The Gift by Shelley Shepard Gray

Author:Shelley Shepard Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-09-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

Tuesday, December 19

The sheriff’s office wasn’t large. It was in an older-looking, single-story building made of limestone bricks. It was located next to a busy strip mall. There was a pharmacy, dry cleaners, convenience store, and haircut place.

Next to the modern signs, the sheriff’s office looked stately. Susanna figured it might have been a house at one point. Inside, the first thing she noticed was a comfortable-looking gray-haired lady working at her computer at a small, serviceable desk. Beside her was a large glass of water, about a half-dozen file folders and spiral notebooks, and two cell phones. There was also a soup bowl filled with jelly beans.

When she, Neil, Amanda, and Dale walked in, the receptionist was on the office phone. She gave them a little smile as she gestured for them to be quiet.

Looking at each other, the four of them stood silently as a whole minute passed. Susanna looked around some more and noticed pretty garlands lining a couple of bookshelves on the other end of the room. A wreath made out of pinecones and red ribbon hung over one of the doors.

After another minute, the receptionist finished her call, punched a couple of buttons on her computer, then carefully picked out two jelly beans from the bowl. Only after popping them into her mouth did she finally speak to them. “Now, how may I help y’all?” Her voice was surprisingly melodic, tinged with that husky Kentucky accent Susanna was beginning to be familiar with.

Susanna gulped when she realized that everyone was waiting for her to answer. It felt both empowering and a little scary. “We’d like to speak to Deputy Beck,” she said at last, taking care to make sure her voice sounded firm.

Boy, was she glad that she wasn’t there alone. Of course, if Neil hadn’t been so pushy, worming his way into her business, she might have wandered around her property wondering what she should do.

She knew now that if she was standing here alone, she would have been shaking like a leaf.

The woman looked from her to Neil, who was standing about one foot behind her, holding the board. Then, popping another jelly bean into her mouth, she glanced at Amanda and Dale. “Deputy Beck is at lunch right now. He usually goes to see Lora over at Bill’s Diner.” Smiling slightly, she lowered her voice, like she was sharing something confidential. “Lora is his wife. They’re newlyweds.”

“I know Lora,” Neil said. “When do you expect him back?”

The lady looked at the clock. “I’d say within the half hour, but it might be a little more.” She shrugged. “Or a little less.”

Behind her, Susanna could hear Amanda chuckle.

The receptionist pulled out a pad of paper. “You know what? I’m thinking it might be best if y’all went ahead and left a message. I can relay it the minute Deputy Beck returns.”

But then what? It wasn’t like the deputy could call any of them.

Making up her mind, Susanna said, “If you don’t mind, we’d rather stay and wait for him.

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