“Now who’s being cynical?”
At the afternoon break, I called Dwight’s number.
He answered on the first ring. “Bryant here.” His
tone was brusque.
“And hey to you, too,” I said. “Does this mean the
honeymoon’s over?”
“Sorry. I didn’t check my screen.” Warmth came back
into his voice. “I assumed it was Richards calling back.
What’s up?”
“I just wanted to know if you remembered to pick up
Bandit’s heartworm pills from the vet? Or should I do
it on my way home?”
“Could you?” he asked. “And call Kate to let her
know I’m running late?”
68
HARD ROW
“Don’t worry. I’ll pick Cal up, too.”
I heard voices in the background. “What’s going
on?”
“Another hand’s been reported,” he said grimly. “At
the edge of Apple Creek, just off Jernigan Road.”
“Jernigan Road? That’s nowhere near Ward Dairy.
Was there a wedding ring on the finger?”
“I doubt it,” Dwight said. “They say it’s another
right.”
69
C H A P T E R
8
Dwight Bryant
Thursday Afternoon, March 2
% Dwight hung up the phone as several officers
crowded into his office to get their instructions.
Using the large topographical map of the county that
covered most of one wall, he located Apple Creek and
traced it with his finger till it crossed Jernigan Road. It
was well south and east of Dobbs and, as Deborah had
just pointed out, nowhere near Ward Dairy Road or
Bethel Baptist where the other limbs had been found.
“Here’s where the kids found the hand. Most animals
won’t usually carry something all that far, but it could
have washed down, so for starters, I want you walking
at least a half-mile up the creek and maybe a quarter-
mile down. Both sides. Pay particular attention here
and here, where there’re lanes that get close enough
to the creek that a body could be easily dumped from
a vehicle. And keep your eyes open for anything out of
