used to tell her mama she never understood why Virgie was so upset. Lou said Virgie said Claire just laughed one day and said ‘I’ve got a flash for you, Mama. It’s a dirty little secret. The mailman delivers my drugs. What was the big deal?’”
“I think it’s just too sad for words,” Hadley said. “I really do.”
“The mailman! I’m not surprised. But here’s another thing,” Bill said. “Kids get hooked on the meds that they steal from their parents. Then, when they can’t get them anymore, they look for cheaper highs. For a lot of them, that means heroin. It’s really sad to see so many young lives ruined or ended too soon.”
“It rained late the night Kyle was killed, didn’t it?” Hadley asked. “I remember the rain was pouring so hard, it woke me up. That means tire treads were washed away. Lost in the mud. Gosh, Bill, you can’t have anything to go on.”
“The roast was delicious, Hadley,” Bill said, “but I gotta run. I promised Elwin I’d stop by the office and see if he needed a hand. We’ve been busier than a band of fleas at a dog show.”
“Don’t worry, Bill,” Hadley said. “I’ll drop Maury home.”
“Yeah. Run along, honey,” Maury said. “I’ll help Hadley clean up the supper dishes.”
Bill gave Maury a quick peck on the cheek and headed out the door.
Bill sat in his car. He remembered the encounter he’d had with Candy and her two kids just last week. It was a hot, sunny day. Bill had just left the office to head over to the Spoon for a quick bite. Candy’s kids had gotten away from her. The groceries she’d had in her bags were spilled all over the street. Candy was yelling for her kids to stop running, but the two little imps were deaf to her calls.
* * *
“ H ey ,” Bill said.
Bill grabbed Candy’s two little children before they could race out into the street.
“Thanks, Sheriff,” Candy said.
The poor mother looked exasperated. Her hair was a mess. Errant strands fell across her face. She had tried to pull it back into a pony tail, but the rubber band, or whatever she was using to hold it in place, was not working.
“You two kids have gotta be careful,” Bill said. “You just can’t go charging out into Main Street. A car could hit you. And where are your shoes?”
Bill looked at the tiny feet. Eight toes on each pair. No, that couldn’t be right.
“Gotta get my specs changed,” he mumbled.
The kids were eager for Bill to let go, but Bill was determined to have his say.
“Candy,” Bill said, “these little ones need shoes. They could cut their feet on a piece of glass or burn the soles of them on this hot pavement. Keep up with them. I know it’s hard, but I don’t want to see them get hurt.”
“I’ll try,” Candy said. “But it’s hard. They both move like greased lightning.”
“Well, you watch them. Mind how they cross the street,” Bill said.
“I will,” said Candy. “Thanks, Sheriff.”
“You have a good day, Candy,” Bill said.
Kids today, Bill thought, watching Candy and her two savages walk down the street. Like as not, he thought, those two little ones would have a hard row to hoe. Wasn’t Candy’s fault. Bill blamed that no account excuse for a father, Kyle Winthrop.
* * *
“ I ’m worried ,” Maury said. “Bill’s working himself to death but doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere on this case.”
“Virgie’s at her wit’s end, too,” Hadley said. “I tell you, Sis, I felt so sorry for her I didn’t know what to do.”
“Oh, let’s change the subject,” Maury said. “If we stay on this line of talk, I’m gonna be cryin’ oceans. How’s the dumpster duty goin’ at Eustian’s?”
“Girl,” Hadley said, “that place is all gaumed up. I never seen such a mess. Beanie and I have cleared a good path to the house. How one human could cram so much useless junk into a house is beyond me. First of all, why do it? Second, after you’ve been so industrious as to keep the
“I think it’s just too sad for words,” Hadley said. “I really do.”
“The mailman! I’m not surprised. But here’s another thing,” Bill said. “Kids get hooked on the meds that they steal from their parents. Then, when they can’t get them anymore, they look for cheaper highs. For a lot of them, that means heroin. It’s really sad to see so many young lives ruined or ended too soon.”
“It rained late the night Kyle was killed, didn’t it?” Hadley asked. “I remember the rain was pouring so hard, it woke me up. That means tire treads were washed away. Lost in the mud. Gosh, Bill, you can’t have anything to go on.”
“The roast was delicious, Hadley,” Bill said, “but I gotta run. I promised Elwin I’d stop by the office and see if he needed a hand. We’ve been busier than a band of fleas at a dog show.”
“Don’t worry, Bill,” Hadley said. “I’ll drop Maury home.”
“Yeah. Run along, honey,” Maury said. “I’ll help Hadley clean up the supper dishes.”
Bill gave Maury a quick peck on the cheek and headed out the door.
Bill sat in his car. He remembered the encounter he’d had with Candy and her two kids just last week. It was a hot, sunny day. Bill had just left the office to head over to the Spoon for a quick bite. Candy’s kids had gotten away from her. The groceries she’d had in her bags were spilled all over the street. Candy was yelling for her kids to stop running, but the two little imps were deaf to her calls.
* * *
“ H ey ,” Bill said.
Bill grabbed Candy’s two little children before they could race out into the street.
“Thanks, Sheriff,” Candy said.
The poor mother looked exasperated. Her hair was a mess. Errant strands fell across her face. She had tried to pull it back into a pony tail, but the rubber band, or whatever she was using to hold it in place, was not working.
“You two kids have gotta be careful,” Bill said. “You just can’t go charging out into Main Street. A car could hit you. And where are your shoes?”
Bill looked at the tiny feet. Eight toes on each pair. No, that couldn’t be right.
“Gotta get my specs changed,” he mumbled.
The kids were eager for Bill to let go, but Bill was determined to have his say.
“Candy,” Bill said, “these little ones need shoes. They could cut their feet on a piece of glass or burn the soles of them on this hot pavement. Keep up with them. I know it’s hard, but I don’t want to see them get hurt.”
“I’ll try,” Candy said. “But it’s hard. They both move like greased lightning.”
“Well, you watch them. Mind how they cross the street,” Bill said.
“I will,” said Candy. “Thanks, Sheriff.”
“You have a good day, Candy,” Bill said.
Kids today, Bill thought, watching Candy and her two savages walk down the street. Like as not, he thought, those two little ones would have a hard row to hoe. Wasn’t Candy’s fault. Bill blamed that no account excuse for a father, Kyle Winthrop.
* * *
“ I ’m worried ,” Maury said. “Bill’s working himself to death but doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere on this case.”
“Virgie’s at her wit’s end, too,” Hadley said. “I tell you, Sis, I felt so sorry for her I didn’t know what to do.”
“Oh, let’s change the subject,” Maury said. “If we stay on this line of talk, I’m gonna be cryin’ oceans. How’s the dumpster duty goin’ at Eustian’s?”
“Girl,” Hadley said, “that place is all gaumed up. I never seen such a mess. Beanie and I have cleared a good path to the house. How one human could cram so much useless junk into a house is beyond me. First of all, why do it? Second, after you’ve been so industrious as to keep the
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