although all the signs were there to believe him, the truth could bite her in the backside if she wasn’t careful. “I’d also like the cell phone records for Lydia and Jasper—if they have cell phones.”
“I’m sure they do.”
Bella picked up the file, anxious to get started on her part of the investigation. “How soon can we visit the crime scene? I’d like to look around before diving into other areas.”
“Sure. I need to check on a couple of my men first. And I have a call to return.”
“Guess I’ll check with your men about the trash, see what they’ve put aside for me.”
Vic cleared his throat from the doorway. “Uh, Bella, I’ve got a message from the field office in Dallas. Then I want to talk to Jasper and Lydia.”
“I’ll be outside.” Adams rose from the table. “It’ll most likely be tomorrow before I have the results of the bullet dug out of your tire.”
Bella remembered country time versus city time and the resulting frustration. She’d have to put a little rocket fuel into the investigative engine.
Chapter 6
Bella strode down the back porch steps toward Sheriff Adams, who still had his phone to his ear. While he handled his call, she made small talk with the deputies who were going through trash. The temperature was rising, so she wrapped her jacket around her waist. One of the men handed her a pair of rubber gloves, no doubt thinking she wouldn’t assist. But she pulled them on and laughed about the large size. Her own were in her bag, but this appeased the deputies, and she needed to demonstrate she was a team player. She’d dive into it until the sheriff completed his call.
All of the trash from Carr’s house and barns had been gathered the day of the murders and, according to Sheriff Adams, the men found nothing. Since then, they’d added more green bags with the nifty yellow ties to the growing pile from the house and barn. One of the bags had shredded papers from Carr’s library. She tagged that one to send to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia. A special department there would piece it together.
In the heat, the stench from the food waste wafted through the morning air and gagged her. She’d seen a compost heap on one side of the barn and was thankful she didn’t have to go through that. But the findings might add critical evidence to the case, so she continued to work alongside the deputies and echo their displeasure with the task. As she completed each bag and grimaced with the maggots pilfering through them, she wished for once that Frank had been assigned to this case too. Not because this part of the investigation was unpleasant, but because she felt unsure about her assignment. However, she’d not ask for any partner other than Vic, even if it meant working 24-7 to solve the murders in a reasonable amount of time.
She stretched her back and glanced at Sheriff Adams, still involved with his call. One of Carr’s dogs nuzzled at her leg. She pulled off her stinky glove and let the animal sniff the back of her hand before patting his head. Snatching up another bag, she noted this one had come from the barn. What luck.
“Do you think this is going to take all day?” Sheriff Adams said, startling her. She hadn’t seen him approach. From the look on his face, he’d taken her handling of the trash as a personal affront rather than a willingness to help, and she could feel the iciness.
“It could, but it won’t.”
“Glad to hear you’ve decided the Runnels County Sheriff’s Department does know how to handle routine procedures.”
She didn’t need an enemy here. Time to rein in her controlling personality with a generous pinch of Southern charm. “Sheriff, I have no doubt you and your people have followed this investigation to the letter. I’m not second-guessing you or doubting your ability. I’m simply the type who has to see things for herself.” She gestured to the two deputies, who were listening to every word. “And I wanted to
“I’m sure they do.”
Bella picked up the file, anxious to get started on her part of the investigation. “How soon can we visit the crime scene? I’d like to look around before diving into other areas.”
“Sure. I need to check on a couple of my men first. And I have a call to return.”
“Guess I’ll check with your men about the trash, see what they’ve put aside for me.”
Vic cleared his throat from the doorway. “Uh, Bella, I’ve got a message from the field office in Dallas. Then I want to talk to Jasper and Lydia.”
“I’ll be outside.” Adams rose from the table. “It’ll most likely be tomorrow before I have the results of the bullet dug out of your tire.”
Bella remembered country time versus city time and the resulting frustration. She’d have to put a little rocket fuel into the investigative engine.
Chapter 6
Bella strode down the back porch steps toward Sheriff Adams, who still had his phone to his ear. While he handled his call, she made small talk with the deputies who were going through trash. The temperature was rising, so she wrapped her jacket around her waist. One of the men handed her a pair of rubber gloves, no doubt thinking she wouldn’t assist. But she pulled them on and laughed about the large size. Her own were in her bag, but this appeased the deputies, and she needed to demonstrate she was a team player. She’d dive into it until the sheriff completed his call.
All of the trash from Carr’s house and barns had been gathered the day of the murders and, according to Sheriff Adams, the men found nothing. Since then, they’d added more green bags with the nifty yellow ties to the growing pile from the house and barn. One of the bags had shredded papers from Carr’s library. She tagged that one to send to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia. A special department there would piece it together.
In the heat, the stench from the food waste wafted through the morning air and gagged her. She’d seen a compost heap on one side of the barn and was thankful she didn’t have to go through that. But the findings might add critical evidence to the case, so she continued to work alongside the deputies and echo their displeasure with the task. As she completed each bag and grimaced with the maggots pilfering through them, she wished for once that Frank had been assigned to this case too. Not because this part of the investigation was unpleasant, but because she felt unsure about her assignment. However, she’d not ask for any partner other than Vic, even if it meant working 24-7 to solve the murders in a reasonable amount of time.
She stretched her back and glanced at Sheriff Adams, still involved with his call. One of Carr’s dogs nuzzled at her leg. She pulled off her stinky glove and let the animal sniff the back of her hand before patting his head. Snatching up another bag, she noted this one had come from the barn. What luck.
“Do you think this is going to take all day?” Sheriff Adams said, startling her. She hadn’t seen him approach. From the look on his face, he’d taken her handling of the trash as a personal affront rather than a willingness to help, and she could feel the iciness.
“It could, but it won’t.”
“Glad to hear you’ve decided the Runnels County Sheriff’s Department does know how to handle routine procedures.”
She didn’t need an enemy here. Time to rein in her controlling personality with a generous pinch of Southern charm. “Sheriff, I have no doubt you and your people have followed this investigation to the letter. I’m not second-guessing you or doubting your ability. I’m simply the type who has to see things for herself.” She gestured to the two deputies, who were listening to every word. “And I wanted to
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