LITMIR.BIZ

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on Asbury Road past the Millers’ farm.”

      He cut her a sideways glance. “Mind telling the new guy where the Miller farm is?” Before she had a chance to answer, he lifted his hand in resignation. The locals often gave directions by landmark and if he didn’t want to be forever known as the new guy, he had better figure it out. “Why don’t you just holler when I need to make a turn? Sound good?” He gestured with his chin toward the road. “A left out of here?”

      “Yeah.” Her tone sounded as flat as the four tires on her car still awaiting the tow truck in the parking lot. A part of him wondered if whoever was taking their frustration out on her was doing it not just because she testified against another deputy, but because she was a woman. Despite the calendar year, a lot of guys still believed in the good old boys’ club.

      Harrison drummed his fingers on the top of the steering wheel as he slowed to look both ways before he pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. “Everything go okay when you reported the incident?” The sheriff seemed like a pretty solid guy, determined to make a strong showing in his new position.

      “Yeah, I guess.”

      His gut told him not to ask, not to get involved. But he couldn’t help himself. “What does that mean?”

      “Apparently, I’ve attracted some unwanted attention, including getting run off the road this morning.”

      This kind of behavior really ticked him off. Negligent drivers. Probably out drinking.

      “The sheriff wanted to dismiss it as reckless driving on some back country roads, but now this...” She lifted her shoulders and let them drop. “Here, turn at the next road. It’s quicker.” She tugged on her seat belt and continued on about the sheriff. “If he hadn’t already suspended me, he probably would have after my car was vandalized. I’m attracting the wrong kind of attention. The sheriff would probably claim a few more days off would be for my own good. Department morale seems at a low.”

      “Does the sheriff think it’s someone in his department?” He scrubbed a hand across his face.

      “Not that he’d ever say. But I wouldn’t put it past Reich himself. He’s a loose cannon.” Becky ran the palms of her hands up and down the thighs of her uniform pants.

      “His son works here, too.” Harrison thought back to the officer who drove by slowly, warning him to avoid Becky.

      “Doesn’t help. All the other deputies will feel more loyalty to the Reich family than to me, unfortunately.”

      “You going to be okay?” He stared straight ahead as fields of corn whipped by on either side of them.

      “Yeah.” What else could she say? She wasn’t exactly going to pour her heart out to him. He was a stranger.

      “You need to hire a lawyer,” he said matter-of-factly.

      She shifted in her seat to partially face him. “You really think so? Isn’t that expensive?”

      “It might be too costly not to hire a lawyer. You need someone looking out for your best interests.” He wished he had seen that his brother had got the help that he had needed instead of allowing his anger and embarrassment to put a rift between the two of them. “The sheriff’s department has had a publicity nightmare after the beating incident. The video from your dash cam made it onto all the news stations from Buffalo to Cleveland. If this new video gets out, depending on what’s on it, this story is going to grow legs and find its way into all the news cycles again. The sheriff’s department will do anything to get out of the spotlight, even if that means throwing you under the bus.”

      “You can’t be serious.” She swept her hand across her mouth and eyed him wearily. “This is a small-town sheriff’s department, not some big city.”

      “Office politics are office politics.”

      “But I didn’t do anything wrong.”

      “Does the latest video support that statement?” His gut told him she couldn’t be violent, but in an altercation, you never knew. Adrenaline and fear did things to people.

      “Yes... I used the baton to separate the men.” Becky tugged on the strap of her seat belt. “Reich’s lawyer gave the sheriff a video of me approaching the men with my baton raised.” She cleared her throat. “The rest of what happened is unclear. Whoever recorded it took off running, but...” She paused, rubbing her temples vigorously as if reliving the moment. “I used the baton to brace Reich and pull him off the kid. I didn’t hit anybody. I mean, if I hurt anyone with the baton, it would be when I forced it against Reich.” She blinked a few times. “I can’t believe this mess. I only became a deputy because I wanted to help people. Now everyone is going to think I’ve turned evil.” Her turn of expression sounded odd.

      “Take a deep breath.” He wanted to reach out and touch her hand, but decided against it. “Hiring a lawyer is a good idea, especially for the innocent.” Well, for anyone. “Don’t fight this alone. Reich has a lawyer,” he added, if she needed more convincing.

      “I don’t know,” Becky muttered. Before he had a chance to respond, her cell phone chimed. She yanked the phone from her duty belt and checked the number. “I should get this.”

      Harrison listened to a one-sided conversation. Obviously, someone Becky knew personally was in distress.

      He reached over and touched her arm and mouthed. “What’s going on?”

      “Hold on, Mag.” She held the phone to her chest. “My sister wants me to stop over. She’s concerned about a neighbor’s dog. Again.”

      “Where does she live?”

      “It’s okay. I don’t want to impose on you any more than I already have.”

      “I don’t mind. I haven’t had any calls anyway.”

      “Um, okay.” Then into the phone. “Hang tight. I’ll be right there.”

      Becky directed Harrison toward a house nestled among a cluster of Amish homes. “Right up here. Park on the road along the cornfields. Better if they don’t see the patrol car.”

      “Are you going to tell me what this is about?”

      Becky scratched her head. “My sister. She’s worried about a neighbor’s dog that ran onto the property. It’s been an ongoing concern. The dog is hungry and not well cared for. We’ve suspected abuse, but I’ve handled it unofficially, returning the dog to his owner after they promised they’d take better care of it.” She frowned. “Obviously, that’s not working.”

      “Wait.” Harrison angled his head to look up toward the home. A buggy was parked by the barn. An Amish family obviously lived here. “Your sister?”

      “Yah, my sister.” A twinkle lit her eyes. He had a feeling the amplified Amish inflection was for his benefit.

      “Oh...” It was his turn to sound confused. “You grew up Amish?”

      She pointed to her nose and said, “Ding. Ding. Ding.”

      “Oh... Do you want me to wait here, then?” Harrison asked, suddenly feeling a little discombobulated. Amish? Really?

      Becky hesitated for a moment. “That would probably be best.”

      “Okay, I’ll do that. I’ll be right here.” Now he was repeating himself, completely caught off guard by her revelation.

      Becky climbed out of the patrol car and strode along the road and cut in between the cornfields, as if to go in undetected. He had read somewhere that the Amish shunned those who left their ranks. Perhaps Becky was sneaking in because she wasn’t welcomed.

      Harrison rubbed the back of his neck, replaying in his mind all the events that had transpired since he had held the door at the station open for Becky this morning. He hadn’t had much interaction with

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