Page 19 of Long Pig

“If you’re good for it, I am,” he said. “The deputies covered the gully pretty thoroughly. I think we should wander onto BLM land and see if we spot anything.”

“Are we doing another grid search?” she asked.

“No, but keep your eyes open for the unusual.”

They searched about a quarter mile, then turned back after they didn’t find anything. They decided to call it a day and head home. About halfway, Willow could no longer hold back her questions.

“What did you think of Larry?” she asked.

“I’ve heard rumors.”

That intrigued her. “What kind of rumors?”

“They say he has an underground bunker. It’s normal to be a loner out here, and underground bunkers are a dime a dozen, but it makes for good gossip. He stays to himself mostly. Joan never mentioned him. What’s not normal is to be as clean and friendly as he was to us when he has the reputation to stay away from people.”

Willow couldn’t help a short chuckle. “We’re as clean as he was, and one of us was friendly. Should we stink ourselves up and stop brushing our teeth so we fit in better? The rumors about you and I are probably hysterical.” She made a sound that was somewhere between pain and laughter. “I guess I need to work on my grunting. That one was horrible.”

“Smartass,” Dale said with a smile that left when he spoke next. “Larry is one of the original property owners on the ranch, and he’s never caused trouble. I just can’t place what bothers me about him.”

“Is he married?”

Dale stopped and gave her a long look. She held up her hand. “He’s too old for me, as you know. I’m simply curious.” She waited, but he didn’t respond. “He gave off a weird vibe,” she added. “I felt it just like you.”

Dale nodded and began walking again. “Max doesn’t usually growl after introductions are made. Something about Larry made the dog nervous.” He patted Daisy’s head. “This one would lick his feet if given a chance, but even she kept a close watch.”

“I’m still not sure why I didn’t like him,” Dale said. “Women are better than men at picking out the creeps. It’s instinctual because they tend to be prey from birth on. I’m good at it due to my law enforcement experience. When I dohear things about Larry, I don’t hear that he’s strange, anti-government, or any of the other things that are normal for people out here. That makes him an oddity.”

“And you don’t like oddities,” she said before he could.

“No, I do not.”

They made it back to the house and took turns showering. Willow thought about Larry. He was nothing like Wallard, and for some reason that left her unsettled. She understood Wallard. She had no idea about Larry.

The following day, she called Louisa and asked if she knew the man.

“No, not really,” she said. “Met him once. He takes long trips with his truck, and we sometimes see when he leaves or arrives if it isn’t late at night. The truck usually wakes us up, though. Why do you ask?”

“We met him on my grandmother’s property. He was hiking. I’m not sure why I asked, curiosity mostly.”

“Roger has talked to him a time or two but says he doesn’t say much. He’s one of those people out here who you forget about easily.”

A few days later, Larry was completely out of Willow’s mind as she continued her life.

They heard nothing from Deputy Wallard for almost four months. He finally called Dale, who came to the barn after the call ended.

“I’m heading to town. Do you need me to pick up anything?”

“What store are you going to?” Willow asked.

“I can stop anywhere, but I’m going to the sheriff’s department to get a copy of the report on the bones you found.”

“There’s a report?”

“Yes. The deputy called and said the forensic examiner listed the death as homicide. He aged the bones as being therefor fifteen to twenty years. They are not doing a more thorough investigation. I want to read that report.”

Chills covered Willow’s arms. “I’ll keep Daisy and Max close. I know it sounds stupid, but the thought of that body out there for twenty years after they were murdered gives me the creeps even more.”

Dale looked into the corner where Willow’s shotgun leaned. “I know what you mean. Keep the gun close.”