Page 18 of Special Agent Raven
“Jesus, I hate to say when it rains, it pours, but I mean it both literally and figuratively. Good luck. See you later.”
Their dire situation soon settled in Raven’s mind. With Henry busy, the sheriff missing and probably dead, and Palmer sick, the town didn’t have any real emergency system in place for a disaster such as a murder.
This would be the time for Cane to step up. And though it had been years since she’d been active in homicide, she had taken training and could act as his partner. At least, until they could get the state to reassign proper officials to take over.
Once Steve had finished his meal, Cane began peppering him with questions. He had a small writing pad he used to take notes, making Raven glad he used the old ways of maintaining information.
“Steve, take your time and tell us what happened, where and when.”
“Okay… So, my wife and I were heading to her sister’s place upriver from us yesterday about four p.m., and we saw a car smashed up on the bank.” He faced Raven and added, “You know how stubborn Aggie can be, Raven. No way she’d let me go past without checking to make sure there wasn’t someone stuck inside. We pulled in close and called out but didn’t hear anything. I wanted to leave but then Aggie noticed a hand hanging from the open door.”
“I had to go and look, or she’d never have let me forget about it. I ended up in the water and waded to the vehicle to see a younger fellow sprawled across the front seat, a bullet wound in his forehead. Of course, he was deader’n a doornail.” Steve stared up at Cane. “Gotta admit I lost my lunch there and then. But I never touched nothing. Just got the hell outta there as fast as I could.”
“Did you recognize him?”
“Nope. Been around these parts all my life, and I’m almost eighty years old.”
“What did you do then?”
“I took Aggie to be with her sister’s family and then headed here to tell the authorities. Only there was no one at the station. When I saw all the vehicles outside the schoolhouse, I came here. Grisliest thing I ever did see, man. Can’t wipe that kind of shit from my mind now, can I? Thought I’d left all that killin’ crap behind in Vietnam.”
Cane asked a few more questions, and Steve gave thoughtful answers to each one. Finally, he made an observation they all had to agree with and yet would lead to more investigation. “Guess things could have been worse. At least he wasn’t in the water which would have washed away any evidence that might be around. And there was lots.”
As if his statement prodded further inquiries, Cane continued to stare at Steve. “Okay, tell us what you mean by that.”
“I mean that the car appeared to be full of blood and one man shot in the head doesn’t give off that much splatter.”
“Then you’re saying there were more victims?”
“Looks that way to me. It’s why I came as fast as I could. Don’t know who they could be, and if they’re dead or not.”
Cane continued to watch the old man’s demeanor.
“And…”
“And there was a stuffed bear in the back seat, covered in the gory mess.”
Chapter Fifteen
Cane’s stomach exploded when he heard Steve’s final remarks. A dead body, blood everywhere, and possibly a child involved. Would this shit never end?
He remembered the wonderful relief he’d experienced just yesterday morning on his way here from the city, and it made his teeth clench over what now appeared to be a joke. With each mile away from his heartache, a feeling of relief bordering on happiness had settled in his gut. To be heading to a place where he might have a chance to heal had drawn him like a magnet.
Then out of nowhere, to be sabotaged by the flooding river making fun of his dreams, had seemed like an unamusing turnaround…. a proverbial kick in the ass. When it swept up his car, he let go of the wheel and sat back. Good! Finally, his prayers would come true. He’d be released from his pain.
Possible death stared him in the face, and he welcomed it. Actually laughed at the danger. Until he saw two frantic kidshanging on to their floating house a few seconds away from possible drowning. That’s when all choice had disappeared.
In seconds, he took in the situation and jumped into the river and events afterward brought him to this moment. While Raven and the others hurried to ready themselves for the day ahead, instinctively, he did too.
Back in Palmer’s boat, fighting the river with Raven while Steve followed behind in his smaller boat, he couldn’t stop questioning not only his own sanity but another’s. The sudden feeling of being overwhelmed with responsibilities hit him hard.
Lord, you’re asking too much from a broken man. I saved those kids. Then I saved Raven. Didn’t I? Maybe you can quit expecting more from me. I don’t know how much I can handle.
“Cane, we’re here. Steve says that’s the car.” Raven stopped the motor and stood next to him. “He’s tied us to the tree limb so we can approach from land.”
“Yeah, good. Thanks. I’ll go in by myself if you want. No need for both of us to deal with the gory sight.”
“Nonsense. Two can secure the scene faster and gather evidence. I placed a call into headquarters, but the coroner won’t be able to make it here for some time… too busy right now because of the flood. Guess we’re on our own.”