Page 11 of Forever Gone

A voice followed, distorted for the first second before becoming clear.

“Sheriff, come in.”

Connor recognized Deputy Arnold. He set the coffee on the side table and removed the radio from his belt.

“Go ahead, Arnold.”

“Sheriff, we’ve got a situation.”

Connor watched Robert’s hand settle beside a white knight.

“Can it wait?” Connor asked. “I haven’t even had my coffee yet.”

A short silence came over the channel. When Arnold answered, the strain in his voice had removed every trace of routine.

“No, Sheriff. Someone’s been killed.”

CHAPTER TWO

The old Eagleton school had served generations of children. Years after the final class left, the three-story building still occupied the center of town.

Selena Raven stood beside her car and studied it from the cracked parking lot. It felt strange being there just one town over from Elmsview. The central section rose above two shorter wings, its stone entrance framed by square columns and a weather-worn carving that still read EAGLETON GRADED SCHOOL. Someone had removed the flagpole years ago, leaving four rusted bolts in a concrete base near the front steps. Ivy climbed the western wall in tangled ropes, turning red at the edges as fall settled over Harlan County.

Three weeks earlier, the building had become the FBI’s newest field office.

At least, that was what the plaque beside the entrance claimed. The temporary sign was smaller than the old school's name and had been mounted slightly crooked. Behind the glass doors, a strip of brown paper covered a broken pane.

Selena took out her phone.

The call connected on the fourth ring.

“Hey, Selena,” Meg Calloway said. “How are you settling in?”

Selena kept her attention on a gutter that had pulled away from the roof above the east wing. Rainwater had stained the brick beneath it in a long dark trail.

“Meg, it’s been three weeks, and I’m still here on my own.”

A pause followed. Office noise carried faintly through the phone. Voices, a ringing line, someone closing a drawer.

“We’re doing everything we can to rectify that,” Meg said. “You should have another agent very soon. A matter of days.”

“One agent?”

“I saw your request for a couple more.”

“And administrative staff, Meg. I’m answering calls, filing intake reports, dealing with property management, setting up equipment, and trying to work cases. I spent forty minutes yesterday finding out who was authorized to replace a toilet valve.”

"That sounds character-building."

“It was leaking into a bucket.” Selena grimaced.

“Well, you have a bucket. Things are looking up.”

Selena pressed her lips together. Meg’s dry delivery made it difficult to tell whether she expected a laugh. Usually, she did not.

“I’m doing everything myself in an old school building,” Selena said. “Half the rooms don’t have power, and the heating system makes a noise like somebody trapped a lawn mower in the basement.”

“It was the only building we could get in the heart of Harlan County that would keep you close to the action. If it’s selected as your permanent new office, we’ll get in contractors to spruce it up a bit.”