Ever Present Danger by Kathy Herman Read Free Book Online Page A

wasn’t fair. Death wasn’t fair. God wasn’t fair!

6

    SHERIFF FLINT CARTER went into his office in the Tanner County Courthouse, pulled the blinds on the afternoon sun, and flopped in a chair. “I’ve been waiting ten years for a break like this!”

    Lieutenant Bobby Knolls blew a pink bubble and then sucked it into his mouth and sat in the chair next to the sheriff. “It’s really gonna be somethin’ if our John Doe’s dental records match Joe Hadley’s.”

    “I’m betting they will. How else could Joe’s class ring have gotten buried out there?” Flint leaned back in his chair, his weight balancing on the balls of his feet. “I suppose the ring could’ve fallen off Joe’s hand if he were the one who buried the victim. But he’s the only one reported missing.”

    “Maybe we’ll get a bonus and the ME can tell us the cause of death.”

    “Well, we know there was foul play. The kid didn’t bury himself.” Flint heard his administrative assistant’s voice on the intercom.

    “Sheriff, Mr. Griffith has arrived.”

    “Okay, Tammy, send him back.” Flint turned to Bobby. “I’ll handle Elam. Why don’t you go pull together everything we have on the Hadley case. If we reopen it, I want you handling the investigation.”

    “All right.” Bobby got up and left the office.

    A minute later, Flint heard a gentle knock on the door. “Come in.”

    Elam Griffith came in and shut the door behind him and sat in the chair Bobby had just vacated. “How long are you planning to keep my building site restricted?”

    “As long as it takes,” Flint said. “We need to sift through a lot of dirt and snow, but I’m thinking we’ll be out of there in a week or ten days.”

    Elam shook his head. “Come on, Flint, you’re killing me. I have to have the model home ready for the Getaway Homes Show in July. I’m stretched as it is.”

    “Sorry, bud, but I can’t do you a favor on this one. I promise I’ll pull out as soon as I can.”

    Elam stroked his mustache and seemed to be looking at nothing. “There’s talk that the bones belong to Joe Hadley. What do you think?”

    “I think it should be easy for the medical examiner to compare dental records.”

    “Have the Hadleys been told about the discovery?”

    “Oh, yeah. Right off the bat this morning. They want nothing more than to find closure on this.”

    “Think they will?”

    Flint smirked. “Nice try, but I’m not commenting till we know something. Did Ivy get in okay?”

    “Yeah, on Saturday.”

    Flint patted Elam on the shoulder. “You and Carolyn must be thrilled after all this time.”

    “It’s awkward, but I suppose it will be for a while. She’s not pretty anymore, Flint—hard as nails and looks much older than she is. I didn’t even recognize her.”

    “Sorry. Drugs can really do a number on a person. What about her son?”

    “Yeah, he’s with her.”

    “I figured that. Does he have a name?”

    “Montana.” Elam rolled his eyes. “She couldn’t have picked a normal name like Jason or Scott or Mike?”

    “Call me weird, but I kinda like the name.” Flint decided not to ask about the boy’s father. “Listen, be sure to fill her in on what’s going on. If the bones turn out to be Joe Hadley’s, I’ll need to turn back the clock ten years and do some more digging—no pun intended.”

    Ivy Griffith sat at the kitchen table, waiting for her mother to react to the news about Lu’s failing health.

    “I don’t know what you expect me to say.” Carolyn Griffith took a sip of decaf and seemed to grip the mug tighter than was necessary. “I’m very sorry about Lu, but equally upset that you concealed her illness from us.”

    Ivy brushed a tear off her cheek. “I’m sorry. I was afraid if I told you, you wouldn’t let me bring her here, and there was no way I was going to leave her to die alone.”

    “I’m surprised you didn’t get her into hospice when you were in Denver and just stay there