Logan said. “The sheriff has my statement. And seeing as how the perp hasn’t been apprehended, and may never be, then I could be kicking my heels here until I’m even older and grayer.”
“Don’t you care that Ray still isn’t out of the woods over this?”
“The sheriff knows that the boy is innocent. I’m a civilian, not a cop.”
“You were a cop. And you could probably solve this. Lyle is a good man, but hasn’t a lot of experience of homicide. The biggest thing that’s happened since I came to town was a fatal hit and run, and the driver turned himself in the day after.”
“So you think I should run down a killer on my own? I’m not the Lone Ranger, Tonto.”
“You’ve obviously got nothing better to do, kemo sabe. And whoever killed Tanya Roberts may strike again. Doesn’t that bother you?”
Logan sighed. Perhaps if Kate had been a guy and not a beautiful woman that he was attracted to, he would have said, ‘No, it doesn’t bother me. I’ve been involved with violent death for most of my adult life, and am a little hardened to it’. But instead he said, “There are thousands of bad things happening all over the world every minute of every day, Kate. It bothers me, but it’s a sad fact of life. There will always be predators and prey.”
“You aren’t anywhere else in the world, Logan. You’re here, now, and you did involve yourself. Clifton and Ray still need your help.”
Logan thought about it. It wasn’t in his nature to leave loose ends. His clothing and the money he had taken from a gangster’s hitman in West Virginia were already packed in his rucksack, ready to go, but he felt a little obliged to hang around after what Kate had said. “Okay, you win,” he said. “I’ll give it a few more days, but it’ll cost you.”
“Cost me?” Kate said.
“Yeah, a steak meal, when you’ve got a free evening.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Logan walked into the sheriff’s department and asked to see Lyle. Kate had dropped him off. Said she would call him later at the motel. He had told her that he would contact her if and when he had anything new.
Lyle came out front and walked him back to his office. “You’re outstaying your welcome, Logan,” he said. “I think that now would be a good time to move on to pastures new.”
“You mean before Carl is fit enough to get himself into more trouble?”
“That’s one good reason. He’s lost his job, and maybe he really is stupid enough to want some payback.”
“I can look after myself, Sheriff.”
“I’ve noticed, but―”
“When you find the girl’s killer I’ll be out of your hair. At the moment I don’t think you’re anywhere near.”
“It’s not your problem, Logan.”
“I’ve decided that it is my problem, because you’re not making any progress. It’s your town, and you need to be seen to be more proactive.”
“I’ll let that go, seeing as how you’re an ex-cop, Logan. But don’t push me.”
“If I don’t push you, who will?” You’re top dog here, and the townsfolk need to see you working this case.”
“Goddamnit Logan, when I get a lead, I’ll follow it.”
“Here’s one, free of charge. I not only believe that the killer is local; I’ve got a hunch that he was out at the Wagon Wheel that night. If he took the long route back to town after having too much to drink, he could have crossed paths with Tanya. The place will have a record of anyone that had reserved a table that evening. And if the CCTV cameras I saw outside of it work, then even if it was just a guy that called in for a few beers, he’ll be on tape.”
“Where did that line of thought come from?”
“From remaining open-minded and considering all possibilities. This wasn’t a planned attack, so the guy wasn’t a predator just hoping that he would get lucky. He was an opportunist, on his way home. He saw a chance to connect and it went
“Don’t you care that Ray still isn’t out of the woods over this?”
“The sheriff knows that the boy is innocent. I’m a civilian, not a cop.”
“You were a cop. And you could probably solve this. Lyle is a good man, but hasn’t a lot of experience of homicide. The biggest thing that’s happened since I came to town was a fatal hit and run, and the driver turned himself in the day after.”
“So you think I should run down a killer on my own? I’m not the Lone Ranger, Tonto.”
“You’ve obviously got nothing better to do, kemo sabe. And whoever killed Tanya Roberts may strike again. Doesn’t that bother you?”
Logan sighed. Perhaps if Kate had been a guy and not a beautiful woman that he was attracted to, he would have said, ‘No, it doesn’t bother me. I’ve been involved with violent death for most of my adult life, and am a little hardened to it’. But instead he said, “There are thousands of bad things happening all over the world every minute of every day, Kate. It bothers me, but it’s a sad fact of life. There will always be predators and prey.”
“You aren’t anywhere else in the world, Logan. You’re here, now, and you did involve yourself. Clifton and Ray still need your help.”
Logan thought about it. It wasn’t in his nature to leave loose ends. His clothing and the money he had taken from a gangster’s hitman in West Virginia were already packed in his rucksack, ready to go, but he felt a little obliged to hang around after what Kate had said. “Okay, you win,” he said. “I’ll give it a few more days, but it’ll cost you.”
“Cost me?” Kate said.
“Yeah, a steak meal, when you’ve got a free evening.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Logan walked into the sheriff’s department and asked to see Lyle. Kate had dropped him off. Said she would call him later at the motel. He had told her that he would contact her if and when he had anything new.
Lyle came out front and walked him back to his office. “You’re outstaying your welcome, Logan,” he said. “I think that now would be a good time to move on to pastures new.”
“You mean before Carl is fit enough to get himself into more trouble?”
“That’s one good reason. He’s lost his job, and maybe he really is stupid enough to want some payback.”
“I can look after myself, Sheriff.”
“I’ve noticed, but―”
“When you find the girl’s killer I’ll be out of your hair. At the moment I don’t think you’re anywhere near.”
“It’s not your problem, Logan.”
“I’ve decided that it is my problem, because you’re not making any progress. It’s your town, and you need to be seen to be more proactive.”
“I’ll let that go, seeing as how you’re an ex-cop, Logan. But don’t push me.”
“If I don’t push you, who will?” You’re top dog here, and the townsfolk need to see you working this case.”
“Goddamnit Logan, when I get a lead, I’ll follow it.”
“Here’s one, free of charge. I not only believe that the killer is local; I’ve got a hunch that he was out at the Wagon Wheel that night. If he took the long route back to town after having too much to drink, he could have crossed paths with Tanya. The place will have a record of anyone that had reserved a table that evening. And if the CCTV cameras I saw outside of it work, then even if it was just a guy that called in for a few beers, he’ll be on tape.”
“Where did that line of thought come from?”
“From remaining open-minded and considering all possibilities. This wasn’t a planned attack, so the guy wasn’t a predator just hoping that he would get lucky. He was an opportunist, on his way home. He saw a chance to connect and it went
Similar Books
