Once outside, Officer Grady turns to Max. “Stay away from that Phelps boy, understand? He’s nothing but trouble.”

“I will, no problem,” Max agrees. I hope that Officer Grady’s warning is enough. I’ve tried telling Max that for months. Maybe the way Clint was teasing Violet in the conference room has finally revealed his true colors to Max.

To me, Officer Grady says, “Listen, I understand we’re dealing with kids here and I’m trying to be sensitive to what Violet has been through, but I’m running an investigation. You understand that, don’t you?”

“I’m trying,” I say, trying to keep the irritation I feel from creeping into my words. “But I have to take care of my children. They’re my top priority.”

Grady opens the back door of the police car and Violet and Max climb inside. I’m about to join them when he stops me with a hand on my shoulder. “Yeah, and Cora Landry and the safety of everyone in this community is my priority. I’m going to have to ask the hard questions and the sooner I can do that, the faster we’ll catch this guy,” he says. “And I can’t ask Violet these questions unless I have your permission and support.”

I nod. I know he’s just doing his job. Maybe it’s the small size of the department or that they don’t have a lot of violent crimes to investigate, but so far I’m not impressed.

“I’ll talk to Violet,” I say wearily. “I know she wants to help Cora, too. She just needs some rest.”

“Thank you,” Grady says and I get inside the vehicle. Violet and Max are sitting low in their seats, keeping their heads down—Violet, trying to hide her tears, and Max, trying to make himself invisible to anyone passing by who might know him. I close my eyes and lift my face to the sun’s weak warmth—so different from the persistent, unrelenting sunshine back in New Mexico—and for the first time since our car broke down leaving us stranded outside of town, I regret coming to Pitch.

Case #92-10945

Case #92-10945

Conversation dated November 17, 2017,
via DarkestDoor.com

JW44:

I JUST FOUND YOUR POST, CORAREEF12. I KNOW ALL ABOUT
JOSEPH WITHER. PEOPLE WILL SAY HE’S JUST A LEGEND BUT HE’S REAL. HE’S NOT WHAT THEY SAY, THOUGH. HE’S JUST LONELY. HE’S LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO BE HIS FRIEND, TO TRAVEL WITH HIM.

4leafclover:

Don’t listen to him, Corareef12. He’s full of shit.

JW44:

4LEAFCLOVER, I WASN’T TALKING TO YOU.

Corareef12:

It’s okay, 4leafclover. I want to know.

4leafclover:

This is NOT okay!

JW44:

YEAH, 4LEAFCLOVER, SHE WANTS TO KNOW. SMALL MINDS CAN MOVE ALONG NOW…

4leafclover:

Fine, it’s your funeral. I’m out of here.

JW44:

GOOD! CORAREEF12, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?

Corareef12: