Dead Woman Crossing J.R. Adler (early reader chapter books txt) 📖

Craig outstretched his hand for a handshake. She noticed his knuckles were scabbed over, and it took every ounce of willpower for Kimberley to reach hers out. Be professional, she reminded herself. Their hands connected and Kimberley squeezed as tightly as she could. A couple of bones in his hands cracked. She could see him wince a little. His eyes narrowed for a brief second, but he didn’t say a word. It wasn’t a firm “nice to meet you” handshake. It was a “hello, dickwad.” A warning.

“Great to meet you, Kimberley. Can’t wait to get back on the force,” he said with a smile.

They released hands. “It’s Chief Deputy King,” Kimberley corrected. “And, yes, I look forward to it.”

“Ah yes. Chief Deputy King. Sorry about that,” he said with a laugh. “Been off the force too long.” He wiped his hand against his sweaty forehead.

“I’ve got Bearfield and Burns coming down to take the accident report as well as paramedics and a tow truck.”

“I’m fine, really,” Sarah said.

“You should still get checked out,” Craig said, rubbing her shoulder.

Kimberley could see her tense up immediately upon his hand touching her body. Sarah nodded.

“What about the deer?” Craig asked, looking at Sam.

“We’ll get it cleaned up.”

“Mind if I take it home? I mean, it’s fresh, and it’d make for some good eating.” Craig punctuated his request with a smile.

Sam paused for a moment and then nodded. “Knock yourself out.”

“Thanks, Sheriff,” Craig said pleased.

This would be the type of guy that’d pick up dead animals off the side of the road, Kimberley thought to herself. She couldn’t stand being in his presence any longer. Every second she stood there was another moment she might punch Lodge in the face.

“Should we head out?” Kimberley looked at Sam.

“Oh yeah. I heard about Hannah Brown. Such a shame.” Craig shook his head. “If you need me back sooner to help out, I… I’m available.”

Yes, that’s what we need to crack the case, Deputy Craig ‘wife beater’ Lodge. Kimberley forced her eyes to stay in place.

“We’re good. Finish up your suspension and mandated counseling and stay out of trouble. We’ll see you back in the office next month,” Sam said curtly.

Deputy Lodge nodded, acting as though he had accepted the answer, but a couple of veins in his neck had jutted out. “Of course.” He grinned.

Kimberley could hear the sirens getting closer and closer.

“Alright, we’re going to head out. Burns and Bearfield and the ambulance will be here momentarily. You two good?” Sam asked.

Sarah nodded.

“Yeah, thanks again. And it was good meeting you, Chief Deputy King,” Craig said with a nod and a smile.

“Likewise,” Kimberley forced herself to say. She walked toward Sam’s Ford Bronco.

Inside the vehicle, Kimberley let out a deep breath—it was all the tension she had been holding in. Sam turned on the engine and looked in the rearview mirror. Bearfield and Burns were getting out of their vehicles and walking toward the Ford Bronco. An ambulance sped toward them in the distance, a mile or so down the country road. Sam rolled down his window as Bearfield approached.

“Afternoon, Sam,” Bearfield said. “Chief Deputy King.”

They both nodded at him.

“What we got?” Bearfield asked glancing at the damaged vehicle, Craig and Sarah, and back at Sam.

“Animal accident. The deer’s been put down and is behind the vehicle. Sarah has some minor cuts, so make sure paramedics check her out. Deputy Lodge is taking the deer with him. No write up for animal control,” Sam rattled off. “As soon as the scene is cleared, I’ll need you and Burns back on the Brown case.”

Bearfield nodded. “You got it.”

“And don’t give Lodge any details on the case,” Sam added.

“Yes, sir.”

Kimberley looked up ahead. Craig was no longer standing by Sarah. She couldn’t see him anywhere. Her eyes focused on the wrecked Ford Focus. He wasn’t inside of that either. She turned back to see if he had gone back to his truck. Not there either. When she looked forward again, she spotted him dragging the deer’s body out from behind the car. The carcass left a bloody trail behind it, and he smiled widely at his newfound prize.

“Burns, help me with this,” he called out.

Before Burns walked away, Kimberley stopped him. “Burns, how’s it coming along with Hannah’s phone?”

“I just got the device unlocked before I headed here. Phone company said it’d take twenty-four to forty-eight hours to produce phone records. But I’ll start going through what’s on the actual phone just as soon as I’m done here,” he said.

“Good work. I need them right away. So finish up quickly here.”

Burns nodded. “Of course,” and then headed toward Craig and the dead deer.

“Bear, help him compile the phone data. We need all hands on deck,” Sam instructed.

Bear nodded and took a step back from the vehicle as Sam put it in drive and pulled forward slowly.

Craig stared at Kimberley as they passed by. She didn’t believe that people could see the future, but she could see his and it wasn’t going to turn out well if she had anything to do with it.

“Let’s go give Kent Wills a visit,” Sam said.

“Sure, let’s just get the fuck outta here.”

16

Looking through the windshield of the police cruiser, Kimberley knew Sam was right about Kent Wills just from seeing the outside of his house. It was adorned with Halloween decorations despite it being the end of summer. Ghosts hung from trees. Jack-o’-lanterns lined the front porch. There were fake cobwebs stretched over everything; the windows, trees, bushes. He had really gone all out on his ghost tour business.

Kimberley and Sam stepped out of the vehicle and made their way to the front door. Sam knocked twice before he heard rustling inside.

Kent Wills, a man in his sixties with thinning gray hair and glasses opened the door. He was dressed in a graphic T-shirt that read “Ghosts are real. I’ve seen them.” His shirt was tucked into his pants, held up by a worn brown leather belt.

“Sam, to what