riled the sheriff of Bootleg Springs. It came with the badge. Harlan Tucker was a calm man used to soothing frayed feelings, smoothing over rough edges.
But hearing his daughter’s admission that she willingly hunted down a known fraud had him blinking rapidly for almost a minute straight.
George handled it… less subtly. His big frame was slumped in a chair in the station’s conference room, a meaty hand over his eyes.
The room smelled of stale coffee and old pastries.
“I can’t believe my sister and my girlfriend thought they’d just take the law into their own hands,” George moaned. “Again.”
June patted him on the shoulder. “Let’s focus on the part where Shelby and I believe we’ve uncovered important information regarding the investigation into Callie Kendall’s murder.”
Sheriff Tucker stroked a hand over his white mustache. “Huh,” he said.
I felt a little sorry for the man who was being forced to walk the line between family and the law.
“So what do we do next?” Shelby asked next to me.
I saw the sheriff’s nearly imperceptible flinch at the “we” part of that question.
“We are going to pass this information on to the investigators,” he began, holding up a hand when both June and Shelby started to argue. “And we are going to impress upon them that some of these details might bear consideration.”
Shelby sat back and crossed her arms. “In other words, you want us to mind our business.”
“Shelby, I appreciate your… initiative,” he decided, choosing the word carefully. “And I certainly believe that this information needs to be relayed through the appropriate channels. But I would be remiss if I didn’t strongly encourage you all to bring your concerns directly to law enforcement. It’s what we’re here for. It’s job security for me.”
“You will look into Abbie’s death, won’t you?” Shelby pressed.
“I certainly will. I promise you that,” the sheriff agreed.
“Good. George and I need to get back to our pig,” June announced, rising.
“Sheriff, if you don’t mind another request from me,” Shelby said. “I think someone intimidated Mrs. Benefiel into recanting her claim. Someone that she is still afraid of. If you do speak to her, can you do it very quietly?”
Sheriff Tucker nodded. “I will definitely do that,” he promised.
Some of the tension left Shelby’s shoulders. “Okay. Good. Thank you for your time,” she said.
We rose and started for the door.
“I’m telling Mom and Dad,” George said, pointing a long finger at Shelby.
She scrunched her nose up at him but didn’t argue.
“Gee, Shelby, you sure are working hard to win the most memorable summer fling,” I told her, slinging my arm around her as we stepped out into the night thick with humidity.
“All part of my master plan to make sure you never forget me.”
44
Shelby
I rolled my shoulders and adjusted the volume on Salt-N-Pepa as they warbled nineties vibes in my ears. It was early evening, and I was nearing the end of my allotted work hours. I still had a ten-mile bike ride to squeeze in. Working my way through the most recent survey responses—I’d had 936 so far—I was slowly crafting a structure for my paper. One that felt as organic yet cohesive as the responses I was getting.
I still felt like something was missing. That the key was somehow in the next response or the next. But overall, I was finally making real progress.
I shot a glance at the vase of wildflowers behind my laptop. Jonah. He’d picked them up at a little stand in the park yesterday and brought them home for me. Going for that Most Memorable Summer Fling notoriety. He made it so easy to appreciate him, to fall for him.
I grinned at the whimsical flowers, the chipped pitcher we’d found in the kitchen. And turned back to the next survey.
Q. What factors make you feel as if you belong here as part of the community?
Jonah Bodine: A few months ago, I would have said I didn’t necessarily belong. That I was just passing through. That the only thing keeping me here was the family I was getting to know. But that’s not the case. I came for the family, stayed for the family. Then something strange started to happen.
I wasn’t just new in town anymore. I wasn’t just a gossip item or an oddity. I was providing a service, meeting a need. The more I gave to this town, the more they gave me in return. I was alone when I came to Bootleg Springs. But I’m not alone now. I have new family, new