Margin of Error by Christy Barritt

Author:Christy Barritt [Barritt, Christy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: River Heights
Published: 2019-07-04T05:00:00+00:00

Boone paused as soon as he stepped into the Fog Lake Sheriff’s Office. Voices in the background drifted out into the lobby. Was that Lonny? It sure sounded like it.

Maybe the man had some updates.

With Brynlee beside him, Boone walked toward Luke’s office and paused in the doorway.

“Unfortunately, it’s inconclusive,” Lonny said, pointing to a paper on Luke’s desk. “As much as I would like to match these claw prints, there are too many variables that make it impossible.”

“I thought claw marks were like fingerprints,” Luke said. “That each is unique.”

“Unfortunately, it’s not that simple,” Lonny said. “There are a lot of variables when it comes to claw marks. And claw marks on flesh? It’s very difficult to ascertain everything we need from that. We’re mostly testing DNA, but it will take a few days to get back.”

“And if the DNA of this bear matches that at the crime scene?” Luke asked.

“Then the bear will have to be euthanized.”

Luke crossed his arms, listening intently to what Lonny said. “But what are the chances that there are two different bears behind this?”

Lonny released a breath and rubbed his chin. As he did, Boone noticed the cut on his forearm. It looked deep and long. His shirt had concealed it, but his sleeve had crept up.

As quickly as it happened, Lonny lowered his arm and tugged his sleeve down.

He didn’t want anyone to see it. Interesting, Boone thought.

“I agree that the chances aren’t likely that there are two different bears here,” Lonny said. “However, male bears will generally only wander about fifteen miles from their habitat. The chance that a bear left the Dead Man’s Bluff area and traveled down to Fog Lake, tracking someone? I’ve never heard of anything like that happening. It’s highly unlikely, especially considering it was probably twenty miles, at least.”

“What do you think about Big Ben?” Luke asked, obviously not bothered by Boone and Brynlee’s presence. “About the evidence we found at his place?”

Lonny released a long breath, obviously taking this conversation very seriously. “I do think it’s possible to train bears. I’ve seen it happen before. If a bear starts to depend on a human to feed it, then . . . it’s amazing what creatures will do for food. Of course, Big Ben isn’t talking. He’s the only one who really knows the truth. There were no cages at his house, correct? No signs that he was keeping any animals in captivity?”

“No, no cages,” Luke said. “But it did look like he’s let the animals into his house. There was hair on his couch and carpet. No sign of violence, however.”

Boone stepped more fully into the room, interested in seeing how Lonny reacted to his next statement. “I know how this all looks—I mean, I was there last night. I felt that axe whiz by me. A few inches to the right, and I might not be standing here right now. But I’ve never thought of Big Ben as being a violent man. He just likes to keep to himself.

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