Chapter 74

CHAPTER 74

J UST SIGN HERE AND HERE,” said Chandler.

Devine was sitting across from her in the woman’s small office. Devine had passed a door marked MORGUE on the way. He had tried the door; it was locked.

Devine signed where she had indicated and handed the papers back.

Chandler provided him with a receipt and then pulled out two gray boxes. Devine saw that they were both identified with Post-it notes—one was labeled DWAYNE ODOM , and the other was marked ALICE ODOM .

“So I guess you heard about what happened to Dr. Coburn?” Devine asked.

“Oh, yes,” said Chandler as she filed the paperwork Devine had signed. “What a tragedy. I heard it was a gas leak? At least she didn’t suffer.”

“Yeah, I’m sure she didn’t. So, is the tox report back yet? On the Odoms?”

“Oh, heavens no,” she said, chuckling. “The TV shows have those reports coming back right after the commercial break, but in reality they can take weeks, or months, depending on the backlog.”

“I see.”

“But it was a drug overdose. Dr. Coburn is, was , very good. And that’s what her preliminary report clearly said.”

“I guess I’m just dotting i ’s and crossing t ’s.”

“Is there anything else?”

“Is the mayor around?”

“I thought I saw her come in a few minutes ago. Her office is at the end of the main hall.”

“Thanks.”

“We take our obligations to be good neighbors with our federal friends very seriously.”

And your “federal friends” take all of you very seriously as well , thought Devine as he walked out and over to the mayor’s office. He knocked on the door and was told to enter.

“Mr. Devine, what a pleasure to see you again,” said Mercedes King brightly as she rose from behind her desk, came around to greet him, and extended a hand.

Her dress was navy blue and her heels the same color. Her blond hair was swept back into a ponytail, and her smile was beaming. He could only imagine the woman had been ordered to play nice with him. Apparently, the Termites were getting nervous with Devine running around their little hamlet.

Good, because nervous people make mistakes.

He held both boxes of ashes in one hand and shook her hand with the other, then took a seat opposite her by a coffee table near the window and placed the boxes on the table.

“So what brings you back here?” she asked.

He tapped one of the boxes. “I was just retrieving the Odoms’ remains for their daughter.”

She made a mock pouty face. “Oh, how sad. And how is… what was her name again?”

“Betsy Odom.”

“I’ve never had children, but I imagine this has been very hard on her.”

“It has,” he said. “I was sorry to hear about Dr. Coburn,” he added.

She glanced at him for maybe a beat too long. “Yes, it was awful. Gas main explosion or something like that, I heard. How tragic.”

Well, they all seem to have their stories straight on that , thought Devine.

“And the former lawman employed here that tried to kill me?”

“Eric was so upset. Goes to show that one can never be too careful in vetting people.” She stared at him, as though daring him to suggest culpability on her or her husband’s part.

“Otherwise, you get some real bad apples,” replied Devine. “I’m sorry for how our last meeting ended.”

She waved this off. “Long day that left me in a bad temper. Oh, I did read about this Danny Glass person in the papers.”

“Really? And?”

“It seems the government has dropped its case against him. I wonder why.”

“Well, some of the witnesses against him died. And the burden of proof is pretty high.” Thinking quickly, Devine added, “But from what I understand, they can reinstate the charges any time against him. And may well do so.”

“I wonder what will be the basis for their decision-making?”

Devine let this very odd question hang out there for a moment.

“Well, it might come down to them getting some more witnesses against him. If that strengthens their case, they can go after him again. I know for a fact that they want to take him down really badly.”

“Is that so?” said King, who did not seem convinced of this.

“He is an alleged global criminal,” retorted Devine. “I would imagine your husband would like to see him behind bars, too, as any good lawman would.”

King’s face changed color and she said, “Yes, of course. You’re right.” She gave a mock shiver. “Too many homicidal maniacs out there as it is.”

Yes there are , thought Devine. And I’m probably in the presence of several of them in this building, including you.

He left the mayor there and drove out of town far enough that no one from Ricketts had eyes on him any longer. He arrived at a spot where an e-motorcycle was waiting for him, courtesy of Pru Jackson. He hunkered down until dark and then returned to town.

Now Devine needed to be spot-on perfect. Otherwise, everything was going to blow up in his face.