51: The Series

51: The Beginning Chapter 11

It had been a few days since Lindsay and Wren had rescued Nim Jones, and things were finally starting to die down. Honestly, even if people were told the truth, they most likely would never believe it. Lindsay was sitting at her desk, doing the department’s monthly reports. She was working her way through them much more quickly than she thought she would. She hoped it was because she remembered how to do them after having to redo reports from months past when she had taken over.

She opened her desk and pulled out a bottle of aspirin. Since the night in the forest, she had found several deep bruises. With everything that had happened, she had not even realized anything had hit her that could have caused them. When she watched the game camera video, she saw that several substantial pieces of the tree had hit her. She took a couple of aspirin with her bottle of water and leaned back in her chair.

As she sat in her office, she saw a man come into the department who she did not recognize but knew he was there to see her. He was very tall and thin and wore a black suit and tie. She wondered briefly if this was the federal agent who had met with the county commissioners. She saw Cat speak with him briefly and then walk to her office while he waited in front of the office.

“Sheriff,” Cat said, stepping just inside Lindsay’s office door. “There is an Agent Cooper here to speak with you if you have time.”

“Of course, Cat. Just point him this way,” Lindsay said.

She watched Cat walk back to where the man stood, and they spoke briefly. The man walked around the counter and toward Lindsay’s office. As soon as he stepped into Lindsay’s office, he closed the door and began closing all the blinds in her office without saying a word. When he was finished, he turned and stood before her desk, looking at her.

“May I help you with something?” she questioned.

“Sheriff Gold, it has come to my attention that you have knowledge of certain events that have taken place recently within this county,” Agent Cooper said.

“Events? Such as what?” Lindsay asked, even though she had a good idea of which events he meant.

“First, let us talk about the events that took place in the Sycamore River. There was nothing in there. I am aware of the medical records you received while it was being investigated, and they were, shall I say, inaccurate,” he said.

“Of course, because what happened on the river was a mere accident, and no creature on the planet has those four types of venom combined. The test results had to have been contaminated, right? I mean, bee venom in an injury that was received in the water is impossible. That just can’t happen,” Lindsay answered him. “What other events do you mean?”

“The one in which military training was incorporated not far from your home,” Agent Cooper told her.

“Simply some crazy person living off the grid who did not want us to interfere after he was seen walking in someone’s yard,” Lindsay said.

“The last event that occurred was when you and Agent Gold went into the national forest after dark and removed Nimrod Jones. Would you care to explain why Agent Gold was with you? That isn’t exactly standard procedure, and to be attacked and injured without filing all the proper worker’s compensation paperwork is highly irregular,” Agent Cooper said with an air of condescension.

“Well, that is quite simple. Nim called me personally, not the department. You see, I have known him and his brothers and sisters their entire lives. His younger sister is in my son’s class, so Agent Gold and I see the whole family quite often. I have no doubt there was another group of kids out there besides Nim and his friends who had gone there for the express purpose of scaring everyone out of their minds, which is what happened,” Lindsay told Agent Cooper. “Nim Jones was left behind, and he called me to come and save him. Agent Gold went with me simply to assist with picking up a family friend. As for what happened when we were in the forest, the other group of kids who had started the prank went too far, and when they are finally revealed, they will be prosecuted for the attack on us as we tried to leave the area.”

Agent Cooper just looked at Lindsay.

“Do you have any other questions for me, Agent Cooper?” Lindsay asked him.

“Why did you take your department vehicle if you believed that you were simply picking up a ‘family friend’ as you put it?” Agent Cooper asked.

“Because Nimrod Jones was not completely sure as to where he was located, and that could have created a search and rescue situation. All of my equipment is in my vehicle. Anything else?” Lindsay asked.

“No, that will be all for now. I want you to be aware that we know that you have more knowledge about certain things than we are comfortable with, and we question how you have obtained that knowledge,” he said.

“Well, if you did know everything, you would know that any knowledge I have of anything is because I have been present when events have taken place. If you believe that anything has been passed to me by Agent Gold, you are sorely mistaken,” Lindsay said, hoping she had hidden her anger.

“Understood, Sheriff Gold. Good day,” Agent Cooper said.

Agent Cooper turned and walked out of her office. Lindsay watched him walk past Cat and out the front door without acknowledging anyone. Lindsay was glad he was gone. Something seemed very off about his manner and even his presence. She sat at her desk, looking at the wooden top, thinking about what had just taken place. She hoped she had said the right things and hoped even more that this had nothing to do with Wren. She had no idea how long she had been sitting there when she heard a familiar voice at the door.

“You look deep in thought. Do I need to come back?” Wren asked.

“No. It’s perfect timing, but why didn’t you tell me you would be home today?” Lindsay asked Wren.

“I finished things up around midnight and wanted to surprise you,” he said, coming into her office and kissing her before sitting in a chair across from her. “Are you OK? Did something happen?” he asked.

“The answers to those questions are, I’m not sure and maybe,” she said. “Agent Cooper was here just a little while ago. He asked me about the recent events, and by the way, he knew that I had toxicology reports for Amber. He seemed to think I know more than I should and hinted that you might be giving me information about what is happening.”

“Try to ignore him. He rarely gets out of the office, and when he does, he tries to show how much authority he thinks he has,” Wren told her. “I will not only have a talk with him but with his supervisor. I outrank his supervisor, so I don’t think you need to worry about him.”

“He left a message on the home phone the day you left, saying that I would be sheriff until at least the next general election. Meeting him today just made my skin crawl. There is something that is just not right about him,” Lindsay told him.

“Don’t worry about him. You have enough to deal with without him adding to it. Sweetie, how did you bruise your face? Did you get hit while I was gone?” Wren asked as he stood and walked toward her to look more closely at the bruise near her right temple.

“Watch the game camera footage. A chunk of wood hit me on the side of the head, and the bruise is just now spreading where it isn’t all under my hair. I didn’t realize it happened until it was sore the next day, and I watched the video,” she said. “Turns out, I got hit by several large pieces a lot harder than I thought I did. I have the bruises to prove it.”

“Have you gone to the doctor?” Wren asked as he started to examine the bruise closer.

“No,” she answered, flinching. “If I did, I would just get the speech about how I am still recovering from the concussion I had when I was attacked and how I should not take any hits that could cause me to be reinjured. Believe me, I don’t want to be hit by anyone or anything, and I definitely don’t want to deal with another concussion. And don’t worry; I have not had any symptoms other than localized pain from any of the bruises. If I had, I would have gone to the doctor.”

“Is there a specific reason why you are here? I am watching you shift in that chair and can tell you are in pain,” Wren said.

“I am here because it is my job. I did not take this job with the plan of just working from home or telling my deputies and dispatchers to call me if there was a problem. I need to be in the office and available throughout the day. I will hurt whether I am here or at home, and besides, I had to do the monthly reporting, which I finished just before Agent Cooper came in,” Lindsay said as she reached into her pocket and pulled something out.

“Oh, before I forget, here is all the information Max and the Bobs collected. I don’t know if it will help, but you never know,” Lindsay said as she handed Wren a flash drive.

“I will have to thank them, but back to you. Even if it is your job to be here, if you push so much that you are down for a couple of weeks instead of a couple of days, you are doing more harm than good to everyone involved,” Wren said.

Lindsay let out a sigh as she watched Wren walk out of her office. She knew he was right, as usual. She always pushed herself to the breaking point in everything she did. She hated to take a break or even to take a vacation. She always felt like she had to do more and prove more.

“Cat, where is Little Bob right now?” Wren asked her as he walked to her desk.

“He is on his way back here as we speak. He should be here in just a minute or two,” Cat said. She looked in at Lindsay. “Is she all right? I know she got hurt, but she refuses not to be here.”

“She is not all right, and I will take her home as soon as Little Bob gets here. I might need help getting her car to the house, too. I am not sure if she should even be driving right now.” Wren told her with worry in his voice.

“I know it may not mean much, but we have all been trying to watch over her since you went out of town. Both Bobs treat her like their little sister, Max treats her like a big sister, and I have never been treated the way she treats me. She had never once judged me from the moment we met, and I love her for that,” Cat told him.

“Thank you, that means more to me than you could know. I watched how Lindsay was treated by some when she worked here before, and it always worried me. Knowing that she is being watched over makes me feel much better about her being here,” Wren told her as Little Bob walked through the door.

“Hey, Wren, when did you get back?” Little Bob asked.

“I just got here. I came straight here from the airport on base. Bob, I need to ask you a favor. Can you help me get Lindsay and her car to the house? I don’t think she needs to be driving right now. She is in a lot more pain than she is letting on.” Wren said.

“No problem. When do you want to do it? You take her in your car, I’ll drive hers, and I will have Keith follow in his car and bring me back here. Sound like a plan to you?” Little Bob asked.

“Sounds good. Can we do it now?” Wren asked.

Little Bob smiled. “Sure, you go get her, and I will grab Keith and explain it to him. Cat, you got things covered while we do this?”

“I always have things covered,” Cat answered.

Wren walked into Lindsay’s office, where she was sitting. She was looking at him with an annoyed look on her face.

“What? Is something wrong?” Wren asked.

“On what planet did I not just hear everything that you guys were talking about?” Lindsay asked him.

“Well, if you heard, then you know that you are going home, and there is nothing you can do about it,” Wren told her.

Lindsay hated to admit she was quite happy to go home. The entire right side of her body hurt. She did not tell Wren, but she had a splitting headache and was glad she was not driving. She said goodbye to everyone as she walked to Wren’s car and got in. When she reached for her seatbelt to put it on, she gasped. Her ribs were more bruised than she had known until she had turned in her seat. She just wanted her bed and a lot of ice. She knew Wren would do everything in his power to make that happen.

When the mini-caravan reached their home, Wren pulled into the driveway and parked with Little Bob parking nearby. Keith pulled into the end of the driveway and waited for Little Bob. Wren got out and began to help Lindsay out of the car as Little Bob walked up to them.

“Here are your keys, Lindsay. Do you two need anything else before I go?” he asked.

“Thank you, Bob. I think we’re OK. Are you sure that you can handle things for a day or two?” Lindsay asked.

“I’m sure I can handle things for a day or two or even a week or two if it comes down to it. You have had, what, five hours of sleep in the past week and being hurt a lot worse than you want anyone to know? If you can keep things going while you are like that, then I can handle it until you have had some rest, so quit worrying,” Little Bob told Lindsay.

“Wren, you take care of her. I would hate to call the vet to come and shoot her with a tranquilizer dart so she will sleep,” he told Wren, then walked to Keith’s car.

“All right, bed for you. No arguing. Do you think Bob was serious about that dart c***k?” Wren told her as he helped her inside.

“Oh, I am confident that he was serious. He probably has it already set up and the vet on speed dial,” Lindsay said with a laugh.

Wren helped her to change clothes and get into bed. He then got her something to eat and brought her several cold packs for the bruises. She quickly ate and lay down. She placed the cold packs on her many injuries and was asleep in minutes.