“For our new listeners, Grace was in Vermont to talk to her cousin Sidney Walsh for us. I trust you’re all familiar with that name.” And the fucker actually chortles. “I think we’re about to see sales of the Team Ryan merchandise go through the roof.”
I wipe my hands with a napkin. “Another woman has died and they’re talking about t-shirts.”
“There are respectful, ethical true crime investigators out there,” says Muriel. “Why they gave these two craven assholes the opportunity to make a documentary and expand their platform, I will never understand.”
“Grace’s bravery in facing down her cousin and joining our fight for truth and justice ending in this horrific way has been a heavy blow to everyone here atMisled. We were hoping she might have more information or been able to offer more insight into Sidney’s supposed project to find the bodies of other women who went missing ten years ago during what there is reason to believe was her original reign of terror,” says Steve. “Of course, searching for bodies that she may well have buried in the first place is either some sort of delusion or diversion on her part. Is it just a ruse so she has an excuse to keep visiting the graves she dug herself and reliving the thrill of killing those women?”
“You’re absolutely right, Steve. Tell us in the comments if you think Sidney killed her cousin. And remember to hit thatsubscribe button while you’re here, folks! You’re going to want to stay up to date on this thrilling investigation. Speaking of which, we’ve also had some exciting news from Ryan’s legal team today,” continues the other podcaster. “They had what they’re describing as a promising meeting today with the local D.A.’s office. There’s not much they can say just yet. However, efforts to have Ryan retried are full steam ahead!”
“Dianne must be so relieved.”
“She is indeed. I talked to Ryan’s mom earlier and she wanted us to thank everyone who’s signed the petition and been helping by putting pressure on the local authorities.”
“Thank goodness they didn’t let the sad news about Grace’s death slow their roll.” Hana takes a sip of wine. “That would have been such a downer.”
“Onwards and upwards,” I say with much sarcasm.
Auggie’s ears suddenly twitch as he leaps to his feet. All thoughts of me and my meal are forgotten, apparently. He turns to face the front door and starts barking.
Muriel clutches at her chest. “Goodness gracious.”
“Where are you, Sidney?” a voice yells from the street. “Get out here, you bitch.”
I hit pause on the podcast and get to my feet. “Is Mars in retrograde or something?”
A quick check of my cell confirms the identity of the idiot. The one who has now fallen over and is sitting in the gutter with a beer in one hand and his head in the other. Grandma was a big believer in karma. She always said it was wrong to enjoy the trials and misfortunes of others. Therefore, I really hope she’s not watching me from heaven, or the afterlife, or wherever. That would be so awkward right now.
“Good boy,” I say to Auggie, giving him a pat to calm him down.
“Should I call the cops?” asks Hana.
“Heisthe cops.”
“Shit.”
“That means there’s an even greater chance he might have a gun on him,” says Muriel wisely.
Mrs. Lawson from next door appears and proceeds to tear the man apart with her bare hands. Or her harsh words, as the case may be. Officer Smith doesn’t pull a gun on my neighbor, thankfully. And given all the years he’s been harassing me, this is an opportunity too good to miss. No matter how foolish it might be, I am overdue a win. Even one this small and deeply petty and stupid.
With my trusty baseball bat waiting behind the door, I perform the unlocking ritual and open the house to the cool night air. I make sure to stay on my front porch. There’s no need for me to go near him.
“She got me suspended,” says the man with snot running down his face. “Without pay.”
Christmas seems to have come early. My smile is more than a little malicious. “No. It was your own behavior that did that, Officer Smith. And I only spoke to the detective yesterday. The investigation into you and your shenanigans has probably been going on for a while now, hasn’t it?”
“You don’t know shit.” Bullies sure don’t like being called out on their nonsense. Not one bit. But he’s done more than just hassling me when Noah and I were walking back from the lake that night. The bulk of the speeding, parking, and other types of fines I received over the years were written by this man. “I was protecting the community!”
“No you weren’t.”
“Yes I was!”
“No you…okay. I am actually going to stop now while we can still tell the difference between the drunken idiot and me.”
Hana snorts. “Good idea.”
But Mrs. Lawson crosses her arms. So much disapproval of the inebriated asshole. This might well be the only time she and I have agreed on anything. “Pull yourself together and get out of here before I feel the need to phone your friends on the force and ask them to remove you,” she tells the man.
He gives her the stink eye. But he does indeed haul himself to his feet. “You’ll get yours, Walsh.”
