Vernon was the locally based deputy. He did not like the chief of police and the feeling was very mutual. Vernon was poorly educated and a cruel and sarcastic man. He was not a good deputy, but was well liked by most in the community. And that was something that Monty could never understand, for the man was too heavy-handed in the few arrests he did make.
Personally, Monty thought the deputy an asshole. That feeling worsened when Monty learned the man abused his wife, slapping her around from time to time. Vernon was fond of saying, 'Got to keep the broads in line, you know.'
He also beat his kids, sometimes savagely. His son, Fred, was a sullen, uncommunicative boy. His daughters, Judy and Anne, were pretty girls, and, as far as Monty could determine, good kids. He felt sorry for Vernon's wife, Susie.
Monty said, 'She was tortured and beaten and God only knows what else. But not around this area.' Why did I say that? he thought. 'She was brought in here and strung up.'
Again, he thought: why did I say that when I don't believe it?
'By more than one person?' Jenkins asked.
'By several, would be my guess.'
'Why was it done to her?' Jenkins pressed.
Monty shrugged. Forces battled within him. Suddenly, he did not trust Sheriff Pat Jenkins. Suddenly, Monty didn't know who to trust. Or why he felt that way.
He loaded his next comment. 'I think it was done by a bunch of crazies; probably all doped up. And I don't believe it was done by local people. I think they did the deed and then moved on. I doubt we'll ever find out for sure.'
Was it Monty's imagination, or did Sheriff Jenkins suddenly relax. No, it wasn't his imagination. The sheriff seemed looser, calmer.
Monty caught Deputy Parish looking at him, a strange sort of smile on his face. A smile of … satisfaction. Yes. That was it.
Something odd going on around here. Something between Jenkins and his deputy. But what? Monty mused.
He didn't know.
And he was oddly afraid of finding out.
'You a damn good cop, Monty,' Sheriff Jenkins said. Was that a smirk on his face? Yes, Monty thought. It was. 'A damn fine cop. I think you hit the nail right on the head on this one. Sure do. We'll just leave it at that; maybe let the state boys handle it. They like all that gory stuff. Don't you worry about any report, Monty. I'll take care of all the paperwork.' The sheriff left.
I'll just bet you will, Pat, Monty thought. I just bet you will.
The body of Marie Fowler was loaded into the back of an ambulance. A blanket covered her tortured body. The driver headed for the county seat, Blaine. Only five towns in Clark County: Blaine, the biggest town, followed by Lecoy, Woodburn, Aumsville, and Logandale.
The big hospital that served the entire county was located in Blaine, although Logandale and Woodburn did have very respectable clinics and several good doctors.
Vernon looked at Chief Draper, and, without speaking, strolled off, got in his county car, and pulled out. Monty stood in the middle of the orchard with one of his men, Joe Bennett.
'Chief?'
Monty glanced at the man.
'I don't like none of this worth a shit.'
'Neither do I, Joe,' Monty admitted. 'But keep that to yourself. I'm getting—bad vibes about this whole thing.'
'Yeah. Me, too.'
Monty looked toward the Mayberry house. 'Odd,' he said.
'What's that, Chief?'
'All this activity and Judith hasn't made an appearance. Or no one else, for that matter. Don't you find that strange?' That word again.
'1 was thinking the same thing. It ain't like these folks.'
'Let's go up to the house.'
Some people claim they can sense when a home is empty. That the home emits a lonely type of force, or message. Whether or not there is any truth in that, both cops felt better when they rested their hands on the butt of their pistols.
'1 just don't like the feeling I'm getting, Chief. I just flat don't like it.'
'I know the feeling, Joe. But settle down. Seeing that Fowler girl has unsettled you.'
'Something sure as hell has,' the cop admitted.
Monty knocked on the back door. After a moment, he told Joe to stay there while he went around to the front. The front door was locked.
'Joe!' he called. 'See if the back door is locked.'
