In Good Faith (Joe Dillard Series Book 2) by Scott Pratt

Author:Scott Pratt [Pratt, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Phoenix Flying, Inc.
Published: 2013-12-27T16:00:00+00:00

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29

I made the news on the local CBS affiliate—at six o’clock that night and again at eleven, the next morning at six, and one more time at noon. What made it worse was that they used the story as a teaser to lead into all their newscasts. By noon the next day, nearly every citizen in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia had heard Natasha’s vitriolic response to my threat. Luckily, the cameraman hadn’t gotten there in time to record what I said to her. Caroline taped one of the newscasts, and we sat that night watching it over and over, trying to figure out what Natasha was saying. She spoke in what seemed to be a strange, guttural language, something I’d never heard.

The phone rang around seven. The caller ID was blocked, but I picked it up anyway. An unfamiliar woman’s voice on the other end asked to speak to Mr. Dillard.

“Who’s calling?” I said.

“I don’t want to tell you my name,” she said in a heavy Southern accent, “but I work with your sister at Godsey’s Insurance Agency. You need to go see her.”

“Beg your pardon? Did you say I need to go see her?”

“Yes. Right away. Tonight if possible. And it would be best if you didn’t tell her you were coming.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Please, Mr. Dillard. Please go to Sarah. She needs you.”

“Crossville’s over two hours away,” I said. “I don’t think I’d be inclined to jump in the car and go down there on the basis of an anonymous phone call.”

There was a pause at the other end. I heard her draw in a deep breath.

“She’s been injured,” she said.

“Injured? Is she all right? Has she been in an accident?”

“No, I...I...you have to promise me you won’t tell her it was someone from work who called you. She’ll know it was me.”

“What’s going on?” I said. “If she’s hurt, I want to know what happened.”

“It was Robert,” she whispered. “He beat her up.”

Her words stung me like a swarm of bees. I knew he was wrong for her. I knew he was a hothead. I was afraid something like this might happen, but I hadn’t had the guts to come out and say it to Sarah.

“Where is she?” I said, trying to remain calm.

“She’s at home. I just left there. It’s bad, especially her beautiful face.”

“Did she go to the hospital? Did she call the police?”

“She won’t do either one. She begged me not to call the police.”

“Do you know what happened?”

“I’ve known Robert since he was a little boy, Mr. Dillard. I’ve been working for his daddy, and his granddaddy before that, for thirty-five years. Robert’s a bad seed. He’ll do it again.”

“No he won’t,” I said. “I can promise you that.”

I talked to her for a couple more minutes and then thanked her for calling.

“Mr. Dillard?” she said before she hung up. “I just want to tell you that Sarah is so proud of you. She brags on you all the time.”

I hung up the phone and tried to control my anger.

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