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“Sheriff?” Claire came around a wooden pillar that separated the kitchen space from the front room. “What’s wrong?” She gave me a cursory once-over but didn’t say hello.

“I just have some questions, Claire. We won’t be long.”

“How about some lemonade, honey?”

“Uh. Sure.” Claire retreated to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door.

“Have a seat,” Jeff said.

Calloway and I sat on the couch. Jeff relaxed in the recliner I was sure he probably always sat in when he was in this room. I eyed a colorful ceramic Jesus sculpture on the end table next to me. It looked very fragile.

“Okay, what’s going on?” Jeff asked.

“I wonder if you remember something from back in the day,” Calloway began.

“I have a good memory. What day?”

“Wilmot Dylan’s classes.”

Jeff’s eyes widened for a brief moment. “How did you figure out I was a student? Minnie’s podcast didn’t mention our names.”

“She said you all swore yourselves to secrecy,” Calloway said.

“Which means she’s the one who spilled the beans, amirite?”

“Couldn’t be helped, Jeff. Things have happened to make it important for us to know.”

“Yeah. Like I said, I wondered. Those ‘sculptures.’ They’re like taxidermy, right.”

“They aren’t taxidermy,” I said.

“I know, but—”

“I get it, Jeff,” Calloway said. “The same thing occurred to me. We don’t have a direct tie, but Wilmot Dylan’s name has come into the conversation.”

He looked at me quickly. “Your dad’s bones?”

“We aren’t sure,” Calloway said. “We’re investigating. So, you do remember the classes?”

“Sure. Of course.” He looked at me. “It got crazy back then, right?”

Calloway nodded at me, prompting me to reply. “Jeff, I don’t remember one thing about those classes. Should I?”

He sat forward on the chair and rubbed the stubble on his chin as he fell into thought for a moment. “I can’t … Hang on … No, I guess I don’t remember you being around much during that time, specifically. I mean, you were always a part of Wilmot’s life, so it was rare for anyone to think of one without the other, but I can’t bring up any scene with you there.” He paused again. “But I don’t remember your dad telling us to keep anything from you.” Jeff smiled. “He adored you.”

I swallowed the surprise wave of emotion his words had prompted.

“Jeff, I need to ask you about the dynamics of the class. Something happened to scare Minnie away, then end the classes. Are you aware of that incident and do you remember what happened?”

Jeff took a breath and blew it out through puffed cheeks. Claire brought in a tray with glasses of lemonade and set it on the coffee table. As she stood to leave again, she sent Jeff a look that I interpreted as “don’t talk,” but he didn’t seem to notice as he reached for one of the drinks.

Calloway and I each took one as well, but neither of us sipped.

“Okay, okay,” Jeff said. “Let me start from the beginning. So, I had taken in a buck for Wilmot to mount. I was seventeen and it was my first buck.” Jeff shrugged. “I was proud.”

Though I didn’t hunt and I knew that Calloway didn’t either, there was no one in or around Black Vulture who would criticize any sort of legal kill. Hunting was a way of life for lots of people out here, as well as a genuine way to feed their family.

“We get it,” Calloway said.