That would make the most sense.
“Work.” I take a breath and turn toward him. “I research real” —I start to say crimes— “incidents to make fictional ones more realistic.”
He nods. “I know what you do. Tell me, what has that to do with Blue Gil?”
“Coach Gilbert made the national news when he went missing, but there’s been radio silence since he was found.”
The sheriff nods again.
“Is there anything you could add to what little information has been released?”
“Nope.”
“Sheriff, how did the coach die and why aren’t other people wondering?”
“Young lady, I’m not privy to everyone’s wonderings. I would suppose people wonder all sorts of things, like why the daughter of two very respectable Blue Gillians would disappear for six years to return now.”
“I didn’t disappear,” I reply a bit defensively. “I moved away for school and started working. My work brought me back.” When my reply is left unanswered, I say, “I read that Coach Gilbert was found by two members of the football team.” I tilt my head toward thegame still happening. “One of those boys wouldn’t be the one who found him, would he?”
“Names were kept from the press for a reason, Miss Thorne.”
“You wouldn’t be able to keep them out unless they were minors.”
Sheriff Manes shrugs.
“It must have been traumatic for them. I wonder why Coach wasn’t found sooner, by you or another one of Blue Gil’s finest.”
“I personally patrolled the area twice.”
“And you missed him? Was it because of the rain? Or do you think someone moved him?”
“Hmm.”
If I know anything about small-town law enforcement, admitting mistakes isn’t something they relish. “How much rain did you get?”
“Now, that wouldn’t be hard for you to find out. I bet that phone of yours has that information.”
“Do you think his death was an accident?” I ask point-blank.
The sheriff tips the front of his hat. “Watch yourself, Miss Thorne. Get whatever you came to get and don’t cause trouble.”
He starts to walk away, but I hurry ahead and stand in his way. “What is everyone hiding?”
His chin rises. “Good day. I suspect we’ll see you tomorrow at church.”
It isn’t a question, yet I reply, “My mother asked me to attend.”
“God’s house ain’t a place for nosing around. We’rebusy here in Blue Gil. Got graduation and the season starting. Best to leave things the way they are.” He takes a step to the side and walks toward the parking lot.
When I turn, I see that the girls in the stands are looking my way. A cute brunette turns to Julie. With a nod, my sister waves and calls out my name.
Chapter
Ten
Iwave back with a strange sense of déjà vu. For a moment, it’s like being back in high school, wondering if I’ll be invited to the cool girls’ group. Funny thing is that after Justin, I was in it. By the time I was Julie’s age, I’d reached the top of the Blue Gil high school social status—having dated a varsity football player and being both captain of the girls’ basketball team and a varsity cheerleader.
Six years later, I wonder how far I’ve fallen.
