‘First I have to get my pack. I left it outside the Claybolts’ camp. Then I’ve got to visit an old man,’ I reply.
Bo and I hold hands as we walk to Whispering Pines.
We enter, and I go to the nurse’s station and sign us in as Aura-Blue and Guest. The nurses here don’t really check those things.
Francis Tanis is sitting in his usual spot, reading the paper. I smooth the cute patchwork dress I borrowed from Raven and squeeze Bo’s hand as we go over to him.
‘Mr Tanis. Do you remember me? I’m Aura-Blue’s friend,’ I say. He looks at me blankly, and for a moment I think all is lost.
Then Mr Tanis stands. ‘Of course I remember you. Magda, wasn’t it?’ he says in his hale and hearty way.
I shake his hand, relieved, and introduce Bo by his first name only. The old sheriff asks us to join him.
‘What can I do for you?’ he asks, giving me that knowing smile.
I get right to it. ‘I found Dr Goodnight,’ I say. ‘His real name was Michael Claybolt.’
‘Michael Claybolt?’ Mr Tanis repeats, obviously recognizing the name.
‘He’s dead,’ I say bluntly. Mr Tanis’s eyes flash, but he keeps his mouth closed. ‘I’ve written down the GPS coordinates for his drug lab in the forest. His body is in his tent.’ I stop. This was always going to be hard. ‘There’s also a mass grave. It’s just a pit, really.’ My voice cracks, and I clear my throat so I don’t start crying. I hand the piece of paper to Mr Tanis.
He takes it. ‘Do you need some water?’ he asks. I nod, and Mr Tanis goes to the nurse’s station to get it for me.
‘You OK?’ Bo asks quietly when the old sheriff leaves. I shrug with my good shoulder. ‘Do you really think this guy can help?’
I shrug again, and he laughs. He leans towards me. We touch our foreheads together, eyes locked.
Mr Tanis returns with a small paper cup for me. I take a sip and continue.
‘In the pit is the body of a woman with a police-issued handcuff around her wrist. The keys for those cuffs belong to Officer Longmire.’
Mr Tanis jerks forward suddenly as if he’s about to leap out of his seat. ‘Are you sure?’ he asks.
‘Oh, yes,’ I say. ‘I’m very sure. He didn’t kill her, but he was involved. And I’ll bet he’s not the only one at the local level who is.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘He’s an idiot. Why would he be the only officer handling the disappearance of a teenage girl, unless people higher up in the food chain needed a fall guy in case everything went sideways with the FBI? I know you’re friends with the new Chief, but . . .’
He looks devastated, but he nods. ‘I figured it had to be something like that, even though I didn’t want to admit it.’ He looks out the window. ‘If it was just about the drugs, there’d have been as many men dying as women. But only women? It never made sense.’
I give him a moment before asking, ‘Can you get this –’ I gesture to the GPS coordinates – ‘to the FBI?’
‘Yes, I can,’ Mr Tanis replies quietly. ‘I’ll go out into the woods myself if I have to and take pictures for them if they don’t listen.’
‘One more thing – I’m giving you this information anonymously,’ I tell him. ‘I don’t want to be brought into this in any way.’ He narrows his eyes at me, gauging how serious I am about that. ‘If the FBI shows up at my house, asking me to testify, I’ll say you’re a crazy old man I visited once with a friend.’
His eyes widen momentarily, but then they settle into something like respect. ‘You have my word,’ he says in a way that tells me his word is worth something.
‘Thank you,’ I say, standing up. ‘The women’s rehab shelter was involved too. But I think the FBI will be able to figure that out once the dirty cops are taken in.’
Mr Tanis nods again, but he seems too overwhelmed to speak.
‘Goodbye, Mr Tanis. You were right.’
‘Doesn’t feel right.’ He looks at me, his eyes sad. ‘How did you get away from him?’
I smile, but I don’t answer.