Angela’s family lived in the city limits of the small town of Dover Springs. Her mother, sister, brother, and various aunts and uncles were listed in a phone book so small Paige was floored. The school system served less than two thousand students. Most of those had at least a forty-minute bus ride each way and were from outlying parts of the county.
After the emails she’d shown Sebastian and Deputy Disgusting, Paige and Al found themselves walking down what had to pass as the worst block in Dover Springs. The apartments were in older buildings, and in obvious need of repair.
The scent of weed and burned beans filled the air, stinging her lungs, along with the snow. Paige needed to buy herself a thicker coat when she got a chance.
For a moment she flirted with the idea of transferring to a field office in a much warmer climate. She used to like to wander. She and Carrie would pick up and take off whenever the urge hit them. Traveling with the bureau was almost the same.
New situations. New challenges.
If it didn’t mean leaving Carrie and Al, she almost would consider it. Just for the warmth alone.
They had two sheriff’s deputies walking three feet behind them. Paige understood. Deputy Disgusting didn’t trust them to handle an interview on their own.
He’d have to get over it.
Still, the deputies weren’t nearly as problematic as Deputy Carroll. They were actually polite and welcoming. Friendly. One had even admitted they were out of their depth with a homicide like this. In rural parts of many states, a considerable number of deputies were actually unpaid volunteers. Most of the Dover Springs force was exactly that.
Men and women who volunteered to help keep their neighbors safe.
The two walking with them were part of the paid, four-man force besides Deputy Carroll and the missing sheriff.
It was unfathomable to her. She looked at the one closest to her. “Deputy Jacobs, do you know the brother well?”
“Watch your step. That’s ice there.” Deputy Jacobs was a forty-something black man of average height who had nice eyes and a kind smile. She’d liked him immediately. “Not well. Just what I’ve heard. He was always the troublemaker, until everyone got bigger than him. Nick hated to be one-upped at anything. Still does. He liked to party, too. Nobody understood it; his mom is a teacher at the school. English. Her older daughter runs the bank. I went to school with her. Nice lady. Nick is the family screwup. He’s always been.”
That jibed with what they’d been told. “History?”
“Drugs, mostly. Petty crimes. Caught him stealing from the local food pantry once. Which was stupid. All he had to do was follow proper channels, and he’d have been given the food.”
Ego driven, probably arrogant. Cocky to hide his insecurities.
Paige didn’t want to prejudge, but they’d all seen people like this before.
Profiling worked because people followed particular behavioral patterns. It didn’t hurt to have an idea going in.
It could save time that way.
They arrived at Nick Delasi’s apartment. It was one of four, part of a duplex that was matched by the building across the street.
It had seen better days. Even in the low glow of the streetlights, it had no charm whatsoever. Utilitarian.
The street was deserted. If it wasn’t for those lights, it would be total darkness. Paige shivered again.
This place was really bringing back memories she didn’t want to think about.
Ice was forming on the door.
Paige rapped her knuckles against it quickly, ignoring the sting of the ice.
She hated snow and ice.
Hawaii was starting to sound better and better. Maybe she’d just take a vacation there first chance she got.