Chapter Thirty
CHAPTER THIRTY
As the deputy stopped at the barn, Bella jumped out first and Brody followed, but the moment he stepped into his office he felt something was wrong. Bella was also sniffing around as if picking up a fresh scent. Not seeing anything he decided the situation with Geoffrey Palmer had him unnerved, and Bella was probably smelling a rodent.
Letting out a sigh, he sat down at his desk and pulled a folder from the top drawer. It contained a release form, a list of rules, some general information, and the schedule of events. But as he began reading it to make sure there were no mistakes, he couldn’t concentrate.
Walking back outside with Bella, he entered the paddock and approached the colt. Working with the horses settled his nerves as much as theirs. As he stroked River’s neck and the young horse began to relax, Brody felt his own stress leave his body.
He continued for several minutes, then glancing towards the forest and seeing the deputy’s car he thought about joining them, but he still needed to check the paperwork and print out several copies. Telling himself if they weren’t back by the time he was finished he’d jog up and find them.
* * *
When Frank and Annie had entered the forest, she’d immediately noticed how much thicker the fog had become and wasn’t sure if she’d be able to find her way. But she soon spotted the track she’d taken and in just a few minutes she was pointing out the rocks to Frank.
“I’ll see what’s back here, but please stay where you are, Annie,” he ordered, shining his powerful flashlight in front of him and making his way behind the big boulders. “Damn! Someone was here. Come and take a look at this.”
“What is it? What have you found?”
“Clear footprints. See?” he declared, shining the light on the ground. “They’re fresh and they were made by a man.”
“Oh, my gosh. They have to be Geoff’s. He was here.”
“The question is, where is he now? Hold on, what’s this?” Frank muttered, stepping forward and bending down. “Clothes! Dirty, muddy clothes. These need to be bagged. I have to call the sheriff.”
“Bagged?” Annie repeated.
“Picked up with rubber gloves and placed in a plastic evidence bag.”
“Oh, just like on television.”
“Yep, just like that. I’m callin’ the sheriff,” he said, lifting out his phone, “Darn it, the signal’s too weak.”
“But, Frank, if those are his, what’s he wearing? He can’t be running around naked.”
“I was just thinkin’ the same thing. Where could he pick up clean clothin’? He sure as heck didn’t come into the house.”
“The barn! Brody keeps a few things in a cupboard there. I wonder if he’s still in the forest,” she murmured, feeling goosebumps popping across on her skin.
“I need to get you back to the car,” Frank said solemnly, “and I mean right now.”
“I agree! I’m feeling really creeped out.”
* * *
Geoff had just dumped his clothes when he’d heard the deputy and Annie approach. His first thought was Bella. Desperately hoping the muddy pile behind the rocks would be enough to keep her busy, he hurried across to the opposite side of the track and crouched down behind a group of trees. Mere seconds later the deputy and Annie appeared.
At first he was afraid to look, but he could hear every word, and it quickly became obvious the dog wasn’t with them. Breathing a sigh of relief, he finally peered around, only to see them step behind the rocks and find the clothes. But as the Deputy told Annie he wanted to take her back to the car, an inkling of an idea floated through Geoff’s head.
He waited until they were almost out of view, then followed. By the time they drew near to the edge of the forest, though his plan was extremely risky, and he’d have to play everything by ear, he decided it might be his last and only chance…at least for the foreseeable future.
As the deputy walked Annie to his car, Geoff moved from tree to tree, and was soon close enough to hear them talking.
“Why don’t I just walk back to the barn, it’s not far,” Annie said as he opened the back door of the squad car.
“We know Geoff Palmer has been here very recently, and it’s likely he’s still around. I have to go back in and secure the scene so I can’t go with you. God Forbid some animals come along and find those clothes. I suggest you wait in the car, lock the doors, and call Brody. He can come up and get you. Like you just said, it’s not far. I’m sure he’ll be here in no time.”
“You really think it’s necessary? It’s so open out here, and so is the walk down to the barn. He’d be crazy to expose himself like that. Geoff may be many things, but he’s not an idiot.”
“Ah, perhaps not, but from everything I’ve heard, he is a bit on the crazy side. Call it an abundance of caution. Call Brody, and when you see him, get out and meet up with him. We’re only talking about a few minutes.”
“Okay, okay. And thanks for being so protective.”
“Hey, you’re our shining star. I can’t let anything happen to you. Susie will never let me hear the end of it.”
“Oh, I see, so this is to keep you out of trouble,” Annie retorted with a laugh.
“Exactly!”
“Then I guess I have to go along with it. I’ll call Brody now,” she said, climbing into the car.
“Thank you. “I’ll lock the doors with my remote. To unlock them just press that red button on the door handle.”
“Will do.”