Greg jerked up his head and studied the road. “Which one is your vehicle? I want you to prove to me that your phone is in your car and not hidden in a bush somewhere.”
A sense of helplessness washed over Ivy. “My car isn’t here.”
“Oh, really?” Greg made an exaggerated face. “Did you beam here or something? How did you get here without a car?”
“I’m going to kill him,” Jack growled under his breath.
“You’re going to shut your mouth,” Brian warned, taking a bold step forward. “If I may, Mr. Decker, I believe I saw Ms. Morgan’s vehicle at the lumberyard down the way.” He pointed for emphasis. “If you really wish to check her vehicle, I’ll go with you.”
“I didn’t ask for your help ... or opinion,” Greg snapped. “Also, how do you know what her vehicle looks like?”
“Because I’ve known her since she was a small child,” Brian replied evenly. “I’m familiar with most of the vehicles in Shadow Lake because the town isn’t very big. That includes Ivy’s car.”
“Right.” Greg shifted from one foot to the other, his mind clearly busy. “Why would you park at a lumberyard?”
The question was obviously pointed at her so Ivy cleared her throat and addressed him with a steady voice. “My brother owns the lumberyard. I thought it was better to leave my car there because I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone hitting it, or breaking into it to steal my phone.”
“That’s convenient.”
“That’s the truth,” Jack snapped.
Greg looked as if he was about to push Jack completely over the edge when the sound of another approaching vehicle caught his attention. When he lifted his eyes, he found a silver-haired man — accompanied by two uniformed sheriff’s department deputies — walking in their direction. “Who is this guy?”
Brian’s expression never changed. “This is Clark Grisham. He’s the magistrate for Antrim County.”
“Oh, well, great.” Greg threw up his hands. “Why don’t we make a party of it?”
Rather than immediately address the crew chief, Grisham focused his attention on Brian. “I didn’t realize you were called out here, Brian. The chief didn’t mention it when he called and asked me to drive out. I hear we have some trouble.”
“We seem to have a difference of opinion,” Brian clarified. “It seems Mr. Decker has a problem with the county medical examiner’s evidence team being out here.”
Greg made a protesting sound with his lips. “Oh, that is not true. They’re the ones who came in here with the attitude.”
Grisham’s opinion wasn’t hard to read in Ivy’s opinion. His distaste for being dragged out of the office on such a mundane detail was written all over his face. “I don’t really care if they came in here with attitude.”
“What?” Greg straightened. “How can you not care? I have a job to do.”
“I’m well aware. Is there any reason you can’t do your job five hundred feet that way? Or what about that way?” Grisham moved his hand back and forth. “Last time I checked, there was no reason for you to take over one specific spot.”
“Except we were here yesterday,” Greg argued. “If we expect to get everything, we have to start at the spot we ended the previous day.”
Grisham was unfazed by the argument. “That’s all well and good, but these are extenuating circumstances. A young woman was found dead out here yesterday.”
“I know. One of my people found her.”
“Then you should understand that her death — which is being looked at as a potential homicide — takes precedence over your ego.”
Greg’s eyes went wide. “This isn’t about my ego.”
“That’s exactly what this is about,” Grisham shot back. “I don’t have time for this. I have a full docket. You’re not allowed to argue with official county employees. While we’re at it, you’re not allowed to argue with local enforcement either.” He jerked his thumb in Brian’s direction. “If you have a problem with that, I suggest you take it up with your boss. Until then, I’m in charge, and I say you need to move away from this specific location.”
Ivy swallowed hard at the murderous expression on Greg’s features. He might’ve been handsome in an obscure way, she realized. None of that was present now, though. Everything on his face reflected ugliness.
“Well, I guess the almighty judge has spoken.” Greg planted his hands on his hips. “Since I have to do what you say, how about you take your spy with you and leave me to my job? Maybe that will be a nice compromise for both of us.”
Grisham’s face was blank. “My spy?”
Brian cleared his throat and stepped forward before Jack could open his mouth. “If I may ... Mr. Decker believes that one of his crew members somehow ratted him out to us.”
Grisham’s brow furrowed. “I don’t follow.”
“Ms. Morgan.” Brian gestured toward her. “She’s a local Shadow Lake resident who happens to be fulfilling her community service mandate. She’s also my partner’s fiancée.”
“Oh.” Grisham popped his lips as he regarded Ivy. “You’re Michael and Luna Morgan’s daughter, aren’t you?”
Ivy swallowed and nodded. “Yes, your honor.”
“Max is your brother.” Grisham cracked a smile. “I’ve played basketball with him at the high school a few times.”
Ivy wasn’t sure if she was expected to respond so she simply nodded.
“That’s his lumberyard over yonder, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Ivy replied perfunctorily.
“It’s a convenient location,” Greg offered. “Ms. Morgan claims her phone is in her car at the lumberyard, but I haven’t been able to check it. She’s not allowed to have her phone on her person while working.”
“I don’t understand why that matters,” Grisham pressed.
“Because Mr. Decker is convinced Ivy ratted him out,” Brian explained. “She didn’t, though.”
“How do you know that?” Greg challenged.
“Because I’m the one who called the judge’s office,” Deacon volunteered. He’d been hovering at the edge of the conversation and his temper was obviously fraying. “Ms. Morgan did nothing but what she was supposed to do. She even
