“That makes a lot of sense, Scott.”
“It may make sense to you but it’s also an overwhelmingly important thing to know about a person, and he is a person, not just a disembodied spirit. I hope you take this seriously. Please,” Scott pleaded. “If you ignore this responsibility, he will wander until he finds someone who will listen. If that takes months, years, or even centuries, it would be terribly sad. Please help find this child and lay him to rest.”
I nodded. What more could I say? I reached out and offered my hand. “I will. As soon as I see Romeo tonight, I will tell him everything we talked about. Thank you so much. It was great getting to know you a little better.”
He shook my hand, looking me right in the eyes. “It’s no problem at all. I hope you know I’m no threat to the sheriff, none at all.”
“I do.” I sighed. “Well, I’m going home and then to bed. The sun is high in the sky, and I need to lay my head down, get some rest. Sunlight still tires me after all these centuries.”
Scott smiled at me. “Good day, Mr. Lasco. Sweet dreams.”
“Call me Vincent, please.”
Scott nodded with a pleased look on his face. “Vincent, it is then.”
“Goodbye.” I turned and walked outside into the sunlight, anxious to make it home while I could still keep my eyes open.
Romeo
When Sally and I drove into Frederick, we parked in front of a liquor store. Ever since learning that there was a small town that bordered Prosper Woods and that it relied on law enforcement from us, I’d been meaning to take a ride out here. Since Floyd Reardon seemed to be the de facto mayor, and he’d also tried to kill Vincent, I hadn’t felt in any rush to do so. The liquor store was one of four small ramshackle buildings on the main street deep in the woods.
The buildings were in disrepair with a sagging wooden boardwalk that connected the four, which consisted of what looked like the liquor store, a beauty salon, a store that advertised fishing tackle and auto parts for sale, and a US post office. A faded American flag hung from a pole in front of the post office where a chain high on the pole banged in rhythm with every gust of wind. There was a separate two pump gas station at the end of the block.
The street itself was paved but only barely, rutted by worn asphalt, broken in places. The whole town had a sad feel, not unlike the weeping willows that hung over the porch of the store. For early morning, I somehow expected some activity and traffic, but I spotted only a couple of parked rust buckets and those were badly in need of repair.
I turned to look at Sally. “Not much to look at, is there?”
My deputy snorted. “You can say that again, Sheriff. If North America has a boil on its ass, I think Frederick wins, hands down.”
I chuckled. “Do you know where Sam’s place is?”
“Nope. That’s why we’re here.” She pointed to the post office. “I’ll ask inside.”
“Yeah, okay,” I said, climbing out of the Blazer as she slid out from behind the wheel. I glanced over at Sally who was adjusting her duty belt. I was relieved that she was with me, she didn’t seem to get fazed by much. Even though I had no idea what we’d be walking into, it didn’t seem to matter. Sally had a way of making me feel in control. I absently wondered if it had something to do with her being a hedgehog shifter. I knew nothing about the animals, other than that they were small. I did feel at ease around her, though.
I stepped up onto the boardwalk beside Sally and we walked into the post office. A bell tinkled as the door opened. Inside, the area behind the counter appeared empty. The door behind us closed, and I called out.
“Hello! Is anyone here?”
“Hold your horses. I’m comin’!”
I watched as a door opened, and an elderly man stepped out. He was very tall and had a shock of white hair. When he smiled, I noticed the dimples that popped into his handsome cheeks. He reminded me of Sam Elliot. His eyes were a light ice blue, and his skin was a healthy tanned color.
“Jedidiah, hey!” Sally greeted, seeming to know the man.
“Well, hello, Sally.” He stepped out from behind the counter, shuffling toward us at a glacial pace. I noticed his long legs were clad in blue khaki pants that were a shade darker than the light blue postal worker’s short sleeved shirt.
“You’re the postman out here in Frederick too?”
“Yep.” The old man turned and looked at me before sticking out his hand. “Jedidiah Eubanks.”
I shook his hand. “Rome Harmon, Mr. Eubanks.”
He nodded and turned back to Sally. “I cover Frederick since there’s so few families but I’m only here twice a week to deliver mail, not like Prosper Woods where I deliver every day,” he explained. He turned back to me. “You must be the new sheriff in town. I heard about you, but I just don’t get around fast no more, not like before retirement.”
Sally smiled at me, looking slightly embarrassed “Sorry. I should have introduced you. I somehow thought the two of you had met before.”
“No problem, Sally,” I said.
“Well, I’m done…headed into Prosper Woods now. Was there somethin’ I can help you with?” he drawled. I liked his southern drawl. It was soothing.
“Yes. We were hoping you could point us to Sam and Greg’s place. We have to pick up some things there.”
“Sure. Lemme get
