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Chapter 154
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The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 155
"I'll serve you a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon, I made enough for three anyway." Marie ambled around the kitchen, pouring orange juice and making toast."Marie, please don't go to any fuss. I'm not a big breakfast eater so a muffin will be fine." Ronnie absentmindedly caressed Mugsy behind his ears. "I understood from Mitch he doesn't eat here much. How often does he have breakfast with us?""Only a few days a week. It's very hard to fix a good meal for only two people, so I end up with leftovers at every meal. He's always been welcome at our table, according to Aunt Sally.""I can hear her saying that, too. She was such a warm and kind loving woman." Ronnie smiled."Yes, exactly. And she and the sheriff were very close. They visited for many hours, late into the night." Marie set a plate in front of her."So I've heard. What'd they talk about, do you know?" Ronnie placed a napkin on her lap and picked up her fork."Oh, I think they spoke about everything under the sun
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 156
Mitch drove to the jail while the driver in th5 back seat pleaded for leniency the entire ride. Mitch parked, pulled the babbling prisoner out of the car, and dragged him inside. Ronnie followed close behind.A few hours later, they headed out for a bite to eat and then made a couple of welfare checks. They stopped to give a push to a car stuck on the ice.Back at the office, Mitch listened to non-emergency phone messages and checked his emails. The roads were treacherous and fender benders abundant.On the drive home, Mitch evaluated the first day on the job with his new deputy and first female. He liked how she took control and handled herself, unafraid to get in the suspect's face, if necessary. The day had been cold and gloomy, with light snow on and off. But somehow, Mitch hadn't felt the chill in the air, or the usual aggravation."It was a great first day, wasn't it, Sheriff?" Ronnie asked, looking him directly in the eye."Yes, the first of many yet to come, I'm sure.
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 157
Ronnie lingered in her seat, enjoying a piece of coconut cream pie and another decaf. The place was empty, and Marion had gone to the kitchen some time ago. To avoid me or has she left, too?Her coffee drunk and no Marion in sight, Ronnie stood. A few steps, and she was in the kitchen, which was empty as well. She turned and ran into Olivia, the other waitress."Oh, I'm so sorry," Ronnie explained. "I'm looking for Marion.""Sorry, but Marion's left for the night, and we're about to close and lock the doors. Have you paid your bill yet?" Olivia asked."No, not yet. I'll do that right now." Ronnie stepped around her and headed back to the booth. She grabbed her purse off the seat and her coat from the hook and carried them to the counter. Olivia followed her all the way."It was a great meal. I wanted to give my compliments to the chef, but he's sort of evasive, isn't he?" Ronnie dug in her purse for her wallet."Not really. He works long hours. He's here at odd times during
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 158
Mitch leaned forward in his chair and saw Ronnie leave in her own car. He had a suspicious mind and didn't like the fact that she was out driving around, going wherever she wanted to go. He liked it better when he drove her to and from work in the police car. She was hiding something, he knew it, and he had to find out what it was, make sure she wasn't in any kind of trouble. So much like her aunt Sally.He snatched his hat from his desk and his coat from the hook by the door and headed out. Ronnie would not be alone "running errands" tonight. She'd have company following right behind her.****Ronnie shivered in the cold car, the heat turned up as far as possible. The slippery back roads slowed her speed as she followed the directions from her GPS to the address she'd found for Parker Cavendish. Rounding a sharp turn in the road, she saw a house on the right side at the top of a hill stuck out like a lighthouse. She slowed, drifting forward. The deep-rutted dirt road looked too
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 159
Ronnie, quiet and withdrawn the past few days, hoped Mitch understood her explanation that she had a lot on her mind. Her mind was boggled with accepting that her aunt had committed a federal crime, blackmailed someone, used the money to update and renovate the B&B, maybe other things as well. It was time.The next morning, Ronnie rolled her suitcase into the sheriff's outer office. It was quiet, and stale burnt coffee wafted in the air. Mitch stepped out of his office."I need your help. I'm not sure you're going to like what I have to say, or rather, show you. But it has to do with Aunt Sally and something she did." Ronnie walked toward him.Mitch had a confused look on his face. "What's with the suitcase? Are you leaving?""No, but you may want me to after I show you the evidence.""Of course not. You're my best deputy."Ronnie stepped around him into his office, and when Mitch entered behind her, she asked, "Would you close the door, please? This is for your eyes only a
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 160
Sirens wailed in the distance, and Ronnie sighed in relief. Dot needed care right away.EMS arrived and hurried to Dot's side. They checked her vitals, cleaned the cut on her cheek, and bandaged her head. Dot groaned as they lifted her onto the gurney but then lapsed back into unconsciousness. They pushed her out and into the ambulance and headed for the hospital.Ronnie retrieved her spool of yellow crime scene tape and began threading it around the diner, using poles and trees in between until the building was completely off-limits."I sure hope we'll be able to talk to Dottie soon. Otherwise, we have nothing to go on, here," Ronnie said once they were back inside in the office. She inspected the bookshelf. "We're going to need a warrant to do any further investigation of the records."Mitch pulled out his cell and called someone. "We can pick it up in an hour. I'll have Adam get it from Judge Matthews and bring it here.""We need to put a closed sign out. Also, we need to
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 161
"Sheriff Rogers here." He held his hand over the microphone and whispered to Ronnie, "It's Adam. Dot's awake.""Good." She returned to her inspection of the bookshelves.Mitch stuffed his cell in his pants pocket."Here's another space where something was removed." She pointed to the next shelf above."I think we need a search warrant for his residential property, but we're going to need more than 'we think' he hit Dot. We need hard evidence he abandoned his business. No crime there though. It happens all the time. Here one day operating and closed the next day when the employees show up for work. But if he assaulted an employee and was running a money-laundering operation out of here based on what Sally recorded, we need everything we can get to make it stick.""Then let's go talk to Dot." Ronnie headed for the door."Wait. We don't know if this Parker character has another key or if he'll decide to come back for something he forgot. Also, we don't know his location or any
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 162
"I'll see if I can get a locksmith out here pronto while you have a talk with Dot. Maybe a sympathetic woman will yield more helpful answers, help her remember." Mitch pulled his cell from his pocket."I'll try my best, but I don't think she's going to remember much." Ronnie unclipped her keys from her belt. "I'll call as soon as I learn something. Where do you find a locksmith around here?""I'm going to call one in Jackson. He's pretty fast to respond, but I'm also going to call my good friend Chase just in case. He owns a horse ranch and always has some hands looking for extra work.""Okay, I'm on my way to the hospital."Ronnie drove the short distance to the rural hospital and entered Dot's room. Dot's cheek was bandaged, and discoloration marred the skin around the wound. Her eyes were closed when Ronnie approached, but when she touched her shoulder, Dot's eyes fluttered open. "Hi there, Dot. Do you remember me?"Dot squinted, opened and closed her eyes, probably trying
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