First Frost: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson

Author:Craig Johnson [Johnson, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery
ISBN: 9780593830673
Google: 5oPaEAAAQBAJ
Amazon: 0593830679
Barnesnoble: 0593830679
Goodreads: 199343636
Publisher: Viking
Published: 2024-05-28T05:00:00+00:00

9

“Victoria Moretti.”

“And your occupation?”

“Undersheriff of Absaroka County.”

The prosecuting attorney’s voice took on a different tone. “And you work under Sheriff Walt Longmire?”

The Terror shrugged. “Under, on top, whatever.”

It was at this particular moment that Judi Cole lowered her head onto the surface of the defense table and Judge Snowden chose to cough into his hand and take a moment to compose himself. “Excuse me. Continue, please.”

“Undersheriff Moretti, how long have you been working…um, with Sheriff Longmire?”

“Five years.”

“I see, and in those five years would you say he is a competent law enforcement official?”

“The best.”

“How would you describe the last five years in his employ?”

She stared at him with intent—I knew that stare. “Swell, it’s been swell.”

“Swell?”

“I believe that’s what I said, Counselor. Twice.”

He walked back over to his table and collected a sheaf of papers. “Do you know how many times this department has resorted to deadly force in the last five years, Undersheriff?”

“Suppose you tell me?”

“Over a dozen times.” He looked up at her. “Do you think that’s normal for the county with the lowest population in the lowest populated state in the country?”

“Define normal.”

He ignored her and continued. “And would you be surprised to know that the majority of these acts can be laid at the feet of Sheriff Walt Longmire?”

“He’s got big feet.” She smiled at him. “He’s also got big hands, and you know what that means…”

“Suppose you tell us?”

She eased back in her chair. “Big boots and gloves.”

Laying the papers back on the table, he sat with his arms folded, looking at the threadbare carpet. “Undersheriff Moretti, I’m getting the feeling that you’re not taking this independent hearing very seriously.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Excuse me?”

She gestured toward me, sitting at the defense table. “He just saved the state a couple of billion dollars—I’m thinking you should be having a fucking parade for him.”

“Undersheriff,” Snowden’s low voice intoned.

She folded her arms, once again staring at Whinstone.

“You’ll excuse me for saying so, but it seems to me that the department and particularly Sheriff Longmire are pretty quick on the trigger.”

She swiveled her eyes and crossed her legs. “Yeah, no.”

“No, what?”

The tarnished-gold eyes unloaded on him. “No, I don’t excuse you for saying so.”

He stared back at her, probably unaware that he wasn’t going to make a dent. “Undersheriff Moretti, are you in a relationship with Sheriff Longmire?”

Judi rose. “Objection, Your Honor.”

Snowden leaned back in his chair. “Mr. Whinstone, we’re on thin ice here.”

“I’m just trying to get a clear picture of the somewhat curious business practices of the Absaroka County Department and Sheriff Longmire.”

Vic leaned forward, placing her hands on the railing that divided her from the open courtroom, and only I knew how quickly she could leap over the thing and strangle the attorney. “This is such bullshit.”

The judge sighed. “Undersheriff.”

“No, I mean it. He gets drugged, handcuffed to a chair, shot at, and who knows what, and you assholes want to go after him? This is all because the family of that rich son of a bitch raised a fuss and has connections.

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