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“Thank you.”
“Everybody treating you decent?”
“I can’t complain.”
“Good to know.” He looked around as though assessing the town square. “Things haven’t changed all that much since you and your sister moved away.”
“Some things have changed quite a lot.”
He came back around to her and flashed a grin. “Well, we did finally get a new fire station. And a Taco Bell.”
She was expected to smile; she did so vapidly.
“Let’s see, what year was that?” he said. “When you left, I mean.”
“Two thousand.”
“That long? Geez. That was the year I graduated high school. I guess things have changed. I’m district attorney now.”
“I remember Sheriff Dyle.”
He placed his hand over his heart. “My dear ol’ dad. He died a while back.”
“He sticks in my memory because he questioned my sister and me after our father disappeared.”
“Oh, hell. Sorry about that. That whole business.”
He shook his head with regret. Seeming regret. Arden didn’t buy it.
He continued. “Daddy would’ve hated bothering you girls at such a tough time. But, you know, line of duty.”
“Of course.”
“Ever hear anything about what happened to Joe?”
“Nothing.”
“Has he been declared dead yet?”
“Years ago.”
“Huh. I’d lost track.”
He was lying about that, too, and she couldn’t wait to get away from him. “If you’ll excuse me, I really need to—”
“They take care of you in there?” He hitched his thumb over his shoulder toward the building, then pointed at the envelope she carried. “Get what you came for?”
“Yes.”
“Anyt
hing I can do to assist?”
“No, thank you.”
“Well, if you think of something…” He reached into the breast pocket of his suit jacket, withdrew a business card, and passed it to her. “At your service. Anytime.”
Arden thanked him with a nod and slid the card into her handbag. “Now, I really must go.”
