Page 34 of Special Agent Raven
“Views mostly learned from wise Winona if the truth be known.”
“Get her to start it then.”
“Exactly what I’ve been telling her, but she says she’s too busy. Wants me to be the one to do it. But I don’t have kids, and folks might take offense to a spinster trying to tell them how to handlechildren when she doesn’t have any of her own. How can anyone take me seriously?”
“Honey, with your background, you can always speak from an observers point of view and bring in guests with children who share your ideas… hell, make it interesting. Invite some who don’t. Gotta say, I wish we’d have had someone like you to listen to when my son was a baby.” Suddenly, he realized what he’d shared, and the door slammed closed on his throat.
He swiveled away from her, saying, “I’m not the one you should talk to about this. Just don’t give up. Society needs people like you and Winona.” He opened the door and headed into the jailhouse, hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunched, and his head spinning.
Chapter Twenty-six
Raven had no doubt that Noah was happy to have them back. The lightening of his expression proved it as well as his words.
“Howdy, guys. Am I glad to see you. Got the telephone system for 911 calls powered up again and contacted the hospital. I’m glad you found Brody. They say both men will make it. Thanks for that.”
Raven spoke when Cane held back. “We were damn lucky. Figured Brody probably parked at the school to deliver stuff from home for the flood victims. From there, he might have walked to the jail. That’s where we found him, beaten but alive. Of course, the truck was gone.”
“Not surprising.” Noah pointed at the desk in front of him. “The board’s been swamped from yesterday’s calls, but so far today, we’ve only had a few. I was able to talk down most of them, but there is one came in a few minutes ago that worries me. A woman out toward Deputy Palmer’s place just hung up.”
“Mrs. Garcia?” Raven thought of the only person she knew who lived close to Palmer.
“Yep. Mrs. Garcia. She says there’s some looters around there, and her husband has gone to check. Say’s he’s carrying and intends to ‘shoot ‘em bastards dead’ if he catches ‘em… her words.” Noah stood up from behind his desk. “Okay if we take your jeep, Raven, and head out there now? I can pick up Palmer’s vehicle at the same time.”
Cane’s sardonic interruption made her smile. “Only in Texas. Gun-toting crazies going berserk. You want me to stick around here while you two check into it?”
“Please. There’s just Sonny out back. He’s sleeping off the meal I brought him a while back. Otherwise, things are slow. If you get more 911 emergencies, you can share the easy ones with Henry. He’s on call now too and can take care of most of what comes in. If they’re criminal in nature, contact me, and I’ll get back to you.” He pointed to the button on the desk phone and said, “just press here.”
“Got it. Let me know if you need backup. I can always ask Henry to hang out here and follow up with you.”
“Good plan. Will do.” Noah opened the door for Raven who looked back at Cane to see him wink her way encouragingly. “Soon,” was all she said, but a special smile lit up her face.
“Yeah. Be safe.” Was his tone huskier than usual?
Once in the jeep, Raven turned to Noah. “Things in a bit of a mess back there at the office?”
“Not bad actually, considering Palmer’s on leave. Once I heard the update from the hospital on Brody and Dwayne, I’ll admit the stress faded somewhat. This is normally a quiet community as no doubt you’re aware. And I like it that way. Our normal routine tends to be mainly dealing with drunk and disorderly complaints, domestic disputes, and some drug-related crimes.Or at least that’s the way it used to be. I’ll admit that lately things have gotten more intense.”
“Sounds like a lot to me.”
“Not really. Hell, a month ago, one day might consist of finding a runaway teen, searching for a lost child who we found in her gramma’s basement, and serving a warrant. But I’ll admit that things have ramped up. Offenses have been happening more and getting worse. I could sure use a partner who wasn’t afraid of his gun.”
That made Raven laugh, picturing Palmer holding his weapon and prepared to use it. “No doubt. Your office is pretty empty right now, but you usually have more folks working there, don’t you?”
“Oh, sure. I sent our office lady home at the beginning of the storm to be with her family, and we do have another deputy who I just hired. Our bad luck… he’s stuck on the other side of the highway because of the mudslides. He’s young, untrained, but with potential and better than the last idiot who cared more about his online gaming and getting stoned than showing up for work. Problem is, there’re more and more families moving to Carlton Place. Our population is growing every day. I’ve applied to the County Court to get more funding for us in our budget and just last week the commissioner said they finally voted on it and allocated the funds. It couldn’t come at a better time.”
“Hey, that’s good news.” She turned onto Palmer’s road and slowed down. “What exactly did Alice say about the complaint?”
“Alice? Oh, you mean Mrs. Garcia. Cool customer. Just wanted to inform me that something weird was happening at Palmer’s house, and her husband didn’t like it.”
“So you know… her husband is a loud-mouth Texan with a chip on his shoulder, and a hate on for anyone new to the community. Likes privacy for his grow op. The weed he swears is for medicinal purposes. Not sure if Palmer mentioned this toyou or not. Our previous Sheriff made a deal with Carlos that he’d stay out of his business as long as he never caught him selling the stuff.”
While he questioned her, Noah’s eyebrow lifted. “Now how the hell would you know about that?”
“Small town, Noah.” She teased before getting serious again. “Sheriff Dune considered me a colleague. I used to drop in every time I hit town, and he liked to shoot the shit – his term for laid-back conversations with those he considered equals.”
Noah chuckled. “The man was a character alright. I miss him. And you’re right about Carlos. We also had a little talk a while back about his so-called personal business. Told him to cut back on the size, and I’d leave him alone. Swore he would, but I haven’t seen any evidence he’s kept his word. I expect he’s the type to take matters in his own hands over any intruders. Christ, that man must weigh three hundred and fifty pounds, and his beard is long enough to tuck into his belt.”
Raven grinned. “His wife can’t weigh a hundred pounds, and she’s meaner than he is. Makes jokes about him all the time. Told us ladies at a poker game one night that when he steps on a scale a voice yells out – one at a time please.”