Page 13 of Long Pig

“After you, ma’am,” Wallard said and swiped his hand forward like it was some kind of grand gesture.

Dale moved between the two of them, and Willow knew it was so the deputy couldn’t stare at her ass. She also knew Dale could keep up with her, so she set a fast pace. Fifteen minutes later, the deputy was panting. She and Dale drank their water while they walked and didn’t bother stopping or slowing down.

“How much farther?” Wallard asked between heavy breaths.

“Thirty minutes,” Dale said.

“Why didn’t you say it was this far out?” the deputy whined after he tripped over a shaggy bark stump.

“I told you when we spoke yesterday that it was near the property line.” Clear glee shone in Dale’s voice. “This ‘pops’ asked if you had water. We can turn back if you don’t think you can make it.”

Wallard didn’t stop, and his face reddened more and more the closer they drew to the site. His boots were the only thing that saved him from the needles of a prickly pear cactus he almost tripped over. They made it to the bones, and the deputy found a bit of shade while he leaned against the rock wall to recover. Willow was surprised he didn’t sit down. She leisurely sipped her water as they waited for him to breathe normally again.

Dale put out his hand, offering his water bottle. “Drink this, or you won’t make it back. Stop with the tough man act and do your job. I’d be more than happy not to mention this. It’s an embarrassment to the department.”

Deputy Wallard took the water and chugged half of it. He then let out a burp. Willow handed her water to Dale, and hetook a sip, then winked at her. It was hard not to laugh. The deputy had been easily outsmarted by Dale. The day was looking up.

When Wallard gained his composure, still red-faced, he squatted by the remains.

“They look old,” he said and took a pen from his front shirt pocket to move what appeared to be an arm bone aside.

“Look at this,” Dale said, then pointed to another bone. “I’d say it looks cut or sawed. We didn’t get human bones in this condition while I worked for the department, and a specialist will need to be called in.”

Wallard stepped back carefully. “I’ll call my supervisor and see about getting a team out here.”

“It’ll be a twenty-minute walk before you have a chance at cell reception,” Dale told him.

Of course, he was ignored as Wallard tried to make the call. After a few grumbles, he said, “We should head back. Thank you for the water.”

Dale gave a nod and they started the walk back.

Dale let Daisy and Max out when they arrived at the house. He pulled out folding chairs and they sat beneath the trailer awning. The dogs ignored the deputy after a cursory sniff. Wallard then proceeded to question Dale about why they lived so far out.

“You got a good pension; I’d think you’d want city life,” he finally said.

“Gotta like people if you live in the city. This land is in my blood and we like it. Few neighbors and lots of area for the dogs to roam.”

“Tell me, deputy, why are you out here in the middle of nowhere instead of a big city cop?” Dale asked next.

Wallard’s face had almost lost the red, but now it returned. “Had a disagreement with my supervisor. The manwas an ass and couldn’t do anything for himself. When things went to shit, he blamed it on me. I decided to find another department.”

“Happens to the best of us,” Dale said.

They began talking about sports, which was not something Willow cared for.

“I’ll check on the dogs,” she said.

Max and Daisy were nowhere to be seen. This was common, but it gave her an excuse to escape.

It took the new deputies two hours before they arrived. They came with the local coroner.

“Dr. Hampson,” Dale said and shook his hand with a smile before turning to the deputies. He didn’t shake their hands. They nodded. Willow sensed animosity, but they stayed polite.

“It’s a forty-five-minute hike,” Dale said. “You up to going back out?” he asked Wallard.

By now, the deputy had used the bathroom in the travel trailer, wiped his face down, and drank more offered water. He had none in his car. Even Willow knew it wasn’t a smart move when you lived or worked in the Arizona high desert.

“I’m game.” He smiled at Dale. “I’ll take you up on that water,” he said.