Hunting Hour

by Margaret Mizushima

  “We’re going into the kitchen now to talk with the sheriff,” Stella said. “Is there anything I can get for you?”

  “No. Just tell me when I can see my baby.” Juanita’s breath caught.

  “I’ll see where we’re at and then check back with you. It’ll take a while, but we won’t forget you.”

  Giving Mattie a glance, Stella walked through the living room and went into the kitchen. Mattie and Robo followed.

  McCoy sat at the Formica-topped table with Burt, half-filled teal coffee mugs sitting in front of them. Burt had lost his belligerence, and without it, he appeared shrunken and bleary eyed. When Sheriff McCoy looked up at Stella, he gave her a nod, and a signal seemed to pass between them. Stella took a seat at the table.

  Mattie didn’t know if she should stay or go. She decided one of her colleagues would direct her to leave if they wanted to reassign her current duty, and since neither of them did, she stayed in the background, leaning against the kitchen wall. With a hand gesture, she directed Robo to sit beside her and he did, his pink tongue showing as he opened his mouth in a gentle pant. He shifted his gaze back and forth, keeping an eye on Burt while watching Mattie for a signal.

  “Mr. Banks, we’ve finished searching Candace’s room for tonight,” Stella said. “I think you’ll want to know that no drugs were found.”

  “I didn’t think there would be any.” Burt gave Stella a hard look.

  “I’m glad that we can confirm that. You might already be familiar with the contents of Candace’s room. Would you say so?”

  He rolled his eyes. “God, no. The room’s a pigsty. Juanita makes her keep the door shut. But I know my daughter, and she wouldn’t be involved with drugs.”

  Stella nodded. “Do you venture in there to visit with her about her day and such?”

  “Haven’t been in that room for a long time.”

  Mattie didn’t believe him.

  “Tell me about Candace,” Stella said.

  Banks stretched his legs out under the table and eased back in his chair, putting one hand up to his chin. His lips turned downward and his eyes reddened. “She’s a good girl. Helps her mother. Loves her dad.”

  “She helps around the house?” Stella asked.

  “Watches her brothers, helps Juanita with the cooking.”

  “I know you work in Rigby, Mr. Banks. When do you get time to spend with your family?”

  “Mostly time off between shifts.”

  “Do you drive back to Timber Creek every night?”

  “I stay at the boarding house part of the time during the week. Come home when I have days off.”

  Shifts at the mine were long, often lasting up to ten days, and commuters came home during extended time off, which could be for four days or even more. Several old-fashioned boarding houses had sprung up in Rigby to accommodate the crew.

  “So you have a day off tomorrow and can be here with your family,” Stella said. “That’s good.”

  Banks nodded, noncommittal, looking down at the mug that he fiddled with in his hands.

  “That’s a long drive to Rigby. How long does it take?”

  “Varies. Depends on if you get behind a string of looky-loos on the pass. I figure an hour and a half.”

  “And today?”

  He looked up and met Stella’s gaze, a touch of belligerence returning to his posture and tone. “About that long. I stopped in Hightower. Told the sheriff about that already.” He glanced at McCoy as if to confirm.

  McCoy nodded at him, an expression of what might be construed as encouragement on his face, the look he used to keep a person talking.

  “I stopped at a bar and probably had too much to drink.” Burt’s nose reddened and his eyes welled. He swiped at his nose with the back of his hand. “I shoulda been here instead.”

  At least that’s something you and your wife could agree on, Mattie thought.

  She didn’t feel one bit sorry for him. People who shirked their parental responsibilities for the sake of alcohol would get little sympathy from her. Family should mean everything in the world to a person. It was a thing to be treasured.

  “Which bar did you stop at?”

  Burt’s eyes narrowed. “The Hornet’s Nest.”

  Stella used a sympathetic tone to keep him going. “And what time did you get home?”

  “Don’t know.” Burt paused, scratching his chin lightly and looking thoughtful. “I got here about the same time as the wife. Didn’t look at a clock. She was bent out of shape about Candace being gone and her inhaler being on the dresser. Upset way out of proportion.”

  Mattie squirmed in place against the wall, trying to contain her anger. How can he belittle his wife’s concern, considering the fact that his daughter was found dead?

  Looking up at her, Robo panted. Realizing that she was setting off his distress, she tried to relax. Her problem with claustrophobia kicked in, and she felt like the walls were closing in on her. She needed to get out of this room.

  McCoy’s cell phone vibrated. “Excuse me,” he said, getting up from the table. He went to the door and stepped outside onto the porch, closing the door softly behind him. Mattie wished she could follow, but she wouldn’t leave Stella alone with Banks and no one as backup.

  “Tell me what you think might have happened to Candace, Mr. Banks,” Stella said.

  He stared at her for a long moment. “I have no freakin’ idea. That’s what I hope you can tell me.”

  “I can assure you, we’ll do our best to find out.”

  The sheriff came back inside, drawing everyone’s attention. “Do you need more time, Detective?”

  “We’re done with what we need to do here tonight.”

  “They’ve got Candace secure in the ambulance. We can take you and your wife to see her now.”

  “I’ll tell Mrs. Banks,” Stella said, rising from her chair.

  Relieved that she could go outdoors, where she could breathe, Mattie straightened, Robo rising to stand beside her. Making eye contact, McCoy moved his head toward the door, indicating he wanted to talk to her outside.

  “Wait here for Detective LoSasso, Mr. Banks. We’ll leave momentarily,” McCoy said and then stepped outside, leading the way. With Robo beside her at heel, Mattie followed him a short distance from the house toward where they’d parked their vehicles.

  “What have you found?” McCoy asked quietly.

  Mattie summed up the evidence they’d gathered.

  “Good work. Go ahead and clock out now. We’ll meet at the office at the regular time tomorrow.”

  “I thought I’d take Robo back on the hill to search for Candace’s backpack.”

  McCoy paused, thinking it over. “It makes more sense to do that during daylight. It won’t go anywhere tonight with the crime scene unit up there. I’ll post Deputy Garcia there to keep an eye on things so we can go over the scene one more time in the morning before we release it. Detective LoSasso will go to the autopsy early. Once we know exactly what we’re dealing with here, we’ll form a plan.”

  Mattie hated to go home now. She felt an urgent need to be working, but McCoy was the boss. “All right. Call me back if you need me.”

  “You’ve already put in extra time, Deputy. Get some rest tonight. If we’re dealing with a homicide, things will heat up during the next few days.”

  Stella stepped out onto the porch, followed by Candace’s parents and Rosie Gonzales.

  “Let’s all go in my vehicle,” McCoy said, hurrying to open the Grand Cherokee’s back door.

  Juanita, still huddled over, leaned on her friend as Rosie ushered her to the Jeep and helped her get inside. Stella moved to the other side to get into the back seat, leaving the front passenger seat for Burt.

  As Mattie loaded Robo into his compartment, she realized she’d dodged a bullet by being released to go home. The absolute last thing she wanted to see tonight was Juanita’s grief when she saw her dead child. She swallowed against the tightness in her throat and leaned forwar
d to bury her face in Robo’s fur.

  Chapter 6

  Wearing cozy sweats and woolen slippers, Cole turned off the television and padded toward the kitchen. The kids and Mrs. Gibbs had gone to their rooms hours ago. When he’d last checked, Sophie was sound asleep with Belle on the bed beside her, and Angie was finishing up her homework. He assumed that by now, she would be asleep too.

  Mrs. Gibbs had brought her own television from her daughter’s house in Denver, and she’d made it a habit to retire early to her room each evening. Cole suspected it was as much to allow him time to be alone with his kids as it was for her to have a break and some private time for herself.

  The oak floor and spotless granite countertops gleamed when he flipped on the light. He hated to sully Mrs. Gibbs’s territory, but he needed a snack before he turned in for the night, and besides, he’d learned that she didn’t bat an eye at dishes left in the sink or footprints left on the floor. Though she kept the space clean, she never scolded him or the girls for living in it. In turn, he’d noticed they all pitched in and did their part to help out. Once again, he felt grateful for the gem he’d found as a housekeeper.

  He opened the refrigerator door, leaning against it while he examined the leftovers. Before he could decide, his mind drifted to Mattie, and he stood staring at the food while cool air from inside the fridge washed over him.

  He missed her. Last October, she’d rescued him from a killer who’d stalked him through the forest, and then she’d rescued him again when he had to tell the kids about it. She seemed to know the right way to explain the seriousness of his situation without terrifying them. Afterward, she’d visited his household often for dinner, and they’d all enjoyed it, even Mrs. Gibbs. But then, Mattie seemed to withdraw. Though she returned his phone calls, she made one excuse after another to decline his invitations. He’d given up after a while.

  Maybe it was time to try again. He closed the refrigerator door, pulled his cell phone from his pocket, and texted: “If you’re still awake, give me a call.”

  His cell phone rang just as he’d gone back to trying to decide what to eat. He checked caller ID.

  “Hi, Mattie.”

  “You’re up late.”

  It was good to hear her voice. “I was about to have a snack before bed and decided to call you. It’s been a while since we checked in with each other.”

  “A snack sounds good. I think I missed dinner.”

  “Come over. We have a refrigerator full of food.”

  There was a long pause before she spoke. “I was just heading home from work. I’ve got Robo with me.”

  “Bring him along. You’re working late.”

  Her breath released in a soft sigh, and when she spoke, she sounded tired. Or sad. Maybe both. “I need to talk to you anyway. It would be better in person.”

  “Sounds ominous.”

  “It’s not good. I’m headed your way. Be there in a couple minutes.”

  “I’ll meet you out front.”

  Cole went through the living room with the intention of turning on the porch light, but as he passed through, Bruno caught his eye. The Doberman had been stretched out on a dog cushion, sound asleep until Cole entered the room. Then he rolled to his chest and raised his beautifully sculpted head, with its long thin nose and mahogany markings. He pricked his black ears and stared at Cole, fully alert and waiting to see what his next move should be. Cole liked that about him—he didn’t miss much and was always on guard, yet he’d fit into the family seamlessly.

  “Let’s go outside, Bruno.” Cole flipped on the porch light and opened the front door.

  Bruno scrambled to his feet and followed him onto the porch, going down the steps and ranging around the yard’s perimeter at a trot. Cole figured he’d better let Bruno and Robo greet each other out here instead of inside, where their exuberant play would awaken the entire household. It interested him how the three big dogs—Belle, Bruno, and Robo—had instantly formed a pack; possibly because they were all young and had been well socialized as pups. Belle played the alpha role, while Bruno and Robo acted like two buffoons, racing each other and wrestling around in the grass as Belle looked on in disdain or, even more likely, completely ignored them.

  Headlights pierced the darkness at the end of the lane and headed his way. Bruno alerted and stood like a statue at the edge of the yard, chuffing out a low bark and growling deep in his chest.

  “It’s okay.” Cole moved down the steps and stood beside him. “That’s just Mattie and Robo coming.”

  Maybe it was the magic word, “Robo,” that made the difference, because Bruno stopped growling, though he remained at attention at the edge of the yard. As Mattie’s SUV drew up and parked, he trotted in circles around it, obviously pleased by the arrival of these night visitors.

  While Mattie set the brake on the car and turned off the engine, the porch light illuminated her vehicle enough to see Robo’s dark silhouette moving back and forth in his compartment as he tried to keep track of his friend. Cole couldn’t help but smile, both at the dogs and at his own eagerness to see Mattie. He felt like trotting out to her vehicle and circling around it in glee with Bruno.

  But as soon as she got out of her SUV, he could see that something was wrong. Though the light from the porch was dim here at the edge of the yard, it lit the expression on her face enough to see that it was set in a tight, grim frown.

  She’s come here with bad news. Again.

  As predicted, Robo and Bruno raced around the yard while Mattie walked toward him, her manner subdued. “Hi,” she said.

  “It’s good to see you, Mattie.” He found himself moving toward her with open arms, and she walked into his hug like it was the most natural thing in the world. But something had changed in the past few months. She felt slight in his arms, fragile. Nothing of the solid strength he was used to.

  When she pulled away, he took a step back to examine her face, and alarm rattled him deep inside. Mattie looked beyond tired. Fatigue etched lines around her eyes, and they sent him back to the day Olivia had left him. She’d worn the same soul-weary expression.

  “You’ve had a bad day,” Cole said, taking her arm and leading her toward the porch. “Let’s go inside and get you some food.”

  “I’m not sure I can eat yet.” Mattie allowed him to guide her up onto the porch before stopping. “Let’s let the dogs play for a few minutes while I tell you what’s happened. You need to know.”

  Robo and Bruno growled in play as they chased each other around the yard.

  “What is it?”

  “Do you know the Banks family?”

  Cole thought for a few moments. “No, can’t say as I do.”

  Mattie breathed a sigh; it sounded like one of relief. “We found their daughter this evening, Candace Banks, dead up on Smoker’s Hill.”

  “Good grief, Mattie!”

  “It’s going to be announced at school tomorrow. I wanted you and the kids to hear it from me, because I think one of her brothers might be Sophie’s age or close to it. She probably knows him. Might even know Candace.”

  Cole felt a blow to his midsection. His girls were just beginning to recover from their losses this past year, and now this. “Do you know yet how she died?”

  “We don’t. Autopsy in the morning.”

  Cole could tell she was torn up about it. He slipped an arm around her, pulling her against his side to offer comfort. She was shorter than he, and she tipped her head to rest it against his chest as she stood in the shelter of his arm.

  “I’ll ask Sophie in the morning if she knows Candace or her brother and then take it from there. I appreciate you giving me a heads-up.”

  He felt her nod before she moved away.

  “Maybe I’d better take Robo home now,” she said. “He missed his dinner.”

  “And you said you did too. Are you still feeding him the same food as the last time he ate here?”

  “Yeah, haven’t changed it.”

  “I’ve got food
for both of you then. Come inside.” Cole moved toward the door.

  Mattie hesitated, but then she followed. “All right.” She turned and spoke to Robo in a quiet but firm tone. “Robo, come.”

  Robo trotted her way with Bruno galumphing along behind.

  “These guys turn into clowns when they’re together,” Cole observed, trying to lighten Mattie’s mood and knowing that a reference to the dogs was probably his best bet.

  And he was right. She smiled. His heart felt instantly lighter too.

  “They do. They’re like a couple of boys let out of school,” she said.

  “Okay, boys. Settle down,” Cole said to the dogs. “Everyone’s asleep inside,” he said to Mattie.

  “Robo, heel,” she said, and Robo fell into line, making Bruno settle down too.

  They all filed into the house in an orderly fashion, with Cole leading them into the kitchen. He headed to the pantry, where the dog food was kept, and began to fill an extra dog bowl with food. “Go ahead and look in the fridge, Mattie. Anything is fair game.”

  After Cole set out food for Robo, Bruno went to his own dish to clean up what he’d left there earlier. Mattie had taken out leftover chicken from dinner, some potato salad, and a green Jell-O concoction that had pineapple and little marshmallows in it. Cole went to the cabinet to get dishes.

  “Bruno and I already ate, but it looks like we’re both going to eat again to keep you two company.”

  Mattie smiled at him, and he could see that the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. He also noticed the gray shadows that circled them.

  “Better than eating alone,” she said. “Mama T always said that little piggies eat better when there are more at the trough.”

  After filling their plates and sitting down at the table, they both dug in, eating in silence for a few moments. She seemed to have an appetite, and he was glad to see it.