The teenager began to cry. Tears streamed down his cheeks, and his chest heaved. He could barely choke out the word. “Yeah.”
We didn’t have time to ask more questions.
Dennis flew off the sofa. He was over his son in a split-second. “You lying sack of... You made this happen! You did this to your brother!”
Agent Reed and I both leaped across the space, but we were too late. Before we could get there in time to stop it, Dennis Sloan sent a fist flying with an awful crack of bone into Adrian’s mouth.
Chapter Fifteen
When we arrived at the school that was being transformed into the FBI command post, I found Violet standing among the red lockers that we used to haunt as teenagers. There was a display case on the wall highlighting photos and mementos from our championship volleyball season. I stood next to her, shoulder to shoulder, and we didn’t speak right away. In one of the photos behind the glass, I could see the two of us, both diving for the same ball and nearly cracking heads. Trina had had to work long and hard to keep us from getting in each other’s faces.
“You were good,” I told her, like a peace offering.
“So were you. Wow, you had a serve.”
“But you were better on the court.”
Violet nodded, as if that wasn’t even a matter for debate. “It seems like a long time ago.”
“Yes, it sure does.”
The same seven years had passed for both of us, but I couldn’t help thinking that Violet had grown up faster. She was only a few months older than me, but she was already a lawyer and serving on the county board. People listened to her and respected her. Soon enough, she’d be running the whole area.
“We were stars back then,” Violet went on. “That was cool.”
“Well, you’re still a star.”
She glanced at me to see if I was kidding, which I wasn’t. “Didn’t you like it?”
“The attention? No, not really. To me, it was about winning the game. I didn’t care about anything else.”
“Interesting.” Violet turned away from the display case and was done with nostalgia. “How are things going with Special Agent Reed?”
“He’s good. You were right to bring him in.”
“I know.”
“I’m sure you think he should have taken Adam with him, not me.”
“Adam has more experience, but Agent Reed knows what he wants.”
I wasn’t sure if she intended a double entendre with that comment.
“I heard there was some excitement,” she went on.
“Yes, there was. Dennis hit Adrian.”
“Dennis,” Violet said, with a sneer in her voice that made it clear she was no fan. “I wish I could say I was surprised. How is Adrian?”
“Swollen jaw, a couple of loose teeth.”
“Did you arrest Dennis?”
“Adrian begged us not to. So did Ellen. Given everything that’s going on, we didn’t think it would help the situation to have Dennis cooling his heels behind bars. He feels bad about what he did. But Adrian lied about what happened in the forest, so I understand why Dennis is upset. If we’d known about the Gruders upfront, that might have changed the whole search.”
“What does Ellen say? Was this the first time?”
“You mean, that Dennis struck Adrian?”
“That he struck either of the boys.”
“So she says.”
“Well, if Ellen says that, you can take it to the bank. And I’m sure she would have told me if there had been problems before.”
I knew that Violet and Ellen had a close history together. When Violet’s family had first moved to the area, she was an outsider who didn’t fit in. She was a smart, pretty girl from the city joining a school with kids who’d been together in the same cliques their whole lives. It was a tough transition, and I didn’t make it easier for her. She was just as good as me on the volleyball team, which I resented because I was used to being the best. So it’s not like I gave her a warm welcome. No one in town did.
Except Ellen Sloan. Ellen hired Violet as a part-time worker at the mini-mart. They worked together nearly every day during the school years and throughout the summer months while Violet was in high school and college. It was Ellen who really saw something special in her and encouraged her not just to go to law school, but to come back to this area after she did. I thought Violet would be gone from Mittel County just as fast as she could, but she proved me wrong.
“What about Adrian?” Violet asked. “Is he in trouble?”
“He says what he bought was for his own use. An experiment. There wasn’t enough to sell, and he’s underage, first time offense. Plus, we want him to talk so we can finally get the Gruders for distribution. He’ll need a lawyer, but chances are, he can get off without jail time, and eventually he can get his record expunged.”
“I’m going over there later. Ellen asked me to spend the evening with her. I’ll make sure they get a good lawyer who can work everything out.”
“I’m glad.”
“Where are the Gruders? Have you found them?”
“Yes, they were over in Stanton. The police picked them up and are bringing them back here.”
“I hope they know something useful about Jeremiah.”
“I hope so, too.”
“Well, I’ll let you get back to Agent Reed.” Violet walked away, but then she hesitated and retraced her steps. She was taller and thinner than me, and she was dressed in style. “It’s not personal, you know.”
“What’s that?”
“My disagreement with Sheriff Ginn.”
“He’s my father. That makes it personal to me.”
“I understand, but you have to face reality. Tom has done great work for this county for decades, but he’s not fit for the demands of the job anymore.”
“I disagree. And that’s up to the voters, not you.”
“It’s up to the county board if we think there’s a problem.”
“He’s fine,” I said sharply.
Violet put a hand on my shoulder, which I shrugged off impatiently. “No, Shelby,” she told me with more caring and concern than I would have expected. “He’s not fine. He’s getting worse. Sooner or later, you’ll see that for yourself.”
Chapter Sixteen
Will and Vince Gruder sat like greasy bookends on either end of the bleachers in the gym. Their hands were cuffed behind their backs. As usual, I didn’t know which was which. Both of them wore tie-dye tank tops from an El Paso bar with a logo of a drunk parrot on the front. I was sure they knew why they’d been brought in, but they made a point of looking unimpressed with the FBI men in their suits.
“So which one are you?” Agent Reed asked the first of the brothers.
“Vince.”
“Okay, Vince. Let’s not waste time. You’re in trouble. So’s your brother. Judges are tired of meth wreaking havoc in their towns. Making and selling it will get you ten years, maybe more.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Vince replied.
“Adrian Sloan says you do. He says you sold him drugs.”
“Adrian Sloan can say whatever he wants, but he’s lying. The Stanton police didn’t find anything on us. Go ahead and search our place in Witch Tree, man. It’s clean. You can play tough guy all you want, but you’ve got nothing.”
I was standing next to Reed, and I reacted hotly and jumped into the middle of the interrogation. “We know you’ve got a lab in the woods, Vince. You were blasting music out there half the night.”