Page 3 of Grave Danger

“He attacked you?”

“Yeah. I ran back to my truck to get my phone and he…” Cody winced and adjusted his position. “Look, can I stand up and lean on the truck or something, please? This gravel is digging into my knees.”

“In a minute.” Zellmer returned to stand before him. “You said he came after you?”

“Yeah, he came up to my door and grabbed me and was trying to… I don’t know what he was trying to do.”

“Where did you last see this man?”

Cody looked over his shoulder and gestured. “Down in the ditch. I went out the passenger door to get away from him and fell into the ditch, and he came down after me.”

“Stay here.”

Zellmer eased up to the edge of the embankment. He pulled a flashlight from his gun belt and directed the surprisingly bright beam into the ditch. Cody got to his knees and craned his head to see as well. There was no sign of the mayor or anyone that remotely resembled him.

“I don’t see anyone.” Zellmer turned back and gave Cody a critical look. “Have you been drinking tonight, sir?”

“Not enough,” Cody said.

“Please get to your feet.”

Cody stood up, wincing at all the little aches and pains. He gave Zellmer a shaky smile. “I’m not crazy. You can see the dent in the front quarter panel of my truck.”

Zellmer tipped his head and directed his light at the area. “There is some damage, but it could be old.” He shone the flashlight in Cody’s face. “I’m going to give you a field sobriety test.”

Cody sighed. “Yeah, all right.”

Zellmer called in and canceled the EMT, then he put Cody through test after test, ending with a breathalyzer. During the entire experience, Cody kept an eye out for the mayor but saw no sign of him. When Zellmer finally, regretfully, pronounced Cody sober enough to drive, he delivered a stern warning about driving after consuming any amount of alcohol. Cody nodded through the lecture, definitely not thinking that the young little shit was barely old enough to drink himself, and then watched as Zellmer slid into his patrol car and drove fast off into the night.

“Dick.”

Cody walked around his truck, wincing at the dent in his quarter panel. He stood and looked out into the dark woods. Nothing moved or made a sound, so he got into the truck and grabbed his phone from the passenger side footwell. He had three texts and two missed calls from Demmy.

He connected the phone to the entertainment system and called home before putting the truck into gear and heading off down the road, definitely driving much slower than before.

“Hey there,” Demmy said. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. But it’s been a weird night.”

“Uh oh. How weird?”

Cody let out a long breath. “I’m going to ask you a question, and you’re going to think I’m crazy.”

“Okaaay.”

“We attended the mayor’s funeral last week, right?”

“Um, yeah. Last Tuesday. Why are you asking about George’s funeral?”

“Because I hit him with my truck out on Route 118.”

“What? Oh my God. Are you okay? Is he… wait, are you sure it was him?”

“I’m fine,” Cody said. “A little freaked out, but okay. And I’m pretty damn sure it was him because he got up and attacked me, so I got a real good look at him.”

“Are you teasing me? Is this some kind of stupid joke or something?”

“I only wish it was.”