Chapter 16 Need For The Truth
NEED FOR THE TRUTH
Gale opened the door to her condo and stepped on paper. She bent to grab it, but something told her to stop.
Maybe she was being silly, but she pulled her phone out and snapped a few pictures of it, then pulled a pen out of her purse and flipped the folded piece of paper over.
There was a printout of Rory Rene’s profile picture on his author website and under it in red ink... “STOP DIGGING OR ELSE.”
“Or else what, motherfucker?” she yelled in her condo, then pulled her gun out and moved around the place.
Oh yeah, there was something to find and now it fed her more with this little stunt.
It didn’t scare her; it only magnified her need for the truth.
As much as it pained her, she’d have to call Ford, but first she’d let Rory know.
She snapped another picture and sent it to him with a caption that said, “Had a message waiting for me.”
A second later, she got a reply, me too.
Yeah, his was scarier.
And a bigger threat.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
She hit the button to call him. “You didn’t touch that, did you?”
“Do you think I’m stupid?”
“Sorry. This just means we are onto something.”
“Yeah, but what?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I’m sure you don’t want to hear this, but I’ve got to call Ford.”
She could almost feel the breeze from his sigh through the phone. “I figured as much. I hadn’t planned on it, but now we should. Might as well add to the fact that I think someone broke into my car a few days ago too.”
“What?! Why am I just hearing this now?”
“Because I didn’t know if it was kids or not. I’m thinking not now.”
“I doubt it. Let me call Ford, then I’ll call you back,” she said and hung up.
Her body was vibrating with anger over this. Did whoever this was really think some notes under doors were going to scare her off? All it did was make her plant her feet in more.
Stop digging? Oh, hell no. This made her grab a bigger shovel.
“What’s going on, Gale?” Ford said when he answered.
“Got a little problem,” she said. “Someone is trying to shut me and Rory up.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we both got threatening notes under our doors while we were gone. Don’t worry, I didn’t touch anything. I called Rory first, his is worse than mine.”
“Shit,” Ford said. “I’m on my way.”
“Don’t tell Mom or Dad,” she said. “Please. I know you’re still at the farm, aren’t you?”
“I actually am in my truck with Reenie and we are just pulling off the property.”
“Keep it that way. I mean, tell Clay if you want.”
“Oh, I am,” Ford said. “You checked the place out and are safe?”
“I did. Pulled my gun out just like I’d been trained and walked around, but didn’t touch anything, I promise.”
“Stay put. I’m on the way once I drop Reenie off.”
She disconnected the call with her brother and called Rory back. “Ford is on his way to me. He’s not telling my parents. I don’t want them worried.”
“I don’t like this, Gale,” he said. “I think you should just keep your distance and let me do my thing.”
“Nope,” she said. “If there is one thing you’re going to learn really quickly it’s I don’t back down. Ever. This only revved my engine more.”
He snorted. “I was afraid you’d say that. Here is the thing—I can’t have this on my conscience. I don’t know if I can survive it again. I mean that. I don’t want anything to happen to you, your family, your career or their livelihoods. This is my battle to fight.”
“Yeah, well, no one goes into battle alone, so get over it,” she said.
He laughed on the other end. Not a funny sound, more like forced with the touch of a growl attached. “The last thing I need is your family to come down on me.”
“Oh, they will, but something tells me you’re strong enough to handle it. I’m coming to your place when Ford does. I want to see it better too. This is just a coward. Come on, notes under doors. What, are they eight?”
“You’re a piece of work,” he said.
“Yes, I am. Are you okay, Rory? Be honest with me. I know what I’m feeling about this, it’s got to be the same as you.”
“Someone wants me to stop,” he said. “I’m not sure if they think it’s going to disrupt business flow or crap like that.”
“Could be, but that doesn’t explain the threat to me. If I get threatened, my family does. Few will go against the sheriff, let alone Clay.”
“Takes some enormous balls for that,” he said. “Don’t you think?”
“I’m not making assumptions on who it is. I won’t do that, but I just know when someone tells me to stop, the opposite normally occurs. We are missing something, somewhere, and we’ll find it. I promise you that.”
“I hope you’re right,” he said quietly.
“Ford should be here soon and I need to use the bathroom.”
“Don’t touch anything.”
“I know you’re worried, but no one was in my place. If they were, I’d know it. And why slip the note under the door if they can get in? That makes no sense.”
“Nothing has made sense for years,” he said.
“I’ll see you soon,” she said. “And you don’t touch anything either.”
“Very funny.”
She hung up and ran to the bathroom, then heard knocking at her door when she was walking out. Once she saw Ford through the lookout glass, she opened it.
“See, still on the floor where I found it.”
“Gale,” Ford said.
She put her hand up. “Stop right there. I know you’re going to be worried and all, that’s in your nature. But all this tells me is that Rory is onto something. You know it.”
“Seems it. Or someone in the community wants no one getting back up in arms again, however innocent it could be.”
“It doesn’t matter what it is. He’s ruffling feathers and there’s nothing more I enjoy than plucking them off and getting people to yelp.”
Ford sighed and put gloves on, then picked up the note.
“Not much to it,” he said.
“No. I joked with Rory that the person must be eight years old. Who slides shit under doors now? Totally juvenile. As if this is going to make me say, ‘Yep, I’m scared, need to stop because some mystery person told me to.’ Guess they don’t know me that well.”
“It’s a good thing they don’t,” Ford said. “I’d hate to think someone we’ve known has knowledge or played a part in Rene’s murder.”
“I’m not saying the person putting this note here did it, or maybe they did. The violence of that crime would lead me to think not, but I’ve been wrong before. It’s more likely they have some knowledge of it and it could disrupt their life.”
“You know what I’m going to say? Don’t you?”
“What’s that?”
There was another knock at the door. “That’s Clay.”
“Are you two attached at the hip or something?” she asked.
“You said I could tell him, but I didn’t need your permission,” Ford said, opening the door.
Ford bagged the note and handed it to Clay. “You didn’t touch it, right?” Clay asked, taking the bag.
“No. And why do you have it?”
“Because I’m sending it out to a buddy of mine and we are keeping this private and off the books for now. Problem with that?”
She smiled. “Not at all. Let’s go see Rory now. You won’t like his message. Just warning you now.”
“Tell us what it says,” Ford said.
“It told him to go home before someone else got hurt. There were two pictures. His sister and me,” she said.
Yep, exactly what she thought would happen.
Clay’s fists clenched, his lips tightened and his eyes landed on Ford’s who was having the same reaction.
“I don’t like you staying here alone,” Clay said. “Move into the cabin on the farm.”
“Oh, hell no,” she said. “I’m never staying in that. Too dirty, too rustic, too much like being a kid on the farm. There isn’t even enough closet space for my shoes.” Her hands were on her hips. “I don’t need a keeper. I mean it.”
Her brothers stared at each other as if there was an internal silent war of words she wasn’t supposed to know. A code of sorts and all it did was piss her off.
“For now, she’s safe here,” Ford said. “We have to decide if you want to ask for camera footage or not of who came into the building.”
“Do you really think whoever did this is stupid enough to be seen on camera?” she asked.
“As you said, notes under doors aren’t exactly a mastermind at work,” Ford said.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not sure I want anyone to know. I mean, let’s be honest, all of us are thinking it’s a tie to the McGregors, right? Seems a logical conclusion. They own this property. They can be on it with no one knowing, or even alter the camera footage.”
“That’s right,” Clay said. “And if you say nothing about this, there are two conclusions. You aren’t taking it seriously and it will piss them off. Or you are and don’t suspect them.”
“Or they could think I suspect them and don’t want to tip them off,” she argued.
“Which could rile them up more,” Ford said. “I’m with Clay on this. Let them know. We can keep an eye out for things.”
“What am I supposed to tell them?”
“The truth. You got a letter under the door, but don’t say what it was. Just that it was a little unsettling and you want to know if there was anyone other than residents in the building,” Clay said. “This person knows which condo is yours.”
“Of course they do. It’s on the mailboxes outside,” she said, rolling her eyes. “It’s a small town. Most know I live here and can walk around and find the building.”
“Which could be on camera,” Clay said.
She sighed. “Fine. I’ll figure out what I want to say and email them. For now, let’s go see Rory.”