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"Of course. I mean, he probably won't even remember me."
Rachel gave a small nod, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this was going to be a difficult case. The Clarks were a tight-knit community that didn't trust outsiders, and now they were investigating two murders that happened on their land. She knew they needed to tread carefully and be prepared for anything.
CHAPTER THREE
The wailing sirens pierced the silence of the countryside as Rachel pulled up to the secluded ranch. She stepped out of her truck, boots crunching on the gravel driveway, and surveyed the chaotic scene. Police vehicles and an ambulance surrounded the property, lights still flashing red and blue against the night sky. In the distance, she spotted the county coroner's van, still parked haphazardly near the main house.
"What in tarnation is the coroner still doing here?" Ethan muttered under his breath as the door on the passenger's side slammed shut.
She shot him a look, shrugged. He was frowning towards the vehicle.
The coroner should've long since cleared the body by now. Unless something... or someone... was holding them up.
Rachel strode toward the ranch house, senses on high alert. As she approached, two men emerged from the shadows near the entrance, shotguns gripped in hand. Rachel halted, pulse quickening.
"That's far enough," one of the men growled, his voice like gravel. "No one goes inside until the sheriff gets here."
Rachel stood her ground, eyes narrowing. She rested her hand casually on the revolver at her hip.
"Doesn't seem like y'all are the law around here," Ethan said evenly, stepping up next to her. "Why don't you put those guns down before someone gets hurt?"
The men scowled, unmoving. The barrels of their shotguns glinted in the moonlight.
A tense beat passed. Rachel's jaw clenched, ready to draw her gun. She had to get control of this situation and fast.
She eyed the two armed men up and down. "Where's the coroner?" she said.
"Nowhere," replied the first man.
Now that she had a moment, she was able to examine both figures. They were thickset, with thick necks and sausage-sized fingers. The taller one had a beard with
bits of hay stuck in it, and the shorter one had a scar above his eyebrow. They both wore flannel shirts and dirty jeans, and Rachel couldn't help but think they looked more like hired thugs than upstanding citizens.
"Are you members of the Clark family?" Rachel said, trying to keep her voice calm. "We're not here to cause any trouble. Just let us through, and we'll be out of your hair."
The two men exchanged a look, then the shorter one stepped forward. "Who are you? Don't look like you're from these parts."
The shorter one had small, piggy eyes and an upturned nose, which looked as if it had been broken more than once. Rachel couldn't help but notice the way Ethan kept glancing off to the side, as if trying to avoid meeting this shorter man's gaze.
On a hunch, she said, "Jebediah Clark?"
He blinked. "I know you?"
She shook her head. "I don't think so. Obstructing a ranger is a criminal offense. You know that, don't you?"
He scowled at her.
"This here is private property."
"And there is a body reportedly found on this property."
He shrugged. "Don't give you the right to come unannounced."
Rachel glanced at Ethan, who was still trying to hide his face by glancing off towards the emergency vehicles stalled by the house.
Rachel hoped they hadn't done anything to the coroner, otherwise the investigation would escalate quickly.
Rachel took a deep breath, keeping her eyes locked on Jebediah's. "Look, we're just trying to do our jobs here. We need to see the body and speak with the sheriff. That's it."
