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I hesitated, but only for a few seconds. A few minutes later, without taking any time to see if we were being watched, Calloway picked the front door lock and opened it wide.

“Thalia? Anyone home? It’s Sheriff Calloway and Hazel Dylan.”

No answer.

I followed the sheriff into the house. He looked all around as he called for Thalia, anyone. No one answered.

It seemed like a long time, but it was probably less than a minute before we’d searched the entire house. No one was there, dead, alive, or hurt. Beds were made. The kitchen was clean and free of dishes in the sink.

They’d left the house, but not in a hurry or under duress.

“But they’ve gone somewhere.”

“I don’t know, but the house does feel like they might have wanted to make sure it was clean when they came home.”

Calloway grabbed his cell phone and scrolled to a saved number. He put the phone on speaker. I heard Thalia’s voice. “Not me. Leave a message. I’d suggest texting.”

“Thalia, its Sheriff Calloway. Could you give me a call as soon as possible? Thanks. I just need to confirm that you are okay.” He ended the call and then texted her the same message.

We both watched the phone for a moment, but there was no indication that she received or read the message.

“Do you think she’s running scared?”

“I have no idea, Hazel. People leave Black Vulture all the time. Trips to Tucson, trips anywhere. It’s impossible to know until I talk to her, but I do want to talk to her.”

“Should we check with Jeff, maybe try to find Danielle again?”

Calloway sighed. “No, I’m taking you home. I’ll check on Jeff.”

“I can come with you, Sheriff.”

“No, we’re not going to do that, Hazel. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I need to do my job without worrying about you.”

“This has something to do with my father.”

He sent me a sideways look. “Now’s not the time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look, Hazel, I don’t know what happened to Wilmot, but I know that if there had been any way to get back to you, he would have. He was a good father and he adored you.”

A swell of emotion hit me in my gut again, but there wasn’t time for that now. “So whatever involvement you think he has in this, it’s posthumously?”

“I do think he’s dead, Hazel. I’m sorry.”

I let his words settle a bit. “I guess that means he can’t be the one killing and skinning people then.”

“I agree, but I do think his reputation or something that happened in that class is behind all of this. I just need to figure out what it is. I do. Me. You need to stay safe. Spend more time with your boyfriend.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Right. Whatever. Hang out with him. Do your work.”

I nodded disagreeably.

“I’ll take you home.”

The brief ride back to town was silent, but as Calloway came to a stop in front of my place, I said, “Call me later.”