Another woman, younger than Maud, came up and stood with her, putting a hand on Maud’s arm, patting it. Diane recognized her as one of the members who had kept apart and hadn’t participated in the conversation.
“She was told not to come into the county. It’s her own fault,” the woman said.
“Wait a minute,” said the young man who had mentioned decent cell service. “What happened to ‘free country’? Leland Conrad has no authority to decide who can and who can’t come here. What’s wrong with you people? This isn’t the sheriff’s county, and he has no right to come to our church and do this to a guest.”
Several people in the crowd that gathered said, “Amen.” Several grumbled. Diane heard the word
“Maud, Earl, you shouldn’t have done this,” said Spence Barre. “Like Violet and Lillian said, all of us have always been good to your son for your sake. Daddy wrote a letter on his behalf to the judge the last time your boy was up for sentencing. I read it. It was a good letter. Better than he deserved.”
The two of them, Maud with her white hair and pearls, and Earl with his deacon’s demeanor, looked confused and surprised. They hadn’t expected censure as sharp as the Barres and Watsons were giving them.
Violet was shaking and her sister put an arm around her waist. “I don’t want you coming to my parents’ funeral,” Violet said. “You aren’t welcome. Whatever you think of Miss Fallon here, this is a slap in my face and a terrible thing you’ve done to our church.”
“Enough of this,” said the sheriff. He took out hand-cuffs and started toward Diane.
“On what grounds are you doing this?” said Frank. “You have to have more than ‘she crossed the county line’ to arrest her.”
“No, I don’t,” Conrad said. “You’ll find I have a lot of support here.” He nodded to several people. “I’m trying to find a killer, and this woman’s interfering. What she needs is a night or two in jail. You interfere and I’ll run you all in.”
Frank walked toward him and the sheriff took out his gun and let it hang by his side.
The minister came forward and stood between Frank and the sheriff. “Leland, what are you doing? A gun? On church property? This is God’s place, even out here. Look what you are doing to our church. Is this what it’s come to?”
“It’s my job to keep the law, and I will as long as I’m sheriff. Now, the two of you just back off,” he said to the minister and Frank. He reholstered his gun.
Diane laid a hand on Frank’s arm. “I’ll go with him.”
Frank didn’t let go.
“I need you out here,” she said.
“I’ll follow in the car,” he whispered in her ear.
“Sheriff,” said Frank, “you had better not let any harm come to her.”
“Are you threatening me?” Conrad said.
“Why, no,” said Frank. “No more than your people threatened the Watsons. Surely you see that.”
The sheriff scowled at Frank. “I know you’re a peace officer, so I’m going to let that slide, out of professional courtesy.”
“It is out of professional courtesy that I tell you-do not let a hair on her head come to harm,” said Frank.
“It’s all right,” said Diane.
“You and I need to have a long talk, missy,” the sheriff said.
The sheriff put Diane’s hands behind her and put on the cuffs. He grabbed her arm and started to drag her off. Diane saw that even Maud and Earl looked a little startled. Sometimes it’s good to see consequences, Diane thought.
“You need to talk with me also,” said Liam. He had stepped out of the crowd.
The sheriff turned to look him up and down. “And why would that be? I don’t know you,” he said, but squinted his eyes, as if there were something familiar about him and perhaps they had met.
“I was in the woods the night Dr. Fallon was there running for her life,” he said.
The sheriff stopped and stared. “So, you that guy in the woods?” he said.
“Yes,” said Liam.
“Then I guess you need to come too,” he said. “What’s your name?”
“Liam Dugal,” he said.
“Where do I know that name?” Conrad said, unlocking one of Diane’s wrists and cuffing Liam to her.
Andie looked from one to the other, alarm on her face.
Before Liam answered, Izzy spoke up.
“Is this what you do? Cuff people you want to talk to?” he said. “ ’Cause I can show you a better way of doing business.”
“I don’t know who you are,” Conrad began.
“Another peace officer,” said Izzy. “You know this isn’t right. You know that. It’s going to come back to haunt you. And all the bravado and righteousness you are feeling right now is going to feel silly later on, and you’ll wish you’d done things differently. Now why don’t you do yourself a favor and talk about this here? These people at this church are good hosts. I’m sure they won’t mind your using their fellowship hall to get your questions answered without taking them away in your car.”
Diane was surprised. That was one of Izzy’s longer speeches. But it wouldn’t work. Izzy thought he was talking peace officer to peace officer. It sounded more like Izzy was sweet-talking a perp out of shooting hostages- at least, that was the way she’d bet the sheriff would take it. And he wouldn’t be talked down, or talked down to, in front of the people he felt he had authority over.
Sheriff Conrad didn’t answer. He pulled Diane and Liam with him and pushed them into the backseat of his SUV, not bothering to hold their heads so they wouldn’t bump them getting in. Which was okay. The two of them ducked their heads down anyway.
The backseat of the sheriff’s vehicle smelled like pine freshener and tobacco. The tan leather seat was slick with age and wear. Neither she nor Liam said anything. For the most part, Diane had a policy of not aggravating someone with a gun.
Liam’s gaze, she noticed, roamed the interior. She wondered for a moment if he were planning an escape- which would be strange, since he put himself here. She wanted to ask him why, but didn’t speak. Liam was also silent. He did grasp her hand for a brief moment, squeezed, and let go. She realized he had revealed himself to the sheriff in order to go with her. She felt grateful.
“Awfully quiet back there. Better not be planning something,” said the sheriff.
Neither of them said anything.
“At least you’re learning to keep your mouth shut,” he said.
Neither Diane nor Liam spoke.
The sheriff kept his own mouth shut for the rest of the ride.
In the beginning, it crossed Diane’s mind that he might not take them to his office, but to some other location, and let them walk back. In which case she would really regret wearing heels. Then more sinister fears started creeping into her mind. But when he turned onto the hardtop, she knew they were headed to Renfrew, the county seat of Rendell County. She would like to have relaxed, but dared not. Instead, she occupied her thoughts trying to figure out why the sheriff was taking this course of action. Was it bravado, as Izzy suggested? Was he so accustomed to getting his way, he never stopped to think about his actions? Probably.
Renfrew wasn’t big, and it was Sunday. It didn’t take them long to drive through downtown and past the courthouse square. They arrived at the sheriff’s office off one of the cross streets on the far edge of town. The sheriff pulled into the parking lot and stopped suddenly, jerking Diane and Liam forward.
He got out and opened the back door, took Diane by the arm, and pulled her out. Liam was pulled along with them. Diane didn’t give him the satisfaction of a complaint. But she was getting angry. At least he could pretend to be a professional.
Jason jumped up off the edge of the desk when the sheriff came in. Bob came through one of the doors. They both recognized Diane.
“Empty your pockets out here on the desk,” the sheriff said to Liam. “Your belt too.” He motioned toward Liam’s waist.
Liam complied without comment while the sheriff patted the pockets of Diane’s jacket. Apparently satisfied that they were carrying nothing dangerous, he shoved Diane and Liam toward a set of double doors.
