Fraidy Hole: A Sheriff Lester P. Morrison Novel Read Online Free Page B

Albert as he fussed around with the John Deere, and then without another word, went inside.
    Billy Ray said, “You catch that bruise on her cheek?”
    “Yep.”
    “You think maybe Mr. Parker’s been beatin’ on her some?”
    “Yep.”
    “Seems to me, a man that beats on his wife might do the same to his daughter, or worse.”
    “Yep.”
    “Your vocabulary is running a little shallow today ain’t it , Sheriff.”
    “I’m still a little miffed with that man’s attitude. Get in the truck , Billy Ray.”
    At the end of the lane, Lester paused and looked both ways. “Chances are, Melissa went to Becky’s place, saw nobody was home, and decided to hang around and wait on her.”
    The deputy raised an eyebrow. “You think she might still be there, hiding out somewhere?”
    “Possible. Let’s us go to Becky’s and look around, see for ourselves. Wouldn’t be the first time one teenager lied for another.”
    Billy Ray pointed to the clock in the dashboard. “Becky would have left for school by this time.”
    “Aw crap, you’re right. Well, we can talk to Becky’s folks at least , try to get a feel about Melissa and that asshole father of hers. I’m gonna drive slow and stay close to the shoulder of the road. You watch the ditch on your side. Can’t rule out a hit and run. We’ll do the other side on the way out.”
    “Sheriff, you’re acting like this is something more than a runaway. We got a kid gets mad at her daddy and walks out; happens all the time. Hell, I did it myself once or twice when I was that age. How is this any different?”
    In the distance, Lester watched as two crows lifted from a dead tree, their raucous caw … caw carrying across the field. “Smart birds, those crows. They know when there’s danger about. Too bad humans don’t have that same kind of instinct. Billy Ray, I’m just like Melissa’s mom, I gettin ’ a bad feeling about this. I think somethin ’ may have happened to that girl . I’m not sure what but I don’t like what I’m hearin ’ . Just a hunch though.”
    Billy Ray nodded. By now, he knew Lester P. Morrison well enough to show a good measure of respect for the man and his intuition. He was a good sheriff and didn’t miss much. He could read people and had a way of winnowing the truth from the lies. More often than not, his hunches had proven correct.
    Less than a quarter mile down the road another house appeared, similar in size to the Parker place but obviously better cared for with a well-tended lawn and manicured flowerbeds. A middle-aged woman in tan slacks and a dark brown blouse stood in the driveway with the door open on a late model Chevy Malibu. A pair of sunglasses rested atop her short dark hair. She stopped when she saw the six-pointed star decal on the pickup , and waited until the two men came to a halt alongside and got out.
    “Sheriff Morrison and Deputy Ledbetter, Ma’am,” Lester said, “Would you be Becky’s mom?”
    “Yes, my name’s Dora. Dora Wilson. I was just on my way over to the Baptist Church in Keyes. I volunteer in the office a couple days a week. Is this about Melissa? Don’t tell me she hasn’t come home yet.”
    “I’m afraid not , Ma’am. We wanted to check for ourselves that Melissa hasn’t been here. You know how kids are; they’re not always completely honest with their folks are they?”
    Dora wasn’t buying the assumption. “Well, I suppose that’s true with most kids, but my Becky doesn’t lie to me. The straight truth is that I haven’t seen Melissa for several days; I believe it was last weekend, now that I remember about it. Becky went straight to bed after we got home last night bein’ as how this is a school day today. I watched her get on the bus this morning, alone. I’m pretty sure the girls didn’t do more than talk to each other yesterday, you know, after school and all.”
    “Do you know the Parkers well, Mrs. Wilson?” Billy Ray asked. “Are you friendly with them?”
    “No, I