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“I’ll try my best.”
“Tell them what they want to hear.”
“And what would that be, sir?”
“That you’re going to authorize a cull.”
She bristled. “I’m not in a position to do that yet.”
“Hear me out. The storm will keep everything stalled for a few days. No one will be able to do anything till it clears. It buys you time. You can revoke the cull if you find out anything else. In the meantime, it keeps people on side.”
“What if the Colony find out?”
“Make sure they don’t.”
“I’ll give it some thought,” she said reluctantly.
“You do that. Now, excuse me while I go pee in a bottle.”
“Goodbye, sir.”
He ended the call.
Barbara looked up at Tucker. “You hear that?”
“I got the gist.”
“What do you think?”
“I think I know far too much about the chief’s toilet habits.”
“Aside from that.”
“It’s not a bad idea. Like he says, it buys time. Might stop folk acting rashly, especially if what you suspect about Athelinda’s motives is true.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll consider it.” She glanced at the time, “I guess I’d better be going. You coming?”
“I’m not sure my presence will help. I thought I might try and make it. Check out Nathan’s alibi.”
She frowned. “Only one truck.”
“Damn.”
“Tucker can take mine.”
Barbara turned. She hadn’t heard Rita walk in. The woman might be hard to miss (in a bright orange ensemble today) but she moved like a ninja.
“Thanks, Rita.”
Rita smiled. “Least I can do for the new deputy. Even got fresh snow tires on.” She fixed Tucker with her sharp, dark eyes. “You sure you remember how to drive?”
“I was driving before you were born.”
She laughed. “That’s why I’m worried.”
She fished in her pocket and threw him the keys. Tucker caught them.
Barbara stood and grabbed her coat, suddenly feeling like an outsider again. “Any last-minute words of advice?”
