Devil’s Claw

Just then Tica Romero’s voice came over the radio again. “What is it this time?” Joa

“I have a call from Detective Carbajal. He’s still with Mrs. Yates. She’s wondering where her granddaughter is and wants to know when she can see her.”

So much had happened between the last time Joa

“I did,” Frank said. “At the same time I let him know Lucy Ridder had been found. I just didn’t tell him where she had been found.”

Joa

“Wait,” Frank said during the pause while they waited for Tica to make the co

“What?”

“For one thing, the evidence clerk in Tucson pulled off a small miracle. She found the bullet from Tom Ridder’s case and shipped it over to the state crime-lab gun unit. And guess what? It matches the bullet that killed Sandra Ridder.”

“I already knew that,” Joa

Frank made a face. “Nothing like spoiling a guy’s fun,” he grumbled.

“What else?” Joa

“Ernie Carpenter spent all afternoon working with his co

“And?”

“There’s no official record that Sandra Ridder ever worked on post. We have anecdotal evidence that she worked there. That’s what people have told us. If so, however, every single official reference to her has been deleted from the computer records. Right this minute there isn’t even so much as a parking pass with her name on it.”

“That’s crazy,” Joa

“Maybe not,” Frank replied. “But consider this. The hacker who lifted those encrypted codes was no lightweight. How hard would it be for someone like him to delete a person’s job and perso

“Not very,” Joa

“That’s what I thought,” Frank said.

“Sheriff Brady?” Jaime queried.

“Yes.”

“I just heard about what happened at your house,” Jaime Carbajal said. “Is everyone okay?”

Joa

“How bad is the damage to your place? And is Reba Singleton really the one who’s responsible?”

“The damage is pretty bad,” Joa

“I’ve spent the whole afternoon here with Catherine Yates-ever since the funeral. So far, there’s been no sign of trouble. She was overjoyed to hear Lucy has been found, and she’s frantic to see her granddaughter. She’s willing to come see her tonight if that’s possible.”

Gauging her own diminished personal resources, Joa

“No,” Joa

“Whoa! You mean she saw it go down?”

“That’s what she said. So in addition to an interview, we’ll need a composite drawing as well. As an eyewitness we have an obligation to keep Lucy safe, which is what she is right now. Tell Catherine Yates if she wants to discuss this with me, she should come to my office first thing tomorrow morning.”

“We’ve been talking all day. She’s been telling me…”

As Jaime began speaking, the Bronco Joa

“Where did all these yahoos come from?” Frank muttered.

“Look, Jaime,” Joa

“Fine.”

“Good call,” Frank said, as Joa

Joa

“Suit yourself,” Frank said.

From inside Joa

“Frank, please go tell whoever’s taking those pictures to stop,” Joa

Ahead of the Bronco, illuminated in the headlights, Marliss Shackleford came hotfooting it toward them. Suddenly Joa

“That goes double for her,” Joa

Frank laughed. “I’ll see what I can do. Does that mean you’re not granting interviews?” he added, slipping smoothly from chief deputy into his other departmental function-that of Media Relations officer.

“Right,” Joa

Joa