by Kieran York
“Play that one to the gallery,” Royce answered.
“I got my acceptance speech memorized,” he boasted.
“For Timber County’s sake, I hope your speech won’t be needed.” Royce felt the sweat from the cup in her hand. She was holding the cup so tightly that for a moment she thought it might slip from her fingers. She went outside to find Nadine.
“Things are worse?“ Royce questioned Nadine.
“Yes. Even when everything out here in my garden is getting ready for a winter’s sleep, being out here relaxes me.” Nadine reclined on her lounge. Her sunglasses tipped back on her head. “The sun feels so good. Funny how up here we have sun one day, snow the next.”
“I wish I understood what’s happening between Gwen and you.”
Nadine sat up and took Royce’s hand. “I’m sorry that Gwen’s upset with you. It wasn’t your fault. I told her that. If anyone’s at fault, it’s me. I should never have asked you to keep my secret. It wasn’t my intention to break up the friendship between Gwen and you. Now without even thinking about it, that’s happened. Please be patient with her. Fate grants us all permission to forgive. Time insists on it. Forgive what she says to you now.”
“I already have. Nadine, could forgiveness help you and Gwen?”
“I don’t think forgiveness can change the things that need to be changed.”
Royce leaned and kissed Nadine’s cheek. “I love you both.”
“We love you. Gwen will come to understand. Both my decision to evaluate our relationship, and your allegiance to me.”
“Of course I have an allegiance to you.”
“Maybe that’s what’s bothering Gwen. She wants the larger portion of your friendship.”
“There is no larger portion possible for my friendship to either of you. I think we’d better get inside. It’s about time for the debate to start.”
***
Royce took a stand behind her podium and looked out into the faces of the audience. “Are you ready, Sheriff Madison?“ Gwen asked.
Royce nodded and began her opening statement. “I want to thank you for the opportunity to state my reasons for wanting to be your sheriff. Today a friend said that I hadn’t learned anything from her. I learned many of the most important things in life from her. One of them will never leave my mind. She said that the heart of a crowd is its conscience. My platform is simple. I appeal to each person’s conscience. For I believe that there can be no justice without tolerance and equality. Bigotry is offensive. The heart of bigotry is hatred. And that is unacceptable to this community and to this nation. We are the children of a fiercely proud and individualistic people. We have a pioneer soul. We have the spirit of adventurers. Our generation has been gifted with the ability not only to know what is right, but to do what is right. We can do that with our votes. I am the more experienced law enforcer; I am the more qualified. I ask you to place a barometer on your conscience. I ask you to take a reading based on who I am, not what you’ve been told I might be. I ask you to vote the way your heart dictates.”
Royce leaned away from the podium. Tears were welling in Gwen’s eyes. Through the rest of the debate Royce felt isolation, but not absolute isolation. And for the first time in a long time, she felt no resentment.
***
The evening had been quietly spent in the cottage. After Hertha and Royce finished dinner, Royce had sequestered herself in the small office where Hertha kept her files. She’d taken the forensic folders on the Holt and McDermott murders. Royce had studied them with a sense of urgency.
“Tea?“ Hertha offered.
“Thanks.” Royce reached and took the steaming mug of herbal tea.
“Nadine said that you talked with Jorie after the debate.”
“Yes. She’s barricaded in their guest room. I had some questions to ask her.”
“Questions?”
“Yes. Elizabeth McDermott claimed that Jorie had approached the judge and inquired about what would happen if the Holt murder was an accident. Jorie confessed that she had asked. But it was not for her. She said she wanted to know from a journalistic point of inquiry.”
“That’s not hard evidence. What did Jorie think of your speech?”
“She said that Granger’s ignorance showed up in the broadcast. And she said I have a very sincere voice. With my history of police work, she said I could be an investigative reporter. But my androgyny would be a problem.”
“It’s not easy for a sheriff to doll up,” Hertha teased.
“No. She then told me that she felt terrible that her sexuality was still veiled. It would need to remain veiled. I guess I can better understand that now, after what I’ve been through with all the allegations.”
“I was terribly proud of you, Royce. What you said has to get through to the citizens.”
“Not necessarily. Granger did tromp on me where the investigation was concerned. I won’t say that I believe someone is guilty when I don’t. I won’t politicize my values to win an election. And condemning someone who hasn’t even been tried is wrong. But he used it to his advantage.”
“You’ve got to find out who committed these crimes.”
“And I’m convinced of Jorie’s innocence.” Royce smiled as Patches jumped into her lap. “You going help sift out the clues, Patches? I’ll open my files, we can look at the list of forensic evidence, and you can allow your kitty curiosity detect the killer.”
Smoky growled for attention. “You too,” Hertha confirmed as Smoky scratched at Royce’s arm.
“They at least keep me company.”
“I’ll be glad to do that.”
Royce leaned into Hertha’s kiss. “Just as we begin living together everything else seems to fall apart. I hate that. This investigation has been brutal. No time for you. Even on one of our rare evenings home alone, I’m studying files. Pouring over documents about murder. Not very romantic.”
“I don’t mind.” Hertha pulled a chair near. “Why don’t you run everything by me? To begin with, you said you had questions, plural, to ask Jorie.”
“Yes. The other question was about the stein that the judge used. I asked about the ice cubes.”
“Ice cubes?“ Hertha frowned.
“I asked if they were clear. She said she remembered that they were. Strychnine could easily be placed into an alcoholic beverage. Alcohol serves as an excellent solvent. So if the poison was administered in booze it would be hidden. But it wouldn’t dissolve as readily in the ice. It destroyed a theory I had about the judge’s murder.”
“If you’d like, I could go over the toxicology reports now. There might be something that will register.”
Royce dug through the pile of papers and pulled out three sheets. “Like I said, the fact that the ice cubes were clear negates my theory.”
Hertha examined the forms. “These reports don’t tell me much. For instance, the toxicity of the samples taken from the carpet seem awfully strong. Pure.”
“The trace samples.” Royce perused the report. “Yes. It is a high number.”
“The tissue samples are much weaker, but they could have been taken after the poison had reached full potency. I wish I could be of more help, Royce. I just don’t have the knowledge of forensic chemistry. But something seems wrong. It doesn’t quite add up.”
Royce sat back in the chair. Her petting of Patches was steady, automatic, as she pondered. “You might not have proved my first theory, but I have another idea and what you’ve said doesn’t disprove it.”
“Would you like to run anything else by me?”
“Yes. One of my criminology professors lectured that the solution of crime often rests in one’s ability to get into another person’s mind. To understand another person’s thinking. The victim. And the killer. The prof said a good investigator needs to see the crime from every perspective.”
“Will you come to bed now? It’s getting late.”
Royce lifted Patches in her arms and stood. “Yes. I need a good night’s sl
eep.”
“And a good sleep remedy?”
Royce grinned. “Particularly that.”
Chapter 21
Waiting had always proved to be the most difficult part of police work. And of life, Royce admitted as she took a counter seat in Molly’s Pantry.
“Glad the debate went well for you, Royce,” Molly tried to boost Royce’s mood.
“Yes. I’m just glad it’s finished. I’m not cut out for politics. Only being a sheriff.”
Molly looked weary. It had been a busy morning, and her mornings were always early. “Royce, I been wanting a chance to talk with you.” She placed a cup of coffee in front of her daughter and then poured one for herself. “This business with you and Gwen has got to stop.”
“I know tensions are running high.” Royce sipped the coffee. An inspection of her mother’s face told Royce that Molly was suffering.
“Your good-natured ways are a thing of the past. You used to be sweet as marshmallow pie.”
“Mom, I apologize. I want to end the hostilities.”
“Then do it.”
“I apologized to her for saying she was an egomaniac.”
“Such a thing to call your best buddy. Both Gwen and you are strong-willed and stubborn as the day is long. But you’ve got to patch this up.”
Royce swallowed. Her eyes burned with Molly’s magnetic stare that seemed to be scorching her. “Mom, everything is just happening at once. Everything seems to have me tied in knots. I can’t find a balance.”
“It will work out, Royce. Prove your mettle. One time when your daddy and I were courting he had his hands full on a big case. We had words, which was mighty rare for your daddy. Anyway, he came to me and apologized for being snappy. Said he’d try not to let his work influence his moods. Gave me a little music box and inside an engagement ring. And there was a note. It said, 'I knead your love.' I laughed and called him a romantic for the spelling of 'knead' because I worked at a bakery. He said he also 'needed' me. He asked if I’d marry him. Your daddy and I could always laugh together. It took work for him to make me happy while being a law officer. You picked a profession that can give you mighty big rewards when it comes to satisfaction, but there is a dark side. Anyway, I liked to think your daddy and I needed one another. Well, what I’m trying to say is that we all need the love of people we love. And when we padlock our hearts from friends, it’s very sad indeed.”
“I haven’t turned on Gwen.”
“Royce, it takes years to find and develop friendships. You meet hundreds of folks in a lifetime. But only a few are really the kind we trust with our love. Like separating the gold from dross. It takes hard work to hold that gold in the palm of your hand. It takes even harder work to hold a golden friendship always in the center of your heart. Seems as though when it’s most crucial to be there for someone, it’s also often most difficult to keep that friendship intact.”
“I’m trying.”
“You try harder. You do that, Royce.” Molly sipped her coffee. “Gwen called a few minutes ago and said she’d be over. So you just stay seated. You two work this out.”
Gwen’s stride was hurried as she crossed the street. She entered and her eyes were shadowed with anger. Molly poured her a cup of coffee. Gwen took a quick gulp. “So I’ve been called before the arbitration board,” she spoke as she glared at Royce. “Molly, I’m not ready to deal with this. Nadine is planning to leave me after the election. She says she’s going to Denver to stay with her aunt for a while. But she’s packing as if she doesn’t intend to return.”
Molly went around the counter to embrace her friend. “Gwen, you know she’ll be back. She’s just going to have a little think.”
“Your daughter hasn’t helped the matter,” Gwen charged.
Royce swallowed. “Gwen, I didn’t want either of you hurt. But you’re acting as if I set out to intentionally hurt you. I didn’t make her feel the way she does, and I certainly didn’t encourage her to. Can’t you talk to Nadine? Make her understand you love her?”
Gwen’s eyes became soggy. She blinked helplessly. “We have talked. She won’t listen to reason.”
“Reason!“ Royce’s voice rose. “You’re acting as if she’s the unreasonable one.”
“I’m the one who wanted to talk. To make it better. She doesn’t even seem to want that.” Gwen’s eyes watered. “If I would have known earlier, maybe the entire thing might have been prevented. Instead, I added stress to a faltering relationship.” Gwen’s stormy glance registered with Royce. “It was reprehensible for you to keep this from me. I didn’t even know there was a problem until it smashed me.”
“Maybe you should have known.” Royce said solemnly.
“I don’t read minds.”
“You should have read her face. She’s been in pain.”
“And I made her unhappy!”
“Now, you two stop this,” Molly’s voice peaked. “Stop it now. I’m not having it. This animosity is causing even more heartache for Nadine. You two are pulling in opposite directions, and she needs you both. I won’t have her subjected to this. Everything is in a dither, and it’s time for the two of you to make peace.”
Gwen was silent for a moment. She saw the depth of pain in Royce’s eyes. She tersely replied, “Molly, I’ve stated my case as succinctly as I can.”
Molly leaned against the counter. “Gwen, we’re in the midst of an election. There are unsolved murders. And Hertha is in danger. There’s no time for arguing between friends.”
“Is Hertha okay?“ Gwen seemed to have forgotten Hertha’s danger.
“She’s under round-the-clock surveillance.”
“News on the stalker?“ Gwen asked.
“We may have an I.D. on Brown. If he is the man we suspect, we’ll pick him up. We’re waiting on a fax.”
“Fax?“ Gwen quizzed.
“A photo of a man named Richard Burke. He was a suspect in eleven murder cases in Sarasota.”
“Eleven murders?“ Gwen said with shock. “I guess we always knew he was vermin. But I’d always hoped that he was just a goof.”
“He’s a nasty piece of work,” Molly issued.
“And if he is Richard Burke, he’s a very dangerous man.” Royce became grim. “Until we get a positive I.D. and then get our warrant, I can’t do much more. The report should be here any time. As soon as we’ve taken him into custody, we can breath easier. Until then, Hertha’s in danger.”
Gwen shook her head. “Looks like we both fear losing the women we love.”
“All the more reason for the two of you to stop this silliness,” Molly confronted them.
Curtly, Gwen replied, “I hope you get him jailed. Then Hertha can have some peace of mind. Hertha’s being stalked by a killer. A murderer is running free, and Jorie is accused of a crime she couldn’t have committed.”
Royce stood. “I’m mystified by the tangles of this case, but I’m sure she didn’t kill anyone. I’m searching for a motive.”
“I know that Jorie is innocent. She might cover for someone, but she would never kill.”
“Cover?“ Royce questioned. The static of her radio interrupted her question. The fax was coming in. Royce rushed to the door. “Gwen, I’m not sure I can do much good. But I’m willing to try and talk with Nadine again. I truly don’t want you to lose her.” Royce paused at the door a moment, “Or for her to lose you.” She smiled. “If she leaves you, there’s no chance you’ll ever get sent to charm school.”
Royce thought she saw the glimmer of a smile overtake Gwen’s anger. “I want her to stay. Yes, I’d even consider going to charm school. Yes.”
Molly called after Royce, “Maybe we can get a two-for-one special and send the both of you to charm school.”
***
“It’s a make,” Royce announced to Nick and Amy. As the photo rolled, Royce examined it. “Amy, dispatch an APB immediately. He could be armed and should be considered dangerous. Tell them to exercise extreme caution. And make sure somebody’s
with Hertha. Let’s not confuse crazy for stupid.” Royce watched as his sheet was stretching out. “AKA Rick Burke; Dick Brown; Ricky Braun; and Richard Braun. Amy, run him through the computer bank to see if there might be anything outstanding in any other areas. Nick, get over to Lonesome Pines Motel and see if he’s come back yet. I’ll be there as soon as I have the search warrant.”
Royce rushed to Judge Meg Carter’s chambers. She was glad to find Meg there. “Sheriff, along with my vote, what is it I can do for you?”
“I need a search warrant. Lonesome Pines Motel. Richard Burke. Just as we suspected, he’s been living under an assumed name. I have a short warrant.” Royce held out the document. “He’s to be detained for questioning in Florida. I couldn’t do anything until now. He wouldn’t get near enough to violate the restraining order. He knows the drill.”
“When they’re trouble, they always do. I’d say you have cause.”
“Yes. I need that warrant.” Royce divulged, “I’ve got to get him before he kills again.”
“Your Doctor White?”
“Yes. The man stalking my Doctor White.” Royce’s eyes were fiercely impatient. “I need that warrant now.”
“You’ve got it now, Sheriff.” Meg nodded as she quickly scribbled. “And you have my vote too.”
Royce forced a smile. “Thanks. Your vote of confidence means a lot.” Royce reached the door and turned. “I’ll be voting for you too.”
“You get Burke off the streets, and I’ll try and keep him off.” Their mutual glance lingered only seconds before Royce hastened down the courthouse corridor. She ran a final fifty yards to the edge of the Lonesome Pines Motel parking lot. On one end of the driveway was the deputy who had been posted; on the opposite end was another who had been radioed for backup. When she spotted Nick, Royce urged, “Let’s go.” They entered the motel office and presented the warrant.