Page 38 of Grave Danger

Dammit.

He followed a zigzag pattern of roads in the wheels and spokes, checking the grounds for any signs of mounded dirt near established graves but finding nothing unusual. As he neared the tall iron gates, a car approached from the other side. The sun was bright across the windshield, and he wasn’t able to see details until he passed the car between the iron gates.

It was a Parson’s Hollow sheriff’s car. Behind the wheel sat Deputy Ryan Zellmer, head turned to look right at Demetrius as they passed each other.

Dammit squared.

What was Zellmer doing out at the cemetery? Had the guy at the desk called the sheriff on him because he’d been acting suspiciously? Surely Zellmer wouldn’t have responded that quickly. Maybe he was doing some investigating of his own, like Demetrius. Too bad Demetrius wasn’t in a position to be able to talk with Zellmer openly about his visit. Lucia would most likely know. But that, too, would take some finesse.

He sighed as he turned onto the road and headed toward town. How nice it would be if just once a monster case came with some law enforcement support right off the bat.

CHAPTER NINE

Cody was a sweaty, dirty, dusty mess. He and Jugs had finished catching and releasing a few squirrels, and now a headache had kicked in behind his left temple. Parking his truck outside the Critter Catchers office, he stepped out and headed for the door. Jugs parked his red Silverado in the space to the right of Cody’s truck and got out. As Cody unlocked the office door, he winced at the high-pitched yapping from Jugs’s adopted Yorkie, Enid Helen, as Jugs lifted the dog off the passenger seat and tucked her into the crook of a large arm.

“Hush,” Jugs said in his deep voice, and that one rumbled word immediately calmed the dog. Jugs shrugged at Cody. “She’s been a little more high-strung than usual because Aggie’s dogs are hanging around more often.”

“Enid Helen doesn’t try to be the alpha?”

“Oh, she’s the alpha of them, all right. But it’s making her more anxious because she’s on high alert all the time.”

“Sounds like the perfect family.”

Cody opened the door and stepped inside. The air conditioning wasn’t on, and the place felt stuffy and closed up, pushing his headache up a notch. As Jugs got Enid Helen situated in her dog bed, which had become a permanent fixture in a back corner of the office, Cody paused on his way to the bathroom to flick the thermostat switch to AC.

While he was in the bathroom washing the dirt and dust from his face and hair, he heard someone talking with Jugs in the outer office. He rinsed his face a final time and shut off the water, then paused to listen to the voices, head turned slightly as water dripped into the sink. Recognition flickered within him, and he braced his hands on the edges of the sink and looked at himself in the mirror. Maybe he could remove the mirrored medicine cabinet and find a whole new office behind it. He could hide there until their visitor left.

“Cody, Lucia’s out here,” Jugs called through the door. “She needs to talk with you.”

Cody sighed and grabbed some paper towels off the roll standing on the corner of the sink. “Yeah, okay.”

Taking a bottle of Tylenol from the medicine cabinet, he shook two tablets into his palm. Glancing at the door, he added two more.

Jugs had turned on Demmy’s computer and sat at the desk so he could enter his time sheet in their business software. Lucia slouched in Cody’s chair with her legs spread apart, slowly spinning herself side to side.

“Comfortable?” Cody asked.

“Just seeing what it felt like to be you, sitting here while your co-worker does all the work.”

Cody made a face. “Very funny. Why are you here?”

“We’ve contacted the Widow’s sister, Dorothea, and she’s flying in later today. She’s the executor of the Widow’s estate, so she’ll be staying a while. You’ll probably see her around town.”

“Okay, sure. Thanks for the heads up, though I’m not sure that required a personal visit.”

Lucia sat up straight, then stood in a crouch and reached down to trigger the seat adjustment. The chair sprung up to its full height beneath her. She grinned as she moved away from his desk. “Oops.”

“Thanks for that. Very mature.”

She headed for the door, then stopped and turned back. “Oh, one more thing.”

You’re leaving town and will never be back? Cody thought, but kept his mouth shut and lifted his eyebrows in a questioning manner.

“Dorothea said the Widow sent her some paperwork a couple of years ago for her to keep there in case something happened. Things like copies of life insurance paperwork, the deed to the house, and her will. There was also a sealed envelope with someone’s name written on it, a name Dorothea wasn’t familiar with.”

“Oh yeah?” Cody said cautiously. “Who?”

“Cody Bower.”