“No,” Pam replied. “The BCA did an exam of the blood stains just to determine whether they were human or something else.”
“How many more hours are you planning to dump into this rat hole?” The sheriff asked Floyd, his voice a little sharp.
“We have a few more leads to follow but we should be able to wrap it up in a few more days. Of course that assumes no more notes are left on my door in the middle of the night. I won’t drop anything this personal.”
Sepanen shook his head. “What idiot leaves notes taped to a cop’s door in the middle of the night?”
“Maybe it’s a plea for help,” Pam said. “You know, like a suicide. They call and ask for help, or report that they’ve taken pills. It’s an irrational way to ask for attention.”
“The notes sounded more pleading than threatening,” Floyd said. “It’s hard to convince Mary that any note taped to my door in the middle of the night is anything but threatening.”
“Mary?” the sheriff asked.
“Floyd’s girlfriend found the first note,” Pam said as Floyd turned red.
“You have a girlfriend?” Sepanen asked, suddenly curious.
“She’s just a friend. I met her when we were investigating the girl missing from the summer camp and we’ve had coffee together a few times.”
The sheriff gave a brief glimpse of a rare smile. He said, “Just wrap it up so we can move onto some of the other crimes.”
After she was sure the sheriff was out of earshot Pam asked, “What other crimes is he talking about? I’m not aware of anything close to the magnitude of a kidnapping. And, if this isn’t important, why is he talking about it on his radio show?”
“There isn’t anything else,” Floyd said. “The sheriff has a problem with us working on anything that doesn’t have political value. Working on an old missing person case doesn’t get many votes.”
“I’d think that solving an old missing person case would get votes.”
“True,” Floyd said, “but the odds of solving this case are slim and none. The sheriff knows that as well as anyone. He’s also the one who has to explain where the budget gets spent. If the story doesn’t sell well with the county board, they’ll cut our funding.”
“I never thought that politics and budgets determined priorities when I decided to go into law enforcement.”
“Really? You don’t think that we patrol the county board members’ roads more often than the others? Every time any city faces spending cuts the first thing they threaten to cut is police coverage. I can’t think of anything more political than law enforcement.”
“Have you ever considered running for sheriff?”
“No way! The sheriff loves the limelight and I hate it. When we solve a crime he gets to stand in front of the cameras and explain how the department did a great job of solving the crime. He shares the credit, but he gets a share of the glory because it’s his department. For me, the only thing more painful than talking to the media is being nice to lawyers.”
Pam smiled. “Okay, what do you want me to do today?”
“Interview Aaron Roberts’ parents and see what they remember about the night Aaron disappeared. I’d really like to have their perspective on the relationships between Aaron, Kathy Tucker, and Ken Solstad.”
“Can I admit that’s what I’m doing if the sheriff asks?”
“Sure,” Floyd said with a smile. “Just don’t tell him I directed you to do it.”
“Maybe I’ll just avoid him,” Pam said as she walked out the door.
CHAPTER 23
Pam Ryan and Mary Jungers were eating burgers at the Pine City Dairy Queen when Barb Dupre rushed in. She sat down at their table breathlessly.
“I’m sorry to be late,” she said with her usual slow speech. “The alarm didn’t go off and I’m not a morning person.”
“It’s okay, Barb,” Mary said, smiling that Barb thought of a noon meeting as morning. “Go get something to eat. Then we’ll talk.”
Barb came back with a chocolate malt and a package of fries. “I’m not a breakfast person either.”
“Barb, this is so exciting! Mary said you are thinking about a wedding in the next couple weeks. Have you picked the date?” Pam asked enthusiastically.
“Sandy thought we should wait, but I think we should have the wedding soon. Sandy’s off the weekend after next, so I thought that’s when we’d do it. I want to have a ceremony at sunrise by a lake with a few friends.”
“That’s really soon,” Mary said. “It doesn’t give you a lot of time to make plans and get out invitations.”
“It’s not a big deal. I don’t think many people will want to come.”
“Pam and I were putting together a list of people who’d enjoy coming to a bridal shower. We’ve got ten people. Who would you like to add?”
“I don’t know,” Barb replied, looking stunned. “Who should I invite?”
“You must have some girlfriends you’d like to invite,” Mary said. Sensing that Barb wasn’t sure what she meant, she added, “Are you close to any of the clerks at the drugstore, or maybe someone from your previous jobs?”
“Dale at the drugstore and I get along okay, and Harvey, from the Pine Brook Inn, was a nice guy.”
Pam smiled and Mary leaned close. “Wedding showers are usually girl-only events. What about girlfriends?”
“Not really. I get along better with men.”
“Well,” Mary said, “here’s the list of people we’ve put together so far.” She read off the names of women from the sheriff’s department who’d known Sandy for years plus the pharmacist’s wife, and sheriff’s wife. “We should add Sandy’s mother and his sister. I don’t know who you’ve chosen for your maid of honor, but we should invite her, too.”
“I haven’t got one yet,” Barb said. “Who should that be?”
“Usually it’s your best friend,” Mary suggested, “or your sister.”
“Sandy’s my best friend, and I don’t have any sisters.” Barb hesitated. “I’ve been to some weddings and they usually have two or three women. Isn’t that right?”
“Sure,” Pam replied. “My sister had four attendants.”
“Can I have the two of you as bridesmaids?”
Mary and Pam exchanged a quick look of surprise. “I’d be proud to do that,” Mary said, “and I’m sure Pam would be honored, too. But are you sure we’re the right people?”
“I don’t know,” Barb said as she dunked a few fries into a puddle of ketchup. “You’re both nice to me and Sandy thinks you’re both great. I think you’d be the right people.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Pam said, reaching out and putting her hand on top of Barb’s. “It’s a really big deal to be in someone’s wedding. If you want me, I would be honored.”
Barb looked at the tears in Pam’s eyes. “You must be the right people. I don’t know anyone who’d cry if I asked them.”
“I’m sorry to say this,” Mary said, “but I have to get back to the flower shop.” She pushed the list of names toward Barb. “Look through our list and tell me if you have anyone to add.”
Barb read through the short list quickly. “I guess it’s good.”
“Would you like us to invite your mother or other relatives?”
“I’d rather not. We haven’t been close for a few years.”
“I don’t mean to tell you what to do,” Pam said, “but my mother wouldn’t forgive me if I didn’t invite her to my wedding shower.”
“I don’t think she’ll care,” Barb said. “I wasn’t planning to invite her to the wedding either.”
“What day will work for the shower?” Mary asked, sensing the need to change the topic. “Sunday afternoon I can throw Floyd out and we can take over his house in Willow River.”