“What?” I didn’t believe him. “You were arguing with him over who got the land.”
“And I lost. But that’s not what’s important. Your grandfather was close to something; that much you do know. He said he had to do some field research and was going to bring you here to help work on it. Then he disappeared.”
“Field research? You mentioned that last night.” I sat on the end of the bed and looked at him. “Is that why he was killed? To keep him from finding whatever is out there?”
“I don’t know.”
We were interrupted by the doorbell. I heard Gabriel answer it, and I cringed at the condescending tone of Sheriff Bud Knowles.
“Is Miz Fisher in?”
“
“He’s a good butler, I’ll give him that,” muttered Leo.
I put my finger to my lips. “I would be careful if I were you. I don’t think it’s me he’s looking for.”
Footsteps on the stairs, then in the hall. Even if I hadn’t heard the exchange at the front door, I would have been able to tell from Gabriel’s disgusted facial expression that he’d had to deal with Knowles.
“Doctor, the sheriff is here.”
“So I heard.”
“What do you want me to tell him?”
“I’ll talk to him. Just don’t say anything about Leo being here.”
“Understood.”
I found Sheriff Knowles in the foyer. “Can I help you, Sheriff?”
“Well, Doctor, I was wonderin’, since you’ve got your finger in so many of the pies around here, if you could help me find someone.”
“Who?”
“His name’s Leo Bowman. A couple of people saw you hangin’ out with him and his cousin Ron in town a couple days ago.”
“I see. And what business would you have with Mr. Bowman?”
“I need to bring him in to the station and ask him some questions about where he was when his nephew disappeared.”
“If I see him, I’ll let him know you’re looking for him.”
“So you don’t know where he is?”
“Not right at this moment, no.”
“You know, Doctor Fisher, I wouldn’t want to have to bring you to the station and ask you about a crime called obstructing justice.”
He looked at me with his beady eyes, and I struggled not to look away. This wasn’t friendly Bud Knowles, mountain country sheriff. He was letting me see the shrewd character that had survived all those years in the worst parts of Little Rock.
“That would probably be more trouble than it’s worth, Sheriff.”
“Then you won’t mind if I let one of my boys watch the house in case Leo Bowman shows up here. He might be a dangerous character, if you know what I mean, and I wouldn’t want him to hurt you or the lovely Ms. Marconi.”
“That would be fine, Sheriff. Ms. Marconi and I are actually traveling to Little Rock this afternoon and plan to be gone for the night, so an extra pair of eyes on the house would suit me perfectly.”
“And what is the nature of this trip?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m going to meet with my solicitor about some estate affairs.”
He chuckled, a wheezing, grating sound. “As you recall, a woman died here under suspicious circumstances this week, Doctor Fisher. Remember that little agreement we had? You were going to notify me if you decided to leave.”
“Consider this your notification.”
“And when will you return?”
“Probably tomorrow. You may reach me through my solicitor, Lawrence Galbraith, if you need me before then.” I’d be damned before I gave him my cell phone number.
“I’ll do that.” With a respectful tip of his hat, he was gone.
“What are you going to do about…” Gabriel inclined his head up the stairs.
“If he knows what’s good for him, he’s already gone.”
Gabriel smiled and watched the sheriff’s car pull out of the driveway. “You should go as well, then.”
“I guess I should.”
“Please be careful.”
“Can’t watch over me down there, huh?”
“I shall be miserably bored while you’re away.”
I stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”
Leo caught up to us in the garage. He carried his duffel bag and walked with a determined step.
“What are you doing here?” I glanced outside to see if the sheriff’s deputy’s car was there yet. “You know they’re looking for you!”
“I said I was coming with you.”
I glanced at Lonna, but she held her hands up. “I’m staying out of this.”
“Are you out of your mind?” I fixed him with my sternest stare.
“If the sheriff is looking for me here, then doesn’t it make sense for me to be somewhere else?”
I couldn’t fault his logic.
“Besides, I need to go by UAMS and get Ron’s and my medical records. I have a release-of-information form from him in my bag. That way we can see if we got flu shots from the same batch.”
“Didn’t you get them at the same time?”
“No, we were on different rotations.”
“Okay, so you have a valid reason to go. But what about me? Knowles said something about obstruction of justice.”
“If we get caught, I’ll tell them I forced you to take me. Look, I’ll hunch down in the back of the car until we’re out of town.”
“There’s no way you’ll fit.”
“Then put my duffel in the trunk.” He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt…and kept going.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I couldn’t help it, I watched him undress. Fine black hair covered his chest and stomach, but I could still see the tense muscles underneath. Running through the woods might not be good for the paws, but he was in excellent shape. I’d never been much for hirsute men,
“Ah, Joanie? Perhaps we should give him a moment of privacy.” Lonna grabbed my arm, and we walked back into the hallway.
“There you go, ruining the show.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t think I want to see that show.”
We heard a whimper, and a moment later, something wet licked my hand. I looked down into Leo’s eyes in a black canine face.
“I guess we’re going to have to take you now, aren’t we?”
The wolf’s lips parted in a snarl.
“Okay, okay!”
He barely fit in the backseat, let alone the well, but we covered him with a blanket. A casual glance wouldn’t reveal too much, I hoped.
“Are you ready to do this?” I asked.
“Ready as I’ll ever be. Leo?”
A noise between a bark and a yip came from under the blanket in the back.
“Does this mean I’ll be able to say whatever I want to you, and you can’t talk back?”
