Read Online Ripples by DL Fowler - Free Book Online
Authors: DL Fowler
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responsibility if something goes terribly wrong in the meantime?”
Baker pulls back his broad shoulders. “My job is taking personal responsibility—24/7.”
I lean forward and plant both hands on his desk. “Believe me. If that girl ends up hurt or—heaven forbid—dead, everyone’s going to pin the blame on you—from the grandma in line at the grocery store to the governor. In fact, the president’s going to hear about it during our next round of golf.” I lean back and fold my arms across my chest. “The first hole we chat about the wife and kids—his. I don’t have any left. On the second fairway we cover the economy. Things like abused kids and bureaucratic bungling get handled before we sink our putts on the third green.”
Baker stands. His full 6’2” frame looms over the desk. “Listen. This isn’t Wall Street and it’s certainly not the Oval Office. You’re not going to get any special treatment by coming in here, throwing your weight around, and making threats. We handle every matter that comes to us with the same professionalism and diligence.”
I sit up straight. “It’s not a threat unless she’s in danger. He was getting ready to use a belt on her.”
He sits down and types something into his computer. “Did you see him hit her?”
“No. When I saw him raise the belt, I smashed his window with my flashlight. Busted it trying to get his attention.”
“Sounds like your neighbor should be the one filing a complaint.”
“He’s abusing the girl, and I’m trying some help.”
He makes another entry in the computer. “See any marks—bruises or the like?”
“Didn’t get close enough.”
He looks up from the computer screen. “Mr. Chandler, give me something to work with here.”
“How about the fact the girl should be in school?”
“That’s not imminent danger, but we’ll check it out. I have to tell you, though, I’ve never heard of this fellow or the girl, and I know who lives in my part of the county. The only girl up your way belongs to some single gal. Don’t have their exact address on file, but they show up in town now and then. There’s never been a need to check in on them.”
I bang on his desk. “I hear sounds every night.”
“Mr. Chandler, you need to calm down. What kind of sounds?”
“Whimpering, moaning, like someone in pain.”
“Could be coyotes or owls …”
“That’s what I thought, but they sound human.”
“Human?”
“Yeah, maybe a kid crying.”
“Every night?”
“Pretty much.”
“You say he was going to take a belt to her. How can you be sure?”
“He was holding it up about this high ….” I raise my fist up above ear level. “She was cowering.”
He types again.
“Deputy Baker, I’m sorry I came across like a jerk—but this girl has me worried. It’s not like I go around trying to save the world. My granddaughter was kidnapped a few years ago … we never got her back. I don’t want to see any kid go through what my Celine ….”
Deputy Baker picks up the handset on his desk phone and punches the intercom button. “Grimes, what time am I supposed to be over up to Central to see the Sheriff?”
He stares up at me as he waits for a reply.
“Got it. I’m going to run a quick errand—a little out of the way, but I’ll have time if I head out now.”
Baker hangs up, stands, and plucks his hat off the rack behind his desk. “Okay, Mr. Chandler. I’ll follow you up to your place. You can point the way from there. I’ll let you know what I find.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t get too worked up. You still haven’t given me a whole lot to work with.”
After turning off the highway, I pull the Jeep to the side of the gravel road and wave the sheriff’s cruiser straight ahead. Once Baker passes, I turn down my drive and spot Carl standing on the redwood deck, frowning.
I step out of the Jeep. “What are you doing here?”
“If the sheriff just blew past here, I’m a too late. Came to
Baker pulls back his broad shoulders. “My job is taking personal responsibility—24/7.”
I lean forward and plant both hands on his desk. “Believe me. If that girl ends up hurt or—heaven forbid—dead, everyone’s going to pin the blame on you—from the grandma in line at the grocery store to the governor. In fact, the president’s going to hear about it during our next round of golf.” I lean back and fold my arms across my chest. “The first hole we chat about the wife and kids—his. I don’t have any left. On the second fairway we cover the economy. Things like abused kids and bureaucratic bungling get handled before we sink our putts on the third green.”
Baker stands. His full 6’2” frame looms over the desk. “Listen. This isn’t Wall Street and it’s certainly not the Oval Office. You’re not going to get any special treatment by coming in here, throwing your weight around, and making threats. We handle every matter that comes to us with the same professionalism and diligence.”
I sit up straight. “It’s not a threat unless she’s in danger. He was getting ready to use a belt on her.”
He sits down and types something into his computer. “Did you see him hit her?”
“No. When I saw him raise the belt, I smashed his window with my flashlight. Busted it trying to get his attention.”
“Sounds like your neighbor should be the one filing a complaint.”
“He’s abusing the girl, and I’m trying some help.”
He makes another entry in the computer. “See any marks—bruises or the like?”
“Didn’t get close enough.”
He looks up from the computer screen. “Mr. Chandler, give me something to work with here.”
“How about the fact the girl should be in school?”
“That’s not imminent danger, but we’ll check it out. I have to tell you, though, I’ve never heard of this fellow or the girl, and I know who lives in my part of the county. The only girl up your way belongs to some single gal. Don’t have their exact address on file, but they show up in town now and then. There’s never been a need to check in on them.”
I bang on his desk. “I hear sounds every night.”
“Mr. Chandler, you need to calm down. What kind of sounds?”
“Whimpering, moaning, like someone in pain.”
“Could be coyotes or owls …”
“That’s what I thought, but they sound human.”
“Human?”
“Yeah, maybe a kid crying.”
“Every night?”
“Pretty much.”
“You say he was going to take a belt to her. How can you be sure?”
“He was holding it up about this high ….” I raise my fist up above ear level. “She was cowering.”
He types again.
“Deputy Baker, I’m sorry I came across like a jerk—but this girl has me worried. It’s not like I go around trying to save the world. My granddaughter was kidnapped a few years ago … we never got her back. I don’t want to see any kid go through what my Celine ….”
Deputy Baker picks up the handset on his desk phone and punches the intercom button. “Grimes, what time am I supposed to be over up to Central to see the Sheriff?”
He stares up at me as he waits for a reply.
“Got it. I’m going to run a quick errand—a little out of the way, but I’ll have time if I head out now.”
Baker hangs up, stands, and plucks his hat off the rack behind his desk. “Okay, Mr. Chandler. I’ll follow you up to your place. You can point the way from there. I’ll let you know what I find.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t get too worked up. You still haven’t given me a whole lot to work with.”
After turning off the highway, I pull the Jeep to the side of the gravel road and wave the sheriff’s cruiser straight ahead. Once Baker passes, I turn down my drive and spot Carl standing on the redwood deck, frowning.
I step out of the Jeep. “What are you doing here?”
“If the sheriff just blew past here, I’m a too late. Came to
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