Partner In Crime

“She was my wife,” I said. “I was hoping maybe I could meet someone who knew her when she was growing up and maybe talk with them for a little while.”

Joa

“All right.”

“Where will you be staying?” she asked.

“At a place called the Copper Queen Hotel.”

“Good,” Sheriff Brady said distractedly. “If anything comes up, I’ll call you.”

I reached out, took her hand, and shook it. Her handshake was firm, but that was to be expected. Not only was she the sheriff, she was also a politician. I opened the door and let myself out, leaving Joa

ONCE THE DOOR CLOSED BEHIND HIM, Joa

It had happened only a year or so before Joa

“Roger Rowland and Chuck Bra

But Bra

One of the city detectives from that time, a man named Dan Goodson, had left Bisbee PD shortly thereafter to work for Joa

“A

Although rumors about A

Joa

Lost in thought, Joa

“Mom?” a tearful Je

“Yes. What’s the matter?”

“It’s Sadie,” Je

“Where’s Butch?” Joa

“At the other house. He left a note that he’d be back by one, but he isn’t. I need someone here now. She’s real sick, Mom. Is she go

Joa

“I don’t know, Jen,” she told her daughter. “But you hold tight. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

With everything else forgotten, Joa

Ten

JOANNA PULLED INTO THE YARD at High Lonesome Ranch and stopped the Civvie in a cloud of dirt and gravel. As she raced home, she had expected to find Je

Stepping close to her daughter, Joa

“She doesn’t like it when I cry,” Je

Sadie was a big dog – seventy-five pounds at least, Joa

“We have to, that’s all,” Je

“Wait here while I go get the keys to the other car,” Joa

Je

Joa

“I tried giving her some water, but she wouldn’t drink it,” Je

It was a statement, not a question. Joa

Years of hefting hay bales had served both mother and daughter in good stead. As soon as they lifted the dog, though, it was clear Sadie no longer weighed what she once had.

When did she lose so much weight? Joa

Once Sadie was loaded into the car, Tigger wanted to go along. “No!” Je

With his tail between his legs, the dejected mutt retreated into the yard and curled up, moping, on the porch. Joa

“Good thinking,” Joa

Veterinarian Millicent Ross’s office was only a mile or so past the Cochise County Justice Center. Joa

She came out to the parking area to meet them, bringing along a gurney that had been designed with animals in mind. Sadie, who had never liked going to the vet, started to struggle as Dr. Ross began to transfer her to the gurney. Je

“Where are you?” he asked. “I came home and found your Civvie here, but no Eagle, no Joey, no Je