurred to Royce that maybe Luther and Cal had something on one another. Threats. Maybe Luther was trying to shake Cal down. It was an ugly thought. But that was speculation that clearly made sense.

  Royce inquired, “How chummy are Luther and Tony?”

  “Tony barely knew the Sumners. He was in his teens when Luther took what he calls his sabbatical.” A giggle escaped. “I think back about life, and I realize that it could have gone differently. If Luther hadn’t persuaded his brother to be a watchman for his drug deals, you’re your father wouldn’t have been killed. Yancy might not have become a criminal. I might have ended up happy.” Her eyes looked bleak.

  “Luther was the lynchpin.” Royce’s eyes closed a moment. Faye’s words put the crime of her father’s death in perspective. If not for Luther, she might have also ended up happy.

  ***

  When Royce appeared, Chance’s tail swatted the air with joy. Tickling her head, the sheriff spoke to the young dog. “I wish I could take you out for a run this afternoon, girl. But I have a feeling I’m not going to get finished with work until dark.”

  Looking over at the High Country Animal Hospital, she wondered if Hertha and the children were assimilating into the community.

  Royce gazed around the town she loved, she recognized the love. Timber City’s beauty and tranquility impacted those who resided in the small mountain community. It was rustic, majestic, and like a hidden jewel sparkling under the high country sun.

  She would spend the remainder of the day attempting to work out the reason for a town merchant being shot to death. Royce wished to clean the city of corruption – crime. She wanted to solve Cal’s murder.

  She would also pour through paperwork, look at reports, and attempt to detect who a woman was, and why she was murdered. If at all possible, she would determine who had killed that woman forty years ago.

  Motive, she thought. What was the motive for taking a young woman’s life? What was the motive someone had for killing Calvin Wagner? Other than self-defense, what could ever be reason enough for taking a life? As difficult as the first two questions might be to resolve, the last seemed the least likely to ever be answered.

  She had spent years, even before her father was shot down in cold blood, wondering about violence. Law enforcement struggled with both the question and the answer.

  The thought of people perpetrating crimes saddened her. It baffled her. Perhaps it was part of her family business. She couldn’t help but to believe her father had also been concerned about humanity being endangered.

  Chapter 12

  Morning roll had been called, reports given, and assignments had been passed around to the deputies. As they disbursed, Royce watched them. The thought was there. Dedicated enforcers were devoted to the law. They pinned their badges on their chests. They knew the little gleam of light that shown over each deputy’s heart was a target.

  Statistics unhappily reported that cop killing was at an all-time high. Each time deputies were sent into areas of danger they were prepared to die, be wounded, and to be scorned and ridiculed.

  In the hallway, she heard a commotion. A deputy rounded the corner and skidded to a stop. “Sheriff, Chance came with you today, didn’t she?”

  Quickly, Royce went to the front door. That was where Chance often waited for the sheriff. The space where she usually sat was empty. “She’s gone.” Her face was suddenly pallid. She felt tremors as she instructed, “Let’s fan out. Concentric search.” The deputies would search outwardly from the crime. As she rushed out onto the street. She called out, “Construct a perimeter barrier. We’re going Code Adam.” There was no sign of the German shepherd. The streets were empty.

  The first thought was that Luther had abducted her. He’d opened the door and took her. Or he in some way enticed her. Royce’s heart was pounding. Deputies were calling for Chance.

  Two of the deputies had pulled their vehicles around so that they could loop the city’s outskirts. As Royce was running toward the alley where she sometimes took Chance, she heard Hertha shriek. “My children are gone!”

  Royce dashed across the street. “Chance is also missing.”

  “Vannie wouldn’t just leave from the front steps of the cottage. Antero might, but Vannie wouldn’t.” Hertha was hysterical. Her face was ashen, and her blinks rapid. “They were waiting for me to take them to school. I thought they’d be okay.”

  “We’ll find them.” Royce’s voice was strained. “Maybe they’re all together. I’ll check behind the courthouse.”

  She increased her pace as she left Hertha’s sight. She rounded the corner to see the backside of the city building. There, she saw the two children frolicking with the pouncing dog.

  “Hi, Sheriff,” Antero called.

  Royce waved. She then lifted her radio, “Found them all. They’re behind the courthouse.” She released a heavy, heartfelt breath.

  Hertha and three deputies came around the corner. Her palm pressed to her heart, then she hugged the children. “Why did you two leave? You know you’re not allowed to wander.”

  Shavano answered, “Mom, we saw Chance through the door window. She looked like she needed a potty break. We didn’t steal her. We opened the door and she came with us.”

  “Willingly,” Antero reiterated with a head shake.

  Royce gave Chance a hug. Chance obviously went to protect the children. She might have barked for Royce, but the door had been closed for the deputy’s meeting. “I’m sure she just wanted to take care of them.” Royce put her arms around the children’s shoulders. “Everyone’s safe now.”

  Hertha knelt to one knee to take Chance into her arms. “Thank you, Chance. You took great care of them.” When she stood, she turned with hands on hips and scolded, “Kids, I’ve told you never to wander away. From here on, you’re going to have to stay inside unless someone is with you. The deputies are too busy to deal with you two running off.”

  “Mom,” Antero explained, “Chance needed to take a pee. We saved the deputies some time.” Pouting, his face contorted. “Sorry, Mom and Sheriff.”

  Royce shrugged. Her grin was being as well-hidden as she could make it. “Saved them time?”

  “Nobody had to clean up a puddle,” Antero explained. “Sure enough. She peed over there.”

  Hertha glanced back at Royce. “I’m so sorry.” A flush crept over her face. “Vannie and Antero, you must never again take Chance from where she is. Royce needs to know her location. They work together. Chance is a police dog.”

  Vannie’s frail voice said, �
��Even police dogs need to go potty.”

  Deputies began laughing. Royce smiled. “She’s safe, the children are safe. It’s all okay. I’d better get back to work. Come on, Chance. Playtime is over.”

  Hertha motioned for the children to begin their walk down the sidewalk. She touched Royce’s arm. “Thank you. I’m sorry.” Troubled, she looked away. “I’m completely lost. It’s as if I’m chasing to catch up to life.” Her eyes blinked. Her head sagged. “Well, I’m not sure I’m capable of being a good parent.”

  “Of course you are,” Royce encouraged. “As soon as you get settled in, you’ll be fine. Those kids adore you.”

  “They have no one else.” Hertha’s eyes watered for a moment.

  “And?”

  “And I do love them.” The words were spoken with tenderness, but with reluctance. The veterinarian sighed heavily. Hertha didn’t need to issue an addendum about them costing her the life she once loved – and the woman she loved.

  ***

  “How did your morning go?” Molly asked as Royce entered the Pantry.

  She took off her Stetson as she sat at the counter. “It seems the more information I find on the suspects, the more questions. Luther is keeping himself in the shadows. Most of the other suspects have gone back to their everyday lives. As if Calvin Wagner never lived. I dropped by Wagner Gun Shop earlier. Both his children were there hawking guns. Grace was in the back room pouring over the daily books. As if she might be cross checking, she was studying numbers on her computer. The figures must not have been adding up because she was cursing.”

  “Did you ask her why she cussed?” Molly placed a plate of Buttermilk Apple Coffee Cake across the counter. She leaned toward her daughter.

  “Sure. But she just said Calvin had his head up his ass.”

  Molly sputtered. “That’s one of her favorite saying. She’d even say it at church. I remember Dora and I chuckling about it.”

  “Then she told me that Cal never had a head for business. I had to laugh, reminding her that she had just pointed out that his head was up his arse. He apparently wasn’t good with numbers. Just the promoting and selling.”

  “She’d come in here fit to be tied,” Molly mentioned as she cut pie.

  Royce frowned, “I found it odd. She broke from her tirade once. Just looked up to say that she had no part in her ex-husband’s death. Then she said that she didn’t kill him, but she wasn’t one bit sorry to see him go. She said things were more cohesive since he died. What a weird word ‘cohesive’ is to use. She appeared to me to be blaming him – spilling her hatred over him. I was shocked.”

  “Strange thing to say to the sheriff.” Molly’s eyes narrowed. “She must know you suspect her entire family. Her son and daughter both act guilty to me.”

  “Do they come in here?”

  “For coffee and sometimes lunch. Emma eats whatever pie I have. Tony never eats sugar. He’s a body builder. Well, one day he tells that he never wanted to end up with his father’s gut.” Molly laughed. “He’s a tall guy, and very, very strong. So I’m crediting my pasties with beefing him up.”

  Amused, Royce grinned. “Maybe you should have given me pasties, without the coffee cake.”

  “You’re plenty buff. I think that’s what they call it. Or cut, or something. Anyway, it must be that working out you do at Crystal. Nick is getting himself into shape.”

  “All the bad guys lift weights,” Royce joked, “so we need to be able to chase those twenty year olds.”

  “I heard Chance was taken by Hertha’s kids.”

  “I’ll bet Gwen or Nadine told you. I’m sure it will be a blurb in the paper. Yes, Chance was waiting for the morning meeting to adjourn. The kids came over and let her out. Chance shouldn’t have gone, but I think she realized the kids needed supervision. We found them back of the courthouse.”

  “Well, I’m glad you didn’t get angry with Chance.”

  “Mom, she gives her heart to pleasing me. I would have wanted her to protect them.”

  “And I’m glad that you didn’t get angry with Hertha for not watching her little ones.”

  “I wasn’t thrilled with it. We’ve got Luther lurking around. He’s threatened Chance.” Royce wasn’t going to mention that she’d also been threatened by him. “So obviously everyone needs to be cautious.”

  “Poor Hertha is raising them alone. Sometimes I think it’s too much for her.” Molly added, “I also think that she believes it’s too much for her.”

  “I offered to help raise them, but by then she’d already made her determination. She was going to live with the professor. I wasn’t good enough.”

  “Don’t be unkind. She knew you didn’t want children. And for the life of me, I don’t know why. They’re such a gift. You’ve always gotten on with kids. They love you.”

  Royce felt a crush in her lungs. “I can’t answer why I didn’t want children. When Hertha and I discussed it over the years, I’d always talked her out of it. I knew inside that I shouldn’t be a parent. I can’t give you a reasonable answer about why, Mom. I don’t know why.”

  “I surely don’t know why either. I know why Hertha left you. She knew you’d sulk every day of your life if you had kids to raise up. She didn’t want you unhappy. I’ve told you that. She’s told you that. Gwen and Nadine have both told you that.” There was silence. “Well?”

  “Yes, everyone told me that.” Royce finished her coffee in a series of gulps. She stood. “See you later, Mom.”

  Royce made her way across the street. When her phone chime rang, she answered, “Sheriff Madison.”

  “Hi, Royce.”

  Royce recognized Lyn Evan’s confident, sometimes arrogant voice. “Thanks for sending the candy. I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too. I’m sending the new truffle de cappuccino. Now, if I could convince the company to make donut candy – I could call it the Cops Assortment.” Her chuckle always made Royce laugh.

  “I’d certainly enjoy it. How is everything in the city?” Royce inquired.

  “I like it here, so needless to say, I won’t be coming back.”

  Royce teased, “We were an amazing team for a year.”

  “Royce, now that Hertha’s returned, why don’t you tell her how you really feel?”

  “I’ve told her that I’ll never love anyone again.”

  “Babe, I got to know you for the last year. You’ve got to admit, I am brilliant at observing and interpreting. That is what makes me such a dynamo district attorney.”

  “Lyn, I respect your intuitive gifts. Heck, I respect everything about you.”

  “Then trust me. Tell her how you feel.”

  “I don’t know how I feel.” Royce closed her eyes. There was fear, somewhere deeply buried inside of her. “I really don’t know.”

  “Sure you do, Sheriff. You’re still in love with her. You’ve always been in love with her and you’ll always be in love with her. That’s more than simple observation on my part.”

  “I’ve got an important call coming in,” Royce fibbed.

  “Later.”

  Royce slid her phone into her pocket. She wished people around her would stop telling her what she wanted. She wanted to solve a murder. Two murders.

  ***

  Tickling Chance’s ears, Royce stopped a moment. She then slapped the side of her leg. “Come on, girl.” Usually Royce had Chance stay outside the Bell Ringers swinging door entry. She was going to take Chance inside with her. The morning’s events had made Royce more cautious. Chance was not safe when Luther was around. Nor was she safe. No one was safe with him on the loose. Anger rippled through the sheriff at the thought of Luther bringing terror to Timber City.

  She greeted Faye.

  Immediately Faye pointed to Chance, “She can’t be in here. Board of Health will take away my food license.”

  “She’s a deputy, and she’s on duty. I’ve got more questions to ask you.”

  Displeased, Faye led Royce and Chance to a booth. “I kno
w how you are about questioning. I’ve seen you just pester the hell out of people. Out of me.”

  “I’m on a case, Faye. I pester the hell out of everyone. I do solve cases that way, don’t I?”

  “Yep,” Faye pensively agreed. “You can really bug people.”

  “No reason to change my mode of operation after I’ve been successful.”

  Faye poured them coffee. “I know, Royce. I’m sorry. I’ve had a bad day.”

  “Have you seen Luther around?”

  “No,” she answered with an accompanying quizzical look. “I know there’s hatred between the two of you. Bad blood. Maybe he’s turning things around. Got him a business in Texas. Maybe he’s trying to go straight.”

  Heavily embroidered with irony, Royce murmured, “Yes, he’s probably up for a good citizen commendation.” She rubbed her eyes. “Has Luther confided anything about the Wagner family?”

  “Royce, I don’t give a damn about the Wagners. And Luther doesn’t trust me, so he wouldn’t tell me shit. That other case – the cold case, nobody gives a crap about that either.”

  “I do.”

  Faye scratched her temple a moment. “You got one murder case on your plate. That old case, whoever that was probably got herself killed in another town. Nobody here was missing anyone.”

  “That’s what I’m being told by everyone I ask.” She hesitated. “Let’s go back to my current case. Can you think of anything to help me find Cal’s killer?”

  Faye’s head flung back. She laughed in loud gulps. “He was shot in the head at close range, so it needn’t have been a gunslinger.”

  “That narrows it down.” Amused as she began to walk to the door, Royce wheeled around. Her lips creased. Her wide grin was displayed. “Sorry about being a little tense. Thanks for the laugh, Faye. If you hear anything, please let me know.”

  “Will do. Keep that dog the hell out of my establishment,” Faye said, still laughing.

  “Luther threatened Chance. So where I go, Chance goes.”