Hank was quick to explain the purpose of their visit and the lady, who turned out to be the owner, was more than willing to help them. She took them in the workroom and showed them the surveillance footage shot by the security camera mounted under one of the eaves of her building.
The owner said, “I saw all the fuss going on over there but I was busy at the time so I didn’t investigate. I wouldn’t put it past that loudmouth reprobate to purposely destroy evidence that might implicate his son. You’re more than welcome to my surveillance video. And make sure you talk to Delilah Anders, the convenience store attendant. She’s probably still on duty and she could tell you what she saw.”
James hated delaying getting to Leah but Hank was correct in doing a little homework first, rather than arriving without all the information they needed. The florist copied the entire segment onto a DVD for Hank and the three of them thanked her and went across the street.
“Officers, how can I help you?” the elderly lady said from behind the counter at the convenience store.
They interviewed Ms. Anders who told them everything that’d happened, including the visit another sheriff’s deputy had paid to the store to review the security footage. She gave them access to the equipment and they weren’t surprised by what they found.
“See how the time stamp skips an hour earlier today? One would almost think that someone had tampered with it,” Hank said.
With brows arched, Vincent said, “Now I understand why you stopped in at the florist.”
Hank shook his head in disgust. “Nepotism is the least of the problems the department has in this area. Let’s go get Leah.”
Eau du skunk was even stronger at the sheriff’s department office and James gulped in revulsion as the stench worsened once they got inside. “Holy shit.”
Vincent blinked like his eyes were watering and Hank looked around the empty front entrance. “Wonder who’s in charge around here?” He hit the bell on the counter and a young woman came running to the front with a respirator strapped to her head. “Can I help you, sirs?” Her eyes bulged as she took in their uniforms and badges. “Uh, I’ll be right back.” As she retreated down the hallway she hollered, “Daddy!”
Hank drummed his fingers on the Formica counter as they waited. Finally, a short, older, balding man in a sheriff’s uniform appeared. “Gentlemen, how can I help you?” He hitched his uniform pants up under his belly.
The picture of patience, Hank showed him his identification and said, “We spoke on the phone, Sheriff Harmon. I think you know why I’m here.”
Harmon frowned and pointed at James and Vincent. “And these two?”
“They’re here to assist me, as well as to pick up Ms. Woodworth.”
Sheriff Harmon’s chin jutted out like a bulldog’s and he said, “She ain’t going nowhere until the judge sets bail. She assaulted my boy—I mean my deputy—and damaged a citizen’s transportation.”
Hank scoffed and said, “Have you formally charged her? Have you located this other citizen? I thought you had deputies searching for her in connection with this case.”
Sweat beaded on the sheriff’s upper lip. “Uh, no. We think she was traumatized by the events and sought safety with a friend. She’ll be in directly, I’m sure. This case is rather complicated, Sheriff Stinson, as you can well imagine.”
“Before you say much else to incriminate yourself or this shambles of a department, it’d be best to let you know I’ve already launched an investigation into the crimes against Ms. Woodworth. What do you say you and I go in your office and iron everything out while you let these two officers go see Ms. Woodworth?”
The sheriff’s eyebrows bunched up like a bushy caterpillar under the brim of his sweat-stained cowboy hat. He finally nodded and gestured at his daughter to take James and Vincent back to Leah.
The stench grew stronger the farther they went down the hallway, and the young woman looked back at them. “Sorry about the stink. We tried to get her to take a shower with that carbolic soap and tomater juice but she wouldn’t let us near her with it.” She panted through the respirator as she led them down the hallway to the holding cell.
“Can’t say I blame her,” Vincent whispered. “I wouldn’t want any of them near me either. Does his whole family work in the department?”
“Looks like it.”
They turned a corner and saw Leah, scrunched up in the corner of the holding cell with her head resting against the dirty wall. In the opposite corner of the small cell, a drunk lay on the other cot, snoring like a jackhammer. There was only one cell and they’d put them in together. James could feel his ears swelling and he wanted his hands on the person responsible for this travesty.