Merrville County

  Friday

  Deputy Chastain follows Detective Mackey to the Castleton Police Department in his department issued SUV. Morris' cellphone rings and he presses SEND on the display screen, readjusting the phone on its mount.

  "Yeah, Mackey? What's up?" Morris responds in a clear voice.

  "Hey, Morris. I uh, I wanna thank you for not telling Madison....Well, everything that went down last night. She's under enough pressure as it is. What, with the baby and her being temporarily out of work. I hate leaving my wife in the dark. I mean, I know she'll find out about it eventually. But, I want to save her from the worst of it as much as possible. Thank you for that, Morris."

  Morris is quiet for about three seconds, internally chastising himself for buckling under pressure. What pressure? The battle for some small sense of importance in Madison Mackey's life. The information he'd had, was information she'd so desperately craved. And he had given it to her. And she had thanked him. Even going so far as to hug him. He hadn't really thought about the true effect the news might have on poor Madison. The woman is only two months postpartum. A lot must be going through the young mother's mind. She certainly doesn't need this crap.

  "No problem, Mackey," Morris obfuscates, secretly hoping Madison will keep what she knows to herself. "I uh...It's just procedure. Nothing to be grateful about."

  "I know, but...I also know Madison is a dear friend to a lot of people in the sheriff's department. It might be sort of hard to keep things from her. But, until the body is found... There's going to be a lot of speculation and mudslinging. There's definitely going to be a lot of blame going around. I realize now...That I never should've answered that call. It was a mistake. I just thought...."

  James pauses for a moment, staring straight ahead through the Crown Victoria's windshield. A tear slides out of one eye and Detective Mackey angrily blinks it away. He struggles to contain the emotion building in his chest--the emotion nearly choking off his voice.

  "I swear there was a shooter on that roof, Chastain. I did not shoot that young woman. You believe me...Don't you, Morris? You believe I didn't kill her?"

  "Of course I do, Mackey?" Chastain immediately answers.

  For a moment, the somewhat younger deputy wonders if his response may have come off as too hasty. Detective Mackey may think he's attempting to b.s. him--or that he's flat-out lying. He has no reason to doubt the detective. Innocent until proven guilty is still the law of the land.

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  "And I'm not just saying that, James," Morris says. "Since I've known you...You've always been straight as an arrow. You've handled every case with respect and dignity. I remember...I think I've seen into your heart, Detective Mackey. I don't think there's a monster in there. I could be wrong. But, I don't think so."

  Morris takes a moment to get his second wind. He continues talking before Detective Mackey can interrupt.

  "You and I think a lot alike, Mackey. Take, for instance, that whole situation with Mike Blaine. Everyone wanted to believe the man had killed Rose Perry. They didn't want to believe there was a crazed maniac running around Castleton killing pretty young women. People wanted to bury their heads in the sand. They were willing to put a nice, innocent man like Mike behind bars. All so they could sleep a little easier at night. The whole thing nearly ruined Mike. His reputation suffered for a bit. Even when people knew there was a serial killer in town. That's why he went to drinking. You, me, and Sheriff Northrop...We knew better. Some of us just have a nose for bull crap. Hell, my grandmother had a saying. 'If something stinks...You look around. When you find nothing...It's either your imagination...Or you might want to think about taking a bath.'"

  Despite his solemn expression, and even deeper heartache, Detective Mackey manages a weak laugh. Deputy Chastain grins as well, from the confines of his cozy SUV.

  "I approach life like that too," Morris continues. "I don't look for turds unless I smell 'em. But the first place I'm gonna look is under my boot. You're okay, James. Once the department finds that young woman's body...We can go from there. Until then, just do your job. Nobody can ask any more of ya."

  "That was, uh...Quite an interesting little speech, Morris. Thank you. I think," Mackey says with a light chuckle.

  "Don't mention it," Morris responds. "Like really...Don't mention it. To anyone. The last thing I need is a reputation as a nice guy. Right now, people think I'm as rotten as they come. I want it to stay that way."

  "Ha. Sure, Chastain."

  "Good. Now...You do know we just ran a red light?" Deputy Chastain volunteers in a low whisper.

  "Did I? I thought the light was green. Damn," Mackey mutters. "Good thing the intersection was clear. Why the heck didn't you say something?"

  "I was too busy explaining to you the facts of life. Sorry. I'll do better next time."

  "Okay, buddy. Sure. Again, thanks," Mackey says in a quiet voice. "It means a lot to me that someone at least believes my story."

  "I'm sure the Chief does too," Morris replies. "But right now, he's gotta appear impartial. Like I said, once there's a body. Forensics will be proven. Don't worry about it. All's well that ends well. Believe that."

  "Is that another one of your facts of life, Morris?" James quips. "You're just full of zingers this morning."

  "Nope. That was just me being an optimistic idiot. I hope they find the girl's body. And quick. If there's a killer out there wielding assault rifles and taking hostages...We need to know. From what you said...That young woman couldn't have killed Officer Melbourne. So someone else did. I sure as hell don't think Francine killed herself. And if tests prove that Francine was already dead around the time we got that call...We're dealing with something real heavy here. We need that body."

  "I couldn't agree more," Mackey says, solemnly nodding his head.