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Fred chuckles. “Well, I’m glad.” He begins to leave the aisle, taking long even strides. “I’m looking forward to your convincing me. I’d be very impressed if it works.”
He rounds the corner and disappears.
Fred knows what he’s doing. He’s an old hat at business, at intimidation tactics. He might have a friendly demeanor but beneath it, it all must be calculated. Could he want something from me? Maybe he wants to strike a deal?
Or maybe this is all an act. Some smokescreen he can put up in order to keep me at bay.
A diversion tactic. For someone he sees as a little girl.
Alone in the aisle, I cling to my basket, trying to catch my breath.
What have I just done? The risk wrapped up in this is crazy, not to mention might be Sisyphean if the Fredericksons have already made up their mind.
I know my stuff. That much is true. Anyone would tell you that.
But this?
I’m not sure I can do this alone.
12
Rory
I cross out the next name on the list and sigh. I’m not getting very far with these names and numbers Constance put into a very organized list for me. Many of them have been disconnected; others aren’t even in Horace anymore.
All the various descendants of the Wilhelm family tree I’ve spoken to seem nonplussed at best about the property. Some didn’t even know therewasa property. Hope I’m not inspiring any new lawsuits to come.
I put my pen down against the next name. Syd Wilhelm. Well, he’s got the name for it, that’s for sure.
I reach for the phone at the edge of the desk I’ve co-opted in the Horace Township police station. It’s wedged in the corner, surrounded by boxes, and had a layer of dust when Ed showed it to me on my first day. But it will do the job.
With the phone to my ear, I start stabbing numbers with the back of my pen. It begins to ring.
“Hey, Sheriff?—”
I look up to find Colleen approaching my desk and cover the mouth piece on the phone. “Officer Boyette.”
“Sorry to interrupt you on your call, but—” She jerks her thumb up toward the front of the station. “You have a visitor.”
The ringing stops and there’s a click from the other end. “Hello?” a deep voice answers.
“Yeah, is this Syd Wilhelm?”
“This is he.”
Colleen nervously waits in front of my desk.
“This is Sheriff Rory McEvoy from Wabash County. I have a few questions for you regarding an ongoing investigation?”
“Uh… okay.”
Colleen whispers, “Do you want me to tell her to wait?”
I resist rolling my eyes. What about being on a phone call is so confusing? “Fantastic. Mr. Wilhelm, give me one minute.” I don’t wait for his response before ripping the phone from my ear and pressing the mute button on the display. “Boyette, I’m in the middle of something?”
“So you want me to tell her to wait?”
“You haven’t even told me who it is,” I hiss.
