was such a difficult time for you, I wasn’t sure you would remember.”
“Of course I do.”
He nodded solemnly, then gestured toward Thatcher. “What can you tell me about Mr. Hutton?”
She scooted the baby up onto her shoulder and tried to shush her. “Nothing, except what Irv already told you. He showed up at our place yesterday.”
“What time was that?”
She thought on it. “Around eleven, but it could have been thirty minutes either side of that.”
“How did he get there?”
“On foot.”
“From which direction?”
“I didn’t see, but I guess from the south. The railroad is in that direction from us, and he told me he’d jumped off a freight train.”
“Did you believe him?”
She hesitated, then said, “It made no difference to me if he was lying or not.”
“It did to me,” Irv said. “Poking around where he didn’t belong.”
The sheriff turned to him. “He poked around?”
“No, he didn’t,” Laurel said, giving her father-in-law a look of asperity. “He asked for a drink of water. I gave him one, and told him how to get to town, then sent him on his way.” The baby began to cough. Laurel patted her on the back. “That’s all I know, Sheriff Amos. I’ve got to get Pearl to a doctor.”
“A couple more questions. You told Mr. Hutton about the Driscolls’ room for rent?”
“I didn’t know it was theirs. I just remembered seeing the notice in Hancock’s window, and mentioned it to him when he asked if I knew of somewhere he could stay.” She cut a glance at Thatcher, then said to the sheriff, “This really has nothing at all to do with me.”
Without a blink, the sheriff continued. “Altogether, how long was he there?”
“No more than a few minutes. Ten maybe.”
“Did he look beat up, like he’d been in a fight?”
“He had a bump on his head. His hand was wrapped in a handkerchief. The shoulder seam of his coat was ripped.”
“What was his demeanor, Mrs. Plummer? How did he act toward you?”
She took another quick look at Thatcher, and he figured this was where she would tell them about the rooster’s attack and what had happened after. But she didn’t relate any of that.
She said, “He didn’t act any particular way. He thanked me for the water and the information and left.” She pressed her palm against the baby’s forehead. “I must go now and find another doctor.”
“Doc Perkins is right down the street,” Irv said, opening the door. “Come on, Laurel.”
She walked quickly to the door, then stopped on the threshold and turned back and addressed the doctor. “When I brought Pearl to your office, Mrs. Driscoll treated me kindly. I’m very sorry for what you’re going through. I hope you find her soon. And that she’s safe.”
Her eyes connected with Thatcher’s for a split second, and then she was gone.
* * *
After they left, the doctor’s knees folded and he dropped back into the chair. The mayor said, “Gabe is exhausted. He can’t even stand, much less think straight. He should be allowed to go home for a while and rest.”
“No, no,” he said. “I want to stay here, be here, in case something…something…” Unable to finish the thought, he rubbed his forehead.
“You see?” the mayor said. “I’ll see him home.”
“Scotty will see him home,” Bill Amos said.
The mayor seemed about to argue, but, instead, bent down and placed his arm around Driscoll’s shoulders. In a murmur usually reserved for priests and undertakers, he began reassuring the doctor that he was going to stay on top of things.
The sheriff turned to his deputy and spoke in an undertone, but loudly enough for Thatcher to hear. “Don’t let anybody talk to him. There’ll probably be a parade of church ladies bearing food. You take it at the door and thank them on behalf of both the doc and Mrs. Driscoll. If they start asking questions, say you’re not at liberty to talk about an ongoing investigation, and that if you do, I’ll have your ass chicken fried and served on a platter. And I will, Scotty.”
“I understand, sir.”
“Anything turns up, I’ll come directly there and inform Gabe of it myself. Anything anyone else tells you, regard as rumor or fabrication.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Get to it.”
Scotty crossed the room and, after nudging the mayor aside, took Driscoll gently by the arm, lifted him up, and guided him toward the door. The doctor went along without objection. He looked like a sleepwalker.
As Scotty pulled the door closed behind them, Mayor Croft hitched his chin in Thatcher’s