13
My words hung in the air for what seemed a full minute.
Strickland hid his surprise behind those steely eyes.
He nodded: Id traded him enough information for him to make the phone call.
I let him go on conjugating the verbmurderwithout betraying anything in my expression.
I looked around and shivered.Not again.
My God, Ruddy, would you like tell me whats going on?Alan pleaded.
What was that about your parole officer?
What did you mean that you were in jail for murder?
Prison, I corrected.
I was in prison.
Believe me, big difference.
I took in a big, unsteady breath.
Alan, Im sorry, but that is one thing I will never, never talk to you about.
I dont ever talk about it.
But
No, Alan.
Let it go, I interrupted.
There was a long silence.With a record, though,he said finally,this could be big trouble.
I could tell by the way the sheriff was looking at you.
Could be big trouble?
Do you not see the steel bars in front of me?
Yet I wasnt worried about Stricklandhed do his duty.
I didnt ever want to be in a position where Timms had me to himself to play with.
Which is precisely what happened within the hour.
Someone came in behind him, smaller, standing in Timmss shadow.
Oh no,Alan moaned softly.
It was a woman.
What are you up to, Timms?
I asked in a low voice.
When she stepped closer, I literally gasped in shock.
She was even prettier than I remembered.
I was drawn to her eyes, which were large and blue as they stared at me.
Careful, babe, Timms warned.
Dont get too close.
Katie asked in a quiet, flat voice.
You killed my father?
I jumped back, startled.
Oh no, Kathy,Alan groaned.
You … you son of a bitch, she choked.
Now Katie, move back there.
Come on, Timms soothed, pulling at her.
The door at the end of the hall banged open and we all turned.
Sheriff Strickland stood on the threshold, backlit so we couldnt see his face.
Whats going on here?
he demanded in a voice that sounded like he was speaking through a megaphone.
He and two other men marched down the hallway.
Miss Lottner, what are you doing here?
he asked finally, his voice carrying a touch of sadness.
Oh, Miss Lottner.
Strickland pursed his lips.
You shouldnt be here, now, you know better.
She crossed her arms defiantly.
Strickland shifted his gaze to the deputy.
The man visibly swallowed, and I almost felt sorry for him.
You know good and well that you are in violation of procedure.
Do you have anything to say for yourself, mister?
Timms numbly shook his head.
You are on unpaid leave for the next seventy-two hours.
just escort Miss Lottner upstairs.
Advise the duty sergeant that you are departing this shift immediately.
Timms gave a trembling nod.
Katie, biting her lip, made as if to say something, but Strickland held up his hand.
Excuse me, Miss Lottner.
Deputy Timms, I have just one more thing to say to you.
Ive never in all my years in law enforcement seen anyone do anything as lame-brained as this.
Ive half a mind to ask the board to remove you from your position.
I cant have a man in my department who wont toe the same line as everybody else.
We understand each other?
When Timms coughed up a reply, it sounded like it had been dragged across cement.
Step to it, son.
Katie, hey leave with Deputy Timms; this is a restricted area.
Strickland pointed down the hallway.
I found myself intrigued by his selective use of her first name, depending on the circumstance.
The two deputies dared a glance at each other as Timms and Katie fled the lockup.
Our eyes met and I nodded.
Strickland motioned one of the deputies forward.
He slid the key card through the slot, punched some numbers, and the cell door clicked open.
Strickland eyed me up and down.
Why didnt you tell us you were in Jackson State Prison when the murder was committed?
I had planned my answer to that question for the past hour.
You didnt tell me when the murder was committed.
Well, come upstairs, Ruddy, and we will process you out of custody.
Sheriff, I sighed, youll never believe me.
I had read too much permission into the friendly banter, because his expression hardened.
Her eyes widened when she caught sight of me strolling unshackled next to the sheriff.
Strickland sized up the situation and reached a decision.
Hes not the one, Katie.
Were not even sure what happened.
Couldnt have done anything?
He was in prison when your father disappeared,
Katie.
He just finished off his parole not long ago.
Prison formurder, she protested.
Yes, well, vehicular homicide.
But hes served his time, Katie, and we have no right to keep him here.
