by Kimbra Swain
“Then perhaps you shouldn’t call me trailer trash,” she said, then hung up.
I threw my phone across the room, smashing it into a billion pieces.
Dylan
The next few weeks wore me down. She barely spoke to me, much less looked at me. I didn’t call for her help anymore. I couldn’t bear the thought of whoever Jeremiah was bringing to watch over her. A child. When I thought about it, I drank. Then I dreamed.
A wedding.
A blue dress.
Two children.
Grace.
It was torture. I couldn’t see the way from point A to point B. I needed a distraction, but not the one I got. When the call came through, I was sitting at my desk at the department.
“Riggs,” I answered.
It was Troy, and he sounded panicked. “Dylan, we have a problem,” he said. “Meet me out at Clearview Road.”
“Okay. What’s the call?” I asked.
“10-86 times 2. 10-37,” he said.
“Two?” I asked.
“Kids,” he muttered.
“Shit. I’m on the way,” I said grabbing my hat, gun, and keys.
Missing persons. Two. Urgent, silent run. No siren.
When I pulled up at Clearview Road, Troy stood outside of his cruiser with Amanda Capps, the newest member of the department. She was new and a little green, but we would break her in. This case might just do it.
“I know it’s about quitting time, but two kids from this neighborhood disappeared this afternoon. Their parents are frantic. I found tracks leading into the woods,” he said.
“Show me,” I said. We walked toward the tree line. There were two sets of small footprints and a set of larger ones. I looked into the darkening forest. “Call in the state. Park rangers, too,” I said.
“On it,” he replied.
I grabbed a flashlight, extra ammo, and made my way into the woods. We searched for hours. Outside of the tracks, all we had was the description of the kids. We drank coffee standing around our cars just outside the neighborhood.
Troy walked up to me. He looked rough. “Walk with me,” he said.
“Sure,” I said, pushing off my car to follow him away from the crowd. “What’s up?”
“You gonna ask her?” he asked. I knew exactly what he meant. Grace could help us. With just a little magic, dead or alive, she could find them.
“I don’t have a choice. I have to ask. I just hope that she can see past all the crap with us and help these kids,” I said.
He stared at me, shaking his head. “For a guy that loves her, you don’t know her very well. She would do anything for Winnie Jones. She would never deny helping a child. For that matter, when it really counts, she’s always been there for you.”
I hung my head. He was right. I shouldn’t doubt her now. “It’s almost dawn. I’ve got a press conference, then I’ll go ask her. She will want to do it at dusk to avoid attention.”
“Kinda late for the kids,” he said.
“I think it’s too late for them,” I said.
“Instinct?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I admitted.
“Don’t worry. We all think the same thing,” he said.
The next day I pulled up outside of Grace’s trailer to find Jeremiah’s car in the drive. A young, dark-haired man stood against the car. His arms were folded, as he muttered to himself. This was my replacement? Surely not. He was young. Too young. Grace would chew him up and spit him out. She came flying out of the trailer but ignored the boy. She paced up to where I stood outside of my cruiser. I tried to look as pathetic as possible.
“Hello, Sheriff,” she said.
“Hey, Grace. Who’s that?” I asked, nodding at the kid.
“My new pool boy,” she quipped. I missed her smart mouth.
“Think you could help me with this missing kid thing?” I asked.
“Whatever do you mean? How’s a trailer trash girl like me supposed to help the big, important lawman?” she taunted me.
I decided to play dumb. “You heard about that?” The mosquitos were out in full force last night, and one had bitten me on the back of the head. I kept scratching the spot with no hope for relief from the nasty little buggers.
“Riggs, this town has five people in it. Of course, I heard about that,” she shot at me. I wanted to play her game, but the children were the priority. I took off my hat, stepping toward her.
“Look, Grace, I was upset, and I shouldn’t have said it. You have every right to be mad, but there are two kids out there somewhere. Even if they ain’t alive, I need to bring them home to their parents.”
She shifted her weight. I knew the move because I’d see it a hundred times. She was preparing to run. However, the look in her eye changed. Troy was right. She couldn’t deny me because she knew she could find the kids.
“Where have you looked?” she asked.
“Mostly down through the woods behind their house. We even looked into the edges of the protected forest land. The game wardens have been out looking too,” I told her. By law, I couldn’t give her details. She would ask. I knew she would.
“Why are you looking in the woods?” she asked.
I held my breath to give her the proper answer. “I can’t tell you the details, Grace. You know that” I said.
She ran. Just like I knew she would.
“Grace, please,” I begged for the sake of the children. She stopped before going up the steps. I walked closer to her lowering my voice. The boy watched us now instead of living in his own brooding. His blue eyes flashed with something older than his body. I knew he was a changeling, but Nestor said he was young. I couldn’t place it, but he definitely gave off the sense that he was older than he looked. “We found footprints. Three sets. Two kids. One adult.”
Weariness set in, and I rolled my neck as she pondered her decision.
“I’ll help you,” the boy called out to us.
She snapped at him. “Now you, hush your mouth!”
The kid played the card, and I used it for the royal flush. “If you won’t help, then someone else can.”
“I will help. He will stay out of it. What do you need me to do?” she said. No one took Grace’s glory. I wanted to kiss her. Probably wouldn’t go off well right now though. I looked at what she was wearing. How many times had I told her to change clothes just to irritate her? Might as well keep with the pattern.
“I need you to put on some respectable clothes, and come with me,” I said.
Her eyes flared with anger. But she backed down. “I’ll be right back. It’s too hot for respectable. Levi, get in the house,” she said.
Levi. My competition’s name was Levi.
“But I want to help,” he whined like a child.
“House! Now!” Grace treated him like one. He picked up a guitar case and backpack to follow her into the house.
I watched her go inside. I knew Jeremiah was in there. Perhaps I should avoid him completely. Maybe he had changed his mind about his little savior. After a few minutes, Jeremiah stepped out of the trailer.
“Riggs,” he said, nodding to me.
“Jerry,” I replied. “Nice kid.”
“He’s rough around the edges, but he will grow up quickly here,” he said. “Sorry, buddy. You tried.”
Yes. I still wanted to punch him in the face. I watched him get in his beat-up Buick and drive away with a sick smile on his face.
Grace and Levi followed me out to the gathering point. I knew she would want to work with as few people as possible, but I had a new recruit to break in plus I thought Troy’s senses would help us in the forest. I watched Grace interact with Levi. For now, she saw him as a kid. I saw a grown man’s body, but he was unsure of himself. I thought he would be afraid of Grace, but he took it all in stride.
As I suspected, Grace found the children. It was awful. I watched her fall apart at the sight of Colby Martin. She screamed my name splitting the silence in the darkness. I jumped off the bank to where
she had hit her knees. Her hands shook with the power connected to the child. Her eyes were wild. “You have to stop her. Don’t let her see it,” she said.
She had warned me not to let Capps in on this hunt, but I did anyway. As I blocked Grace’s view of the child, I screamed to the others, “Capps, you and Maynard go back to the camp.” Levi ran up to us, looking down at her as she convulsed in my arms. He was confused as to what his job was in all of this. Amanda’s scream echoed Grace’s who sobbed in my arms. She rocked back and forth, holding on to me. She shook her hands violently to release the spell. It held on to her. Gruesome things always left a lasting impression.
“Shh, Grace, it’s okay. Shake it out,” I coaxed her, but her eyes were a million miles away. I held her until I felt like she had come back. She wiped at the tear stains on my shirt. I held her hands still. “It’s okay. Just stop, baby. I’ve got you.” Her eyes phased out, and I wasn’t even sure she was hearing me. I had to get her away, but I didn’t want to leave the scene. I did something I knew I would regret.
“Levi, get down here and get her,” I demanded. He jumped off the bank, lifting her out of my arms. “Take her to the truck. You both go home, so I don’t have to explain you being here.” The boy nodded at me. I knew he would take care of her. Something inside of me knew it. I touched her face, and she finally made eye contact with me. Her eyes flared blue for a minute. I almost couldn’t let go, but I hurried off to the place where I found Troy, holding Amanda much like I held Grace. She shook with fear. Damn. Bad move, Dylan. “Get her back. I’ll wait for the crews to get out here. Send everyone in. Keep it low though, for the parents’ sake.”
“Sure,” Troy said with haunted eyes. None of us would ever forget what happened to Colby Martin and Elizabeth Shanteal.
The next hours were a blur. I stood before reporters and flashing lights to report we had found the children. It wasn’t the report I wanted to give. I knew that over the next few days the sick details of their murders would flash across the screens. I never thought of it as a danger to Grace until one reporter asked the question, “Is it true Sheriff Riggs that you had a psychic on the scene, and she located the bodies?”
Anger flared through me, but I didn’t answer her. I walked out quickly. We had a mole in the department. Everyone knew I worked with Grace. No one in the media ever questioned it until now. A bad feeling washed over me, as I sat down at my desk. A moment of peace. But then my phone buzzed. I started to curse it until I saw her name.
Grace: You look tired. I made breakfast. Come eat.
I ran my hands through my dirty hair. I kept a change of clothes in my cruiser, and I could take a shower in the locker room. My heart pounded in my chest. She was letting me back in. I looked up to see Troy in the doorway.
“Dude, go home. Get some sleep,” he said.
“You look rested,” I said.
“Took a nap in the lounge,” he said.
“I’m going to get a shower and grab breakfast,” I said. “Do me a favor and keep your ear out. Someone ratted on us about Grace.”
“I know, man. We have trouble brewing,” he said.
“I don’t want her dragged into this,” I said. “It was my fault she was out there.”
“Grace is tough. She would have done it no matter what,” he said.
“I know. She just texted me,” I said. A smile appeared on his face.
“Oh really?” he said.
“Yeah. Breakfast,” I said. I couldn’t help it, but smile.
“Go get it,” he said.
I rushed past him, as he laughed at me.
When I pulled up at her trailer, I tried to calm myself. I hurried up the steps and lightly tapped on the door. Levi opened it. He looked tired, too. I knew all too well how exhausting Grace could be. He was in for a rude awakening. “Thanks, Levi,” I said.
“No problem. Grace, I’m going to try to get some rest,” he said then disappeared into the front bedroom. There was a plate piled high on the counter.
“Eat. You look like ten miles of bad road,” she said. I wanted to tell her that she looked beautiful. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean..oh, hell. Just eat.” Grace was nervous, too. I knew the images from last night haunted her. I saw it in her eyes. She wanted to share that pain with me. As it should be. We should be sharing everything.
“I’m beat, so your assessment is accurate,” I said as she sat coffee and sugar in front of me. She watched me as I scooped. “Grace, what did that?”
“I’m not sure, but I intend to find out,” she said with determination in her eyes. Power. She always dabbled on the edge of it. I knew what she could do if she ever really turned loose.
“When you find it, I want to be in on the kill,” I said. I knew she would appreciate that.
“Dylan, I just hope that I can take out whatever it is.” Powerful, but always doubting herself. “I can’t get you involved. This town needs you.”
“So, you do care,” I lightly teased.
She avoided it. It was a confirmation. “More coffee?” she asked.
“No, thanks. I appreciate breakfast. I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning,” I said. A wave of exhaustion hit me. I felt safe in her home with her. My body relaxed.
“If you fall out of that chair, I’m going to leave you on the floor. Maybe Levi will have pity on you,” she teased.
“Sorry, but I need to get back to the station,” I said, trying to stand. I couldn’t fall out in her house. She already saw me as a weakling. I teetered on the edge of falling down. She rushed to my side to steady me. Her touch sent chills through me.
“Dylan, you have to sleep,” she urged.
“No, there is too much to do,” I said. Her fingernails skimmed up my arm. I shuddered at her touch. Flashes of memory. Dear heavens. I couldn’t take her rejecting me again.
“Please stay. I don’t want anything to happen to you,” she whispered. I blinked not sure that I actually heard her right. I thought my mind played tricks on me.
I wanted my lips on her. I brushed her cheek. “Grace, beautiful Grace,” I said.
“None of that now,” she warned me. I leaned into her to feel the coolness of her touch. “Please sleep. Just an hour and I’ll wake you up.”
There was no way I was going to sleep for only an hour, but if I had an hour with her I would take it. “Okay, one hour.” I would take every minute, every second that she gave me. She led me back to her bedroom. I sat down on the edge of the bed as she knelt to pull off my boots. My heart pounded watching her help me.
There was a time in my life that I didn’t believe in love. Even when I came here looking for a mother to my heir, I never factored in love, but nothing could describe the feelings inside of me as she helped me lay down, covering me with a sheet that smelled like her plus a touch of her vanilla perfume.
“Stay with me,” I said grabbing her arm. A tear rolled down her cheek. I hated that it took the death of two kids for us to get over ourselves. When she curled up next to me, I knew I was home. I drifted off to sleep with her in my arms. Where she was always meant to be.
Hour, my ass. I woke up startled. I knew I was late. She moaned next to me, and all I wanted to do was stay. She didn’t trick me. I knew “just an hour” wasn’t possible. My lips brushed hers. “Thank you, Grace Ann Bryant.” I flashed her a smile as I left. It might take small steps, but she would let me back in. I had to believe that, but not get ahead of myself.
When I returned to the department, I knew something was wrong. Men in suits that I didn’t know were walking around everywhere. Amanda Capps approached me with a group of suits. Gone were the browns of her sheriff department uniform. She had traded them for a smart business suit. Her A.B.I. Badge flashed brightly at me.
“Sheriff Dylan Riggs, come with me please,” she ordered.
“Excuse me?” I said.
“Forgive me. Sheriff Riggs, I am Amanda Capps with the Alabama Bureau of Investigations. I need to ask you some questions about Grace Ann Bryant
,” she said.
“Fuck,” I said looking over her shoulder to Troy who looked like he was ready to shred her to pieces. “Sit down!” I ordered him. His butt plopped down in the chair next to the wall. The last thing I needed was a mad werewolf.
I followed Capps and the suits down the hall to an interrogation room. “Nope. We can talk in my office, but Capps, this is my department whether you like it or not. I won’t let you question me like a criminal. Not only that I’m entitled to representation even with an internal investigation,” I said.
“As you wish, call your lawyer,” she said.
I didn’t have a lawyer, but I knew who to call. “Give me five minutes,” I said, ducking into my office.
I dialed Nestor. “Hot Tin,” he answered.
“Nestor, we have a problem. The A.B.I. is here asking questions about Grace. Round up Jeremiah if you can. She’s gonna be in trouble if I can’t curtail this,” I said.
“This about the kids?” he asked.
“I think so,” I said. “Do you know a lawyer? I need one badly at the moment.”
“I only know two. Grace’s lawyer and her ex-boyfriend. I’m sure you don’t want either of them,” he said.
“Damn it,” I said. “Okay. I’ll do what I can from here.”
I opened the door for Capps and the men. They stepped inside. I shut the door behind them. “I’m recording our conversation for the sake of my lawyer who will be a little late in arriving. Do you object?” I asked.
“Of course not. We will be recording as well,” she said. I wanted to slap the smile off her face. I took a sniff in the room. One of these jokers was a werewolf. No wonder Troy was seething.
“Alright. Ask away, Miss Capps,” I said.
“How long have you known Grace Ann Bryant?” she asked.
“Five years,” I said.
“And you have a sexual relationship with her?” she asked.
Fuck. Right to it. “None of your business,” I said.
“So, yes. Did you help her kill those children?” she asked.
“Wait, what? Grace would never hurt a child. She loves kids,” I protested.
