A Crying Shame (46 page)

Governor. . . I don't know what to believe. But . . . yeah, I believe it. To a degree.” He sighed.
I've been going over old records we had stored in the basement—those records I could find, that is. Many of them, the old ones, have been destroyed or misplaced. I'd opt for destroyed.”

Destroyed? Unsolved cases' records?”

Yes, sir. Quite a lot of them.”

But why would anyone do ... ?” Parker was silent for a moment, allowing Mike's words to sink in.
Oh ... crap! You mean . . . you think . . . hell! You've got the offspring of some of those . . . things working for you?”

I ... guess so, sir. Maybe. Or did have, at least.”

I'm coming up, Mike. I'll bring Jeansonne. We'll drive; attract less attention than a helicopter. We'll be there in two hours, Mike. Just hold on.” He banged the phone into its cradle.

Hold on to what?” Sheriff Saucier muttered.

 

The deputy on guard at Despair Plantation had called into the office, receiving permission from Sheriff Saucier to leave. Before he left, he told both Jon and Linda he thought they were nuts to stay out there:

I'll make certain all the floodlights are working,” Jon told her.
For now, using what daylight we have left,”—he glanced up at the sky—
four hours, I want to secure the house.”

I don't want to enter that house alone, Jon.”