"They got smarter," I said.
"They listened to Carrie's interviews where she discussed food preferences," he said.
I'd come to stand at the foot of the bed. "Why are the local cops interested in some land squabble?"
"Wait, it gets worse," he said.
I picked up the spilled comforter and sat on the edge of the bed with it bundled in my lap. "How worse?"
"A man's body was found two weeks ago. It was just one of those horrible hiking accidents at first. He fell off the mountain. It happens," Richard said.
"Having seen some of the mountains, I'm not surprised," I said.
"But somehow the body was listed as a troll kill."
I frowned at him. "It's not like a shark kill, Richard. How did they tell a troll did it?"
"A troll didn't do it," Richard said.
I nodded. "Of course not, but what was their proof, false or otherwise?"
"Carrie tried to get the coroner's report. But it was leaked to the newspapers first. The man had been beaten to death and had bites out of his body from animals. Troll bites."
I shook my head. "Anybody who dies in these mountains is going to have animal bites on the body. Trolls are known scavengers."
"Not according to Sheriff Wilkes," Richard said.
"What does the sheriff get out of this?"
"Money," Richard said.
"Do you know that for sure?" I asked.
"You mean, can I prove it?"
I nodded.
"No. Carrie's been trying to see if there's a paper trail, but so far, nothing. She's been chasing around, trying to get me out of jail for the last few days."
"Is she the same Carrie you mentioned as a girlfriend in jail?" I asked.
Richard nodded.
"Aha," I said.
"Did you just say, aha?" he asked.
"Yes, and I apologize for it, but what better way to keep Carrie from working on the mystery than to put her boyfriend in jail."
"I'm not her boyfriend anymore," he said.
I hurried past that little bit of knowledge. "Is it common knowledge that you're not an item anymore?"
"Not really."
"Then that may explain why they wanted you in jail. They framed you for rape because so far, Wilkes isn't willing to kill."
"You think that will change?" Richard asked.