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GOLDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA
RORY SAW FLASHING LIGHTS in his rearview mirror. A state trooper was pulling him over. Rory had been using the cruise control on his Jaguar so he knew he hadn't been speeding. And he had stayed in his lane all the way from Greenville without passing. He couldn't think of any other traffic violations he had committed. Nevertheless, pulled over to the shoulder and rolled his window down.
A heavy-set State Trooper, wearing the prototypical sunglasses, stepped from his vehicle.
Rory heard the man's boots crunching across the gravel as he approached the side of Rory's vehicle.
As the state trooper reached the rear bumper he called out, "Wanna get out of the car, sir."
Rory thought it was strange. In the side mirror, he could see the trooper standing with his thumbs hooked in his gun belt at his waist. Rory checked for traffic and stepped out, closing the door, "What's wrong officer –?"
The state trooper spoke in a no-nonsense tone, "I'll ask the questions. Step back here please,"
Rory walked towards the back of the Jaguar.
The state trooper backed up a couple of steps and pointed to the trunk area, "Hands on the car."
"I don't understand –"
The state trooper raised his voice, "Turn and place your hands on the car." He pointed to the trunk area again, "Do it. I won't ask you again." His hand went to the butt of his weapon.
Rory couldn't see the state trooper's eyes but the hard set of his jaw told him all he needed to know. Rory kept his face passive as he complied. He stepped carefully around to the back of the Jaguar. Bending over slightly, he placed his hands on the trunk.
The trooper stepped forward and kicked at Rory's feet, "Spread 'em."
Rory complied, spreading his feet apart.
The trooper began to pat Rory's body. "Any weapons on you?" he barked.
"No sir," Rory said in a compliant voice. He had his Baby Eagle 9915 RL Polymer 9mm handgun in a lock box in the trunk. He expected to be asked about weapons in the vehicle next, but that question never came.
The state trooper drew his weapon and placed it against Rory's right temple.
Rory's blood ran cold.
The big trooper's left hand grasped Rory's shirt in the back and he twisted the material to hold him in place. He leaned over, his voice a hiss in Rory's ear, "I saw you talking to that little girl, Emma-Mae Houston."
Rory could feel the trooper's hot breath on the side of his face. He smelled the stale coffee and cigarettes. This must have been the trooper who was parked down the street when Emma led him into Donna-Lou Haney's backyard. Rory could understand the state trooper's harsh demeanor. He had watched a stranger talking to a young local girl. A young girl who was now reported as missing –
"What were you two talking about?"
That question threw Rory a curve ball.
"The trooper pushed on Rory's back, "Answer me."
"I met her at the library. She took me down to Mrs. Haney's house to show me something."
"And what was that?"
"A sign...on a tree in the backyard–"
The state trooper pressed the gun barrel hard into Rory's temple, "That's it?"
Rory winced in pain, "Yes sir–"
"I ran your plates," growled the state trooper. "Your name is Rory Mack Steele...dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship...a big shot investigator from a company in New York City called Highlander Investigative Services. Now, what would a big-time, private investigator from New York want with a little girl and treasure signs down here in the south?"
"I was just passing through and–"
The state trooper pulled the gun barrel away from Rory's temple, then thrust it back harder.
Rory winced and grunted from the pain in his temple.
The trooper's voice was loud and angry, "You think I'm a fool? Huh, sport? You think I'm a stupid country clown? You think I just fell off the turnip truck?"
Things didn't look good right now.
His voice dropped to a hiss again, "Now, Mr. Private Eye, what exactly are you doing here?"
Roy opened his mouth, but he didn't know what else he could say.
The trooper's hot breath came closer. The smell of stale coffee and cigarettes was stronger.
Rory waited for the gunshot. Would he hear it?
The sound of a car approaching them from somewhere behind broke the tense silence.
The state trooper held the gun in place for a moment as the sound of the car drew closer. A moment later, the trooper pulled the weapon away from Rory's head and holstered it. Then the trooper stepped back as the car slowed to a stop on the road beside them.
Rory looked to the left, wondering what was going to happen next. He watched as the passenger window on the stopped car slowly lowered.
The driver leaned over and Rory recognized the face of Chet Calhoun, peering across the seat.
"Hey Buck, how you doing?" Chet said to the state trooper. "Looks like you got yourself a real criminal there." He looked over at Rory and grinned, "Hey Mr. Steele. What are you doing back here?"
Rory didn't say a thing. He was actually afraid for Chet, not sure where this whole thing was going.
"You know this guy, Chet?" growled the state trooper.
"Well, I met him at the radio station the day I was interviewing Nora-Jane Jackson," Chet explained. He opened his car door and stepped out.
The state trooper grabbed the back of Rory's shirt and hauled him upright to his feet. "That one's just another busybody, interfering in police business."
"Now you know Nora-Jane, Buck," Chet said as he leaned on the roof of his car. "She's good people and means well –"
The state trooper leaned into Rory and spoke in a low menacing voice, "Don't stay in town too long or we'll be meeting again. Do you understand me?" His eyes were hard as he looked at Rory. Then he straightened up and tipped his hat to Chet Calhoun. Turning, the big trooper walked back to his vehicle.
Rory turned slowly and watched as the state trooper got into his vehicle, floored the gas and did a U-turn, disappearing down the road.
Calhoun watched the police pursuit vehicle disappear as well and then looked at Rory, mirth in his voice "Just keep your speed down and mind your P's and Q's and you'll be okay with Buck."
Shaking his head softly, Rory looked at Chet like he had two heads, "You're kidding. Right? He pulls me over for no reason and pulls his weapon?"
Chet waved his concerns away, "Aww, he's just blowing off a little steam. Don't mean nothing by it. I think his nose is just out of joint with the FBI coming in again and taking over his turf for a couple of days."
Rory didn't buy Chet's soft-pedaling of the trooper's attitude but it was his other comment that caught his attention, "What do you mean the FBI was just here a couple of days? I just read about the disappearance of Emma-Mae Lynn Houston. After the disappearance of the other kids, I would think they'd be here for weeks."
Check shook his head sadly, "No. As I said, nobody really takes this thing too seriously. The FBI said they couldn't find any indication of foul play. I pressed the state troopers to keep looking on their own but they wouldn't. I even went to the Circuit Court Judge, Vernon Teague to get them back, but he thinks Emma-Mae just ran away. Which is ridiculous, little girl like that...." His voice trailed off in frustration.
Rory couldn't believe what he was hearing. Something was definitely wrong. And it wasn't just the disappearance of a little girl. Or even a little boy like Corry. It was the attitude around the disappearances. He stared down the road where the state trooper had disappeared. The way he was stopped and the attitude of the trooper was troubling as well. He chewed on his lip for a moment and then asked Chet, "What's Buck's full name?"
"Buck Walker Harrison. Why?" asked Calhoun.
Rory decided to deflect the question for now. He simply shrugged his shoulders, "Just want to make sure to call him Mr. Harrison if we meet up again."
Chet laughed as he stopped leaning on the roof of his car up, "That would probably puff him up bigger than he already is. You just passing through again?"
Rory shook his head slowly no as he continued staring down the road, "Probably stay for a day or so."
Chet tapped the roof of his car twice, "Tell you what. Why don't you come by the radio station just after five? I'll buy you a beer and something to eat and we can talk more."
Rory looked to Chet and nodded, "That sounds like an offer I can't pass up."
Chet nodded and gave him a quick wave, "See you then." Chet got in, closed his door, put the car in gear and drove off.
Rory watched Chet Calhoun drive away. Then he looked back in the direction where the state trooper had driven off. Rory's radar was up. Buck Walker Harrison had seen Rory with a little girl. A little girl Rory didn't know. A little girl who had just disappeared. Yet the state trooper never asked Rory where the little girl was. He never asked Rory if he took her. He was more interested in what they had been talking about. And the state trooper's comment was a concern; 'what would a big-time private investigator from New York want with a little girl and treasure signs.' Rory stroked the side of his chin. Why would a state trooper seem to be more concerned about treasure signs than the little girl herself who was missing? Who exactly are you Buck Walker Harrison? And what is your endgame?