“Fancy meeting you in my neck of the woods,” Gail Bergeron quipped. “I was on my way to see Sheriff Blair about an unusual case when I heard your name on the scanner. Annabelle dated my cousin one summer so I knew exactly where this place was. Thought I’d make my pitch before Twilla Sue got her hooks into you. By the way, nice tag-along camper you got here.”
The state archaeologist looked right at home at my campsite, what with her gleaming hiking boots, finely creased jeans, silver-studded leather belt, and bright white blouse. A crisp navy-blue-and-white-patterned scarf at her neck completed her chic ensemble. Her short blonde hair was styled like a grown-up pixie, giving her a waif-like appearance, except I knew better. I’d watched her chew men up and spit them out like old gum.
“Hello, Gail.” My legs felt heavier as I approached. I’d rather have my fate in Sheriff Wayne Thompson’s hands than this woman’s. She’d been after me for months to help her with her cold cases. We’d been on opposite sides of a previous case, and I couldn’t forget how unpleasant she’d been to me. I didn’t want anything to do with her or her moldy old bones.
She caught the eye of the man beside me. “Deputy Duncan, nice to see you again. If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a few moments in private with this woman regarding a cold case.”
Deputy Duncan’s hand closed on my arm again. “I have orders to deliver Ms. Powell to my boss, ma’am. You’ll need to take your request up with the sheriff.”
My estimation of Deputy Duncan rose several notches. He must’ve gotten trampled by Gail before. Nice to know she didn’t cow everyone.
Gail fumed and I listened as the deputy made arrangements for one of the new officers to ride back on the lake with Deputy Loggins while Duncan took a car.
He marched me over to a squad car and opened the back door. “Get in.”
I tried to catch sight of Larissa and Charlotte, but there were too many trees between us. Climbing in the cruiser, I wrinkled my nose at the faint whiff of urine and vomit. The door slammed shut behind me.
Gail approached the car and tried to slip past the deputy. He spoke to her sharply, probably repeating the same line he gave me about doing his job, and she argued loudly with him. He didn’t respond, only held up his hand and made a circular motion. Two armed deputies approached and escorted Gail away from our vehicle.
Gail’s retreating back gave me a perverse sense of satisfaction. Ha! Divide and conquer trumps political connections in this county. You’ll have to wait to sink your talons into me, Ice Queen.
Deputy Duncan climbed into the front seat and started off. I gazed back at the campsite to see Gail hurrying to the black Hummer parked nearby. One cop car remained. For Charlotte and Larissa. I gulped. We drove past Annabelle’s cabin. Two more cop cars were parked there, and the door yawned ominously before us. What was it about the vacant cabin that drew their attention?
“This looks serious,” I said. “What’s going on?”
“You reported Sayer as last seen in this area. We need to question him. He’s sheltered in this cabin before.”
I dashed off another telepathic message to my daughter. They’re taking me to the local sheriff. They have no reason to hold us, so I’ll be back soon. Love you.
I wished like anything Larissa could do more than receive my messages. I would feel better if I knew her state of mind. I hoped and prayed my mother-in-law didn’t get wind of this. I’d foiled her attempt to get custody of Larissa earlier this summer, but I didn’t trust her to let it go. She’d use any information she could to prove I was an unfit mother. I pursed my lips in frustration. She wouldn’t hear about this from me.
The cop’s radio squelched loudly. Immediately following the abrupt noise, the person at the other end rattled off a series of numerical codes. Deputy Duncan clicked a button. “Roger that.”
“When this is over, will I get my gun and my personal possessions back?” I asked as we rolled along the grassy driveway and onto the paved road.
“Yes, ma’am, you will have them today, but the timing depends on the sheriff.”
“Can you tell me what this is about?”
My question rated no response. I stared glumly out the window as we negotiated a curvy mountain road. We weren’t headed down the mountain to town. We were going up the hill. What?
I tapped on the metal grate between the front and back seat. “Hey, town’s the other direction. You’re going the wrong way.”
“Not headed to town.”
“Where are we going?”
Duncan took the next curve a little too fast for my comfort. I braced myself against the door to keep from sliding across the vinyl seat. Finally, the man spared me a glance. “What kind of consulting do you do for your sheriff? My boss is over the moon that you’re here.”
My skin prickled for no good reason. I had a bad feeling about this. “If I’m not under arrest, can you pull over and let me out?”
“Afraid not. The best I can figure, the sheriffs have done a deal.”
What had my sheriff, Wayne Thompson, gotten me into? I owed him, for sure, for helping get my in-laws off my back two months ago when they’d tried to pull a custody grab of my daughter, but I had planned to repay him with a favor, not to have him pimp me out. Gloom settled heavily on my shoulders. I eyed the doors. No handles. I wasn’t getting out of this car without Deputy Duncan’s help. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re the sheriff’s ticket to the big tent. Sheriff Blair’s sights are set on being the next governor. She’s licking her chops. Says you’re gonna be her lucky charm. Do you have special insight into criminology? Are you a profiler?”
As a rule, I never mention dreamwalking to strangers. It’s better that way. “I’m a mother who happens to consult for my local police department. I don’t work crime scenes in other jurisdictions. I’m on vacation.”
“Not anymore. According to the chatter in my ear com, your sheriff officially loaned you to us. Said to remind you it’s time for payback.”
Payback. He would call in the debt when I was on vacation.
Deputy Duncan cleared his throat. His gaze met mine in the rearview mirror. “I couldn’t help noticing your unusual hair, ma’am. That white streak looks natural, but it’s so different from your darker hair.”
Allowing my dreamwalking abilities to be part of my daily life came at a cost. All my psychic relatives started with normal hair. The ones who gave their talents free rein bore the visible sign of power. Because I’d denied my gift until this year, the striped look still surprised me when I gazed at my reflection.
I sighed. “The white forelock came from the universe in January. Some higher power’s idea of making me a beacon.”
“I don’t understand.”
I shoved a few errant strands of hair behind my ear. “Me either.”