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“We’ve got a chopper up on the helipad. It can get you there in a little over an hour.”
Thorn nodded. “That won’t be a problem. I need to grab a few things and my go bag. I’ll be ready to go in less than ten.”
“Good man. I’ll let ‘em know. I don’t have to tell you this is important. We average less than thirty murders a year. This is our third murder in three months, and all in a small corner of the state. I don’t like the way the statistics are adding up.”
“Nor do I. I’ll see if I can’t put this one to bed quickly. It’s probably a trend we should start following. If you want to put together a task force to take a look at it…”
“Excellent idea. I’ll mention it to the governor when I let him know our best man is on the job.”
“I don’t know that I’m comfortable being singled out. We have a lot of guys who work hard at keeping those statistics down in the first place and others who bust their asses to make sure the cases we get are solved.”
The chief smiled. “You’re a good man, Wilder. I’ve got my eye on you. So do others within the state police as well as the governor’s office. Let me know personally if you need anything. Don’t worry about protocol; you answer directly to me on this one.”
“I won’t let you down,” said Thorn, wondering what the hell that was about. The chief and the head of the unit were long-time friends as well as sticklers for protocol. Thorn would have to figure out how to serve two masters on this one.
But Badger’s Drift. His dick had all but jumped in his pants. Jessica Murdoch was in Badger’s Drift.
Whoa, boy. We aren’t going up there to romance Jessica. We have a murder to solve.
His dick didn’t really care. They were going to be closer to her than they had been since he’d left her in her hotel room. As it was her hometown, maybe she could show him around and help him make his way through the quagmire of local politics and conflicting personalities.
He grabbed his go bag and his laptop and case and headed up to the helipad on top of the building. The rotors were already going as he exited onto the roof. Ducking beneath them, he stowed his gear in the back of the chopper and then climbed into the cockpit. As soon as he was buckled in and his headset was on, the pilot took off.
“You good in a chopper?” asked the pilot.
“Love ‘em.”
The pilot grinned. “Good man. The chief told me to get you there with ‘all due haste.’”
“Let’s go.”
The pilot made short work of the two hundred miles. Badger’s Drift was a picturesque town nestled in the countryside alongside a large harbor filled with fishing boats. Its landscape was lush, the architecture quaint, and there was a sense of tranquility that permeated the town. The rolling hills, dense forests, and meandering river that led to the sea only enhanced the natural beauty. Badger’s Drift exuded a peaceful ambiance that seemed at odds with the malevolence of a murder.
From what he had learned about Jessica and her world, he knew that Badger’s Drift was a close-knit community where residents were familiar with one another, and rumors would spread quickly. The town's residents would most likely have long-standing relationships, alliances, and rivalries, which could greatly complicate his investigation. For once, his dick may have been right. The dynamics of the small town might be easier to navigate with Jessica’s assistance and insight. She might well know a lot of the motivations, hidden secrets, and tensions that lay beneath the tranquil surface.
CHAPTER 5
THORN
The helicopter made good time, and local police had found a large parking lot close to the bed and breakfast where the victim had been discovered. One of the officers was waiting and after throwing his gear in the back, ushered Thorn into a small SUV and took off for the B&B. Entering the lobby, he was surprised to notice Jessica standing in the corner looking out one of the French doors that opened onto an expansive patio which led to the seagrass, dunes and the sea beyond.
“Right this way, Detective Wilder,” said another, probably more senior officer.
Thorn forced himself not to look at her, not to even acknowledge her presence as he followed the officer to the crime scene.
“Let’s head out this way,” said the cop. “The door to the inside hallway was locked when we got here, but the French doors out onto the private patio and garden area were opened. We thought you’d want us to leave things as we found them.”
“Good work. They hurried me up here before I had a chance to see how you guys are set for forensics and an autopsy, so forgive me for having to ask.”
“No problem. We have a county medical examiner who is on his way. He has privileges at the local hospital, and they have a morgue. Although we don’t have a formal forensics unit, several of us have taken a lot of classes, but you might want to bring your guys in. We can do the basic stuff, but I don’t think it would hurt to have the experts at the state level come in.”
Thorn smiled internally. This was a good cop. He was more interested in solving the crime and putting the murderer away than he was with politics or inter-departmental territorial disputes. They would get along just fine.
“I’ll give my guys a call. As long as we can preserve the scene until they get here, we should be fine. Thanks for your honesty.”
“I just want to catch whoever did this.”
“Then you and I are on the same page.”
