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“What was Chris driving, Charlie? We’re looking for his truck.”
“Big Ram with roll bars and after-market stuff.”
“I can get the tag from his DL.”
Charlie lit up a smoke and offered me one. “Is he formally missing, or did something happen to him? Is that why you’re here?”
“Chris is dead, Charlie. Frozen solid and half eaten by bears or wolves. His body turned up on a ranch not too far from Oilmont.”
“Jeeze. That’s gross, Sheriff.” Charlie made a face.
“Yep. Sure was gross. You know Robert Thorn at all?”
“Don’t think so. Should I?”
“That’s who owns the ranch where Chris was found.”
“Sorry. Don’t know him.”
I gave Charlie my card. “Can you tell me how to get to Jud’s house from here?”
“He’s at work.”
“Where’s that?”
“County. He drives the snow plow. Getting a lot of overtime hours lately.”
“He would be. Maybe I can catch him when he comes into the yard for lunch.”
Charlie shook his head. “He ain’t been stopping for lunch. There’s too much fuckin snow and his route is so fuckin huge, he can’t get it all done in a day.”
“I believe that.”
“Best to talk to him on the phone while he’s plowing. He wears a headset, so he can talk. Otherwise it’s lonely for him out there all day long.”
“Okay, thanks. Give me his number and I’ll give him a call. Sorry about your buddy, Charlie.”
“Yeah, too bad. It was like he was tempting Fate. Know what I mean? He’d stay in the bush longer and longer like he was trying to set a Guinness record or some damned thing.”
“You think Chris could’ve used some counselling?”
“Like a shrink?”
“Yeah, like that.”
“Shrink might not have helped Chris. He was nuts, Sheriff. Fuckin certifiable.” Charlie laughed as he walked me to the door. “But like a genius too. Whiz with numbers. He did my taxes and Jud’s every year for free. He was fun to be around just to hear him talk crazy. Chris was good entertainment and I liked him.”
“Thanks for talking to me, Charlie. You have a good day.”
“See ya, Sheriff.”
As I drove back to the station, I called the number Charlie had given me for Jud Winedot and had a conversation with him while he plowed snow.
“Hey, Jud, this is Sheriff Frost calling.”
“Hey, Sheriff. I do something?”
“Nope. I just left Charlie’s house and I was telling him about Chris Concordian being found dead, and I wanted to tell you the same thing.”
