Read Online High Country Nocturne by Jon Talton - Free Book Online Page B

turned over to the detectives and I had lost track of it. This was when I was finishing my master’s degree and preparing to leave the department and Phoenix.
    Now, under the enchanted metropolitan sky with blessed ice water sitting next to the beers, I shrugged. “So?”
    â€œThere’s been a new development in the case.”
    â€œTurn it over to your cold-case unit. I’m sure they’re quite capable.”
    He shook his head. “I want you to investigate this. It requires your special skills.” He leaned in and touched my arm. “David, this is your home, your hometown. You belong with us at the Sheriff’s Office. I’ll warn you, the county is going paperless. I should have given you the documents digitally. But I thought the paper files might be easier.”
    I drained the glass and stood. “Thanks for the beer, Sheriff.”
    I was halfway out when his voice stopped me.
    â€œLindsey.”
    I turned to face him. My feet felt heavy.
    He beckoned me back with a flipping of his fingers, as if he were summoning a child. “Call me Chris. And you forgot your star, Deputy.”
    I walked back and stood over him. “Why did you mention my wife?”
    â€œSit down, David.”
    I did.
    â€œYour wife is a hacker. She has been all her teenage and adult life.”
    â€œYou’re being cute with words,” I said. “Lindsey was a sworn deputy in the Sheriff’s Office cybercrimes unit and then she was recruited by Homeland Security. What made her so valuable is that she’s a ‘good hacker,’ if you want to use the word. A knuckle-dragger going by some manual from Microsoft isn’t going to have that expertise.”
    â€œThat’s what made her so effective. She’s one of the best hackers we ever encountered.”
    A coldness spread in my limbs as I wondered who this “we” was.
    â€œYour wife’s time in Washington, D.C., was not what you believe, David. I hate to put it this way, but sometimes it’s better get the truth out there. She wasn’t faithful.”
    â€œMy marriage is not your business.”
    â€œThere were several instances where she strayed. I know it hurts, but my sources are golden. You need to know this.”
    â€œGood-bye,” I said, but made no effort to leave the chair.
    I knew Lindsey had played and strayed, knew it because I had found a confessional letter she intended to mail to me but never did—and then I had tucked it back in her things and never spoke of it. It had been a mad time for both of us. Her sister Robin had been alive then. If the sheriff was trying to mind-fuck me to do his bidding, this wouldn’t work.
    He lowered his head. “She was unfaithful to the country, too.”
    â€œWhat the hell are you saying?”
    â€œYou know about the F-35 fighter? It’s our most advanced jet. We’re fortunate that Luke Air Force Base was chosen as the primary training base.”
    I looked him in the eyes.
    â€œYou’re giving me a chamber of commerce pitch,” I said.
    â€œUnfortunately not.” He leaned in a few inches. “You may also know that China stole important information about it. An airplane we thought would give us a twenty-year advantage. Now the Chinese are incorporating its features into their advanced fighters, especially the Shenyang J-23. Try explaining that to the young men and women who will die in combat if push comes to shove in the South China Sea or over Taiwan…”
    â€œThis is a long damned way from being Maricopa County sheriff.” I tried to throttle down the anger in my voice and failed. “Running the jails humanely. Serving warrants. Dull job, but necessary.”
    â€œListen to what I’m telling you, David. The feds have reason to believe Lindsey actually helped the Chinese gain access to the F-35 designs. They know a man she was sleeping with did it and he is about to be indicted. They