Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“So… the fire?” Skylar asked Sarah.
“Started in the embalming room, like I said. Fire marshal said they found a candle at the point of origin. They think Frank forgot to put it out and it caught the curtains on fire. When the fire spread it set off the gas line to the cremator.”
Logan started to question Sarah, but his attention shifted to the front door when Ty came in followed by Gerry Sullivan, Ed Burk, and Andrew Gordon, three men he’d met the night before in the bar. They were heading straight for the two deputies waiting on their food, and they looked alert.
Logan climbed out of the booth immediately, telling Skylar to, “Hold tight for a minute,” so he could find out what had the men buzzed.
Ty saw Logan approaching their group and peeled off to talk to him.
“What’s happening?” Logan asked.
“A call came in to the mayor from the National Park Service in West Yellowstone. They found Duke’s truck and his boat drifting on the lake.”
“He went to Wyoming?” Logan asked in disbelief. “How far a drive is that from here?”
“West entrance to Yellowstone Park is a ninety-minute drive.”
“He ever go that far on a day he had to work?”
Ty thought about it for a moment then shrugged. “The man’s dedicated, and several people heard him say he had a new reel he needed to test. The fish are big in Yellowstone, he may have gone that far to test it before the park closes in a few weeks for the winter.”
It didn’t sit right with Logan, no matter how you justified it, not after the warning he gave Logan the night before to stay vigilant. If Duke was worried about Skylar, he’d stay close. Logan felt that in his bones.
“You headed to Yellowstone?”
“I don’t know. The mayor tried to call the sheriff, but he’s out on a call in Twin Bridges. They had a double murder there. Victims were dead a day before they were found, so he’s gonna be tied up with that. United States Park Police are in charge of the investigation, but they won’t share information with anyone but law enforcement. Ennis doesn’t have anyone but Duke, so we’re left blowing in the breeze. Ed says we need an interim police chief if we want to know what the hell is going on.”
“He’s right. If your city council doesn’t assign one, you’ll have to jump through hoops to get any information from the CI division.”
“Glad you feel that way,” Gerry Sullivan cut in, with Ed Burk and Andrew Gordon hot on his heels. “Because Duke named his future replacement just last night at the bar.”
“Who?” Ty asked.
Three sets of eyes landed on Logan.
Fourteen
Storm Control
“WHAT DO YOU think they’re arguing about?”
I glanced at Logan, who was slicing his hand through the air, drawing an imaginary line in the sand at Gerry, Ed, Andrew, and Ty. They’d been arguing for a few minutes. I was about to head over the moment Logan growled, “What the fuck?” but Ty caught my eye when I stood and raised his finger, asking me to wait, smiling for some odd reason.
“Whatever it is, Logan is opposed.” Josh shoved more pizza into his mouth and watched the byplay between the five men.
I scanned the restaurant for anyone who could clue me in to what was happening and noticed George Anderson, the owner of Pop’s, opening the private dining area he used for birthday parties. Pop’s was packed, so I didn’t think much of it until he called out two of the town’s city council members by name. When they stood and followed George inside and shut the door, I knew something was up. My father was on the city council when he was alive, and I couldn’t think of a single time they called a meeting on a Friday night after a football game. In the middle of a snowstorm. In a pizza parlor, no less. Whatever had happened was big, and I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach it was about Duke.
I shot my attention back to Logan and waited. He shook his head slowly, then dropped his chin to his chest, placing both hands at the nape of his neck while he contemplated something. When he straightened and looked back at me, I raised my brows in question. He watched me for a moment, then turned his head and nodded. Handshakes were thrown out, shoulder slaps in appreciation were exchanged before Logan finally turned my direction and headed back.
I stood as he approached, with a gnawing fear I wouldn’t like what he was about to tell me.
“We need to talk.”
“What’s happened? What’s going on?” Logan took my hand and drew me off into a corner. My heart pounded out a rapid beat and my mouth ran dry as we walked. Once we were far enough away from any tables, he spoke.