Living in Shadow

by Georgia Florey-Evans

  “I’m not asking you to announce who you are to the world.” Mitch’s gaze didn’t falter. “I’m asking you to look at what I have and give me your honest opinion. We can meet somewhere outside the office . . . where we won’t be seen. I’ll show you what I have. Then you can tell me what you think. That’s all I want.”

  No was on the tip of Hardy’s tongue, but there was a major factor keeping it from being spoken. He had been an officer of the law for too many years to simply look the other way when his help might be useful. And the sheriff was only asking for his take on the crimes that had occurred. But a clandestine meeting just didn’t feel right. He came up with an alternative.

  “You get me the files. I’ll keep them overnight and give you my opinion when I give them back.”

  Mitch frowned. “That’s not how we do things around here.”

  “It is if you want my help.” Hardy was in charge. “You’re asking me to do something I’ve quit doing. If anybody finds out in what capacity I’m helping you, it could open the door to my identity being discovered by the wrong people. This offer is the best you’re going to get from me. Take it or leave it.”

  Hardy thought from the look on Mitch’s face, he was going to leave it. Then the sheriff slowly nodded. “I’ll have copies of everything out here to you in a couple of hours. I don’t need to tell you this stays between the two of us.”

  “That’s my condition as well,” Hardy reminded him.

  Mitch looked at the farm around them before directing his attention back to Hardy. “I just don’t get it, Davis. Why would anybody destroy a hair salon, trash an animal clinic—killing every animal in it, and now break into an insurance agency? The only commonality I see is they’re all being done in Shadow within a short period of time.”

  “Sometimes, things are just coincidental.” Hardy felt like he needed to caution the sheriff. “I won’t have preconceived ideas in my head when I look at your files. I’ll tell you what I think, not what you want to hear. It’s how I operate.”

  “I’ve looked into your professional history a little since I found out who you are.” Mitch didn’t look the least bit apologetic about it, either. “Your reputation is what made me ask you in the first place.”

  His reputation. Hardy had worked hard to be known as a good cop. But one day—one incident—made the value of a reputation seem worthless. What good had his reputation done Kari Jeffries? He mentally shook himself out of the memory. “If that’s all you need, I have some chores to get to.”

  It was while he stood watching the squad car disappear down the long lane the reality of what he had just agreed to do sank in. He looked at the dog standing beside him.

  “Well, Clarence, don’t things just keep getting better?” He couldn’t help but chuckle when Clarence appeared to nod. “I went from keeping to myself for not even another week to having a date and helping the police. What do you suppose is wrong with me?”

  When the dog provided no answer, Hardy turned and headed for the barn. He still had a little daylight left to clean up the area of the barn he’d noticed needed it. Rakes, shovels, axes, and several assorted tools were piled haphazardly in a corner of the building. Since he hadn’t paid that close of attention, Hardy was afraid the boys left the mess. And Luke would have enough on his plate with his body getting readjusted to the hard work of the farm without having to take care of this.

  As Hardy moved the lawn tools around, his mind wandered to the problem the sheriff was facing. With only six officers on the county force, if he were looking at a single person or group of people committing these crimes, he was going to have his hands full. Hardy purposely steered his mind in a different direction when reasons to believe they were the same perps started forming. Like he told Mitch, he wanted to look at the files with an unformed opinion. That would be the best.

  No matter whether these crimes were committed by the same individual or different ones, Mitch Landon had better be prepared to use every resource available to him. Hardy hoped the county sheriff wasn’t like some officers he’d known; he hoped Mitch would call in the state police if they were needed. One thing Hardy learned in Chicago was the value of teamwork.

  Not that it had done him any good when it came to the most crucial moment in his life. His reputation and teamwork had been useless, and even God had seemed absent from the situation.

  Hardy wished he could go back to being a man with strong faith. He knew the doubts he had right now disappointed his parents. Not that either one of them had been pushy. It was almost worse when his mom smiled sadly and told him they were both praying for him to find his way again. She had even said that when he’d gone to the hospital to see his dad.

  His dad. Callie hadn’t called, so there hadn’t been any change in their father’s condition. Hardy wanted his dad to be his normally healthy self again, full of life and enthusiasm. Not a man who uttered nonsensical phrases.

  What had H.B. said again? He feel turtle. Jesus water. Be careful. The final phrase made perfect sense with what was going on in Hardy’s life. The other two, though…He remembered the theory he’d come up with Barney and the cloud statement. Could it be possible his dad had said something completely different than what Hardy and his mom heard?

  “He feel turtle. He feel turtle. He makes sense. What could feel be?” His mind searched for a word. “He kill turtle. He will…” Hardy looked at Clarence. “He will something, Clarence. He will turtle . . . He will tur . . . tle . . . He will bur . . . He will girl . . . He will hurt…” His heart sped up. “He will hurt you! He will hurt you.” For just a moment, Hardy tried to figure out a way he could high five the dog.

  “Okay, Clarence.” Hardy thought he was finally onto something. “He will hurt you. Jesus water. Be careful.” He tried using different words to replace the second phrase, but nothing fit.

  Still, it was obviously a warning, most likely about Ted Dohner. Hardy sadly shook his head. His dad was worried about the Dohner organization coming after his son. That was all he was trying to tell Hardy.

  Yet, he still had a strong urge to speak to H.B. again. He’d have to wait at least a couple of days, though. It would take him a while to get things arranged with Elliott, if his brother-in-law could even set it up again. Within a couple of hours, he’d have three cases to review and see if they were linked. And tomorrow . . . Tomorrow he had a date with Haley Johnson.

  What had he been thinking? Even though there was something about Haley—something that enticed and intrigued him like no other woman had before—Hardy wasn’t even remotely close to a point in his life where he could have a romantic relationship. He shouldn’t be starting something that was ultimately impossible.

  “Maybe I’ll call her and cancel.” He grasped the handle of a shovel and leaned it against the wall. “That might be best for both of us.”

  That probably would be best for both of them. In fact, Hardy knew it would. He was going to call Haley at the station first thing in the morning and tell her . . . what? “I can’t take you out because I will only be here a few more days, and then you’ll never see me again.” Or how about, “I am not using the name I was born with because I'm not ready to check into a coffin.

  He was still mulling his options over when he heard Luke’s truck. Clarence charged out of the barn, intent on getting attention from his owners. Hardy placed the wheelbarrow in the corner and looked around the area he’d straightened. It was as neat as a store display. Even if his mind had been stuck on his dilemma, he had somehow managed to accomplish the task he set out to do.

  His mind was still unsettled about the date with Haley as he walked out of the barn. He raised his hand in greeting when Luke and Holly both called out to him. It was only because of the security lights they were able to see each other. Hardy had worked longer than he realized, for it was dark.

  Mitch should be there with the files any time. Hardy would let the sheriff decide how to handle the Walkers’ curiosity about him visiting Hardy this late in the eve
ning. Hardy had enough to think about.

  He took a deep breath and dug down into the nerves of steel he’d been known for on his job in Chicago. He would just take one thing at a time. Starting with the case files. The rest, he would work out when it was time.

  Chapter 18

  “Shadow County Sheriff’s office.” Haley fought to keep the frustration out of her voice. It wasn’t the citizens’ fault Karl King had somehow discovered details about the animal clinic break-in. It wasn’t their fault the reporter for the Shadow Sundown thought with the local paper’s circulation of a little more than three thousand, the New York Times would be on his doorstep any day in search of his investigative reporting skills.

  “Another one?” Mitch had stopped by her station on the way to his office.

  Haley finished writing the last sentence of the caller’s information before she answered the sheriff.

  “Christine Connors knows it was her next door neighbor, Fred Lancaster, who, in her words, butchered those animals.”

  Mitch sighed. “What brought her to this conclusion?”

  Haley looked at the note she’d written. “He called her dog Ralphie a worthless, flea infested, fur covered pile of bones.”

  “And that would be the dog Lancaster regularly reports to animal control for chewing up his landscaping and defecating all over his lawn,” Mitch steadily commented.

  “That would be the dog.” Haley placed the ridiculous accusation on top of the growing pile beside her phone.

  “I knew the phone would be ringing off the wall when I saw the paper this morning.” Mitch looked at the offending publication lying folded on the table behind Haley.” Go ahead and call Mavis in to help you. I’ll argue with the board about overtime, to keep the workload manageable for my dispatchers.”

  Haley noticed the way Mitch emphasized that Mavis was who to call in.” Mitch, I know Crystal likes to talk, but do you really think she’s the one who gave Karl the information?” As the chief dispatcher, Haley was considered Crystal’s immediate supervisor and hated to think the other woman was responsible for this mess.

  Mitch looked steadily at her. “Haley, besides the victims, there aren't even a dozen people who know the details of these cases. Can you honestly tell me you believe any other one of them would have talked to a reporter?”

  “No.” Haley turned around in her swivel chair and looked at the headlines once again. “Bloody Slaughter at Animal Clinic,” and below, “Police have no leads.” Haley had read the article with growing horror as Karl King described in great detail how the animals had been found.

  She swiveled back around when the phone rang and picked it up with dread.

  “Shadow County Sheriff’s office.”

  “I know who killed those animals.” The voice sounded like that of an elderly lady, and Haley didn’t recognize it.

  “I’ll need your name and telephone number, please.”

  “It was those men. I saw them.”

  “Ma’am. Please tell me your name and telephone number.” If a caller wouldn’t give the dispatcher that information, it put the validity of the call in question from the start.

  “I can’t say who I am. They’ll get me.”

  Mitch caught Haley’s eye and nodded, giving her permission to go ahead and take the woman’s report. He was able to hear enough of the call to know what was being said.

  “Okay, ma’am. Who did it?”

  “I don’t know their names, but there were three of them. They flew by my house in a blue ship. I saw them come out of the clinic and get in before they lifted off.”

  Haley put her thumb and forefinger on her forehead and squeezed. Lord, please give me patience with this woman.

  “If you’ll tell me your name, the sheriff will do all he can to keep you safe.” After all, how difficult could it be to protect her from spaceship travelers?

  “I can’t. They’ll know. He’ll know. He sees everything.”

  “Okay.” Haley sighed. “I’ll write down the information. Thank you for calling.” The line was already dead, the caller having hung up. She turned to Mitch. “Caller ID shows Hilda Crowe. I’ll run her address just for the records.”

  “Call Mavis,” Mitch reminded her before he turned and walked into his office.

  Haley opened the program she needed and typed in the woman’s name and telephone number. Immediately, an address popped onto the computer screen. She started to write it on the report when she realized something. She opened a new tab on the computer and pulled up the files on the animal clinic break-in. Her heart sped up as she scribbled both its address and that of Hilda Crowe. Then she pulled up a satellite feed and typed both addresses in.

  “Mitch?” She spoke loudly enough she didn’t need the intercom. “You might want to see this.”

  The sheriff walked out of his office, to her desk, and looked over her shoulder at the computer. It wasn’t very often his dispatcher asked for his presence.

  “Look.” Haley pointed to the red mark indicating the location of the animal clinic. Then she pointed to the one marking Helen Crowe’s address. “If I’m reading this right, she’s less than a sixteenth of a mile from the clinic. The back of her place would face the back of the clinic.”

  Mitch leaned down closer to the computer screen. Haley moved her hand away as he reached for the mouse and moved the cursor. The screen was soon enlarged by two-hundred percent.

  “Crazy or not, this woman might have seen something.” Mitch straightened. “Call and see who’s closest to that property. I want to know what’s in the field between the caller’s house and the clinic. We need to see if there’s a clear line of vision between the two places.”

  “Yes, sir.” Haley keyed the radio and asked for the deputies on duty to call back with their locations. Hank was nearest to the house in question. She gave him the code to use a phone to reply.

  “I want to talk to him.” Mitch stepped over and picked up the ringing phone. ”Hank, this lady is skittish, but I think she may have seen our guys. Keep her calm and try to get as much detail as you can from her. Find out if there’s a clear line of vision between the two locations, and do your best to get a rational story from her. If need be, I’ll come out myself. Let me know what you find out ASAP.”

  “Do you really think she could have seen them?” Haley still found it hard to believe the confused woman she’d spoken with might have been telling the truth as she saw it.

  Mitch smiled grimly. “I’m going to pray she did. We’re going to have to keep her off the grid, Haley. We can’t have Karl King find out about Helen Crowe. A story about her could put her in danger if those guys are still around here.”

  “I won’t tell anybody, but won’t everybody here have to know?”

  “Not Crystal,” Mitch bit out. “I’m going to do a little side investigating, Haley, and if I find out she had anything to do with this story,” He straightened and picked up the newspaper, “there is nothing that will save her job.”

  “I understand.” Haley felt sorry for Crystal as she watched her boss walk resolutely back to his office. If Crystal was indeed the leak, she had done something very wrong. Haley just felt bad that the other woman evidently needed attention to the point she would risk a police investigation and her job.

  The phone rang just as she started to pick it up to call Mavis.

  “Shadow County Sheriff’s office.”

  “I saw it all!” a man shouted. “I saw those foreigners go into the animal clinic, and I told Trudy they were up to no good.”

  When Haley heard the name Trudy, the voice was immediately recognizable. “When did you see the people you’re talking about go into the clinic, Zane?”

  It took her the better part of twenty minutes to figure out what was going on. Zane Danziger and his wife had taken their pug in for his shots and some people of Mexican-American heritage were in the animal clinic waiting room. It seemed that anybody not completely Caucasian was a “foreigner” and Zane didn’t trust them. He e
ven accused Chen Lee, who’d been born right there in Shadow, of being a secret spy for China. It was most likely that Chen used his position as owner of Shadow Inn to smuggle even more “foreigners” into their county. Zane wouldn’t even be surprised if Chen weren’t letting the suspects stay in his hotel, free of charge.

  Haley had a splitting headache by the time she finally placed the receiver on the hook.

  Lord, I know there are lots of people in the world who need extra help. I’m asking you for extra help myself, now, to deal with some of them. Losing my patience isn’t going to be productive, but I don’t know how much more I can listen to without blowing my stack. Please.

  She felt calmness settle in her heart after her prayer. God wasn’t leaving her alone to deal with this. In fact, He had worked through Mitch when he told her to call Mavis.

  Fifteen minutes later, Haley leaned back in her chair and took a long drink of her now lukewarm soda. Mavis would be there in less than a half hour. She took a deep breath and picked up the ringing phone to answer it.

  Chapter 19

  Hardy walked into the police station and came to an abrupt halt. Haley was working at the computer while another female dispatcher manned the phone. Haley was deeply immersed in whatever she was working on. Why did this beautiful woman have to attract his attention while he was dealing with the mess his life had become? Of course, he had no idea when, or even if, he’d ever be able to return to a normal life. There were too many factors to consider.

  “Excuse me.” He watched Haley’s eyes widen at the sight of him before she spoke. He hoped she wouldn’t ask about the contents of the plastic bag he was carrying. It hadn’t been the ideal thing to put the case files in, but he didn’t want to walk around with them in plain sight.

  “I’m not supposed to have visitors at work.”