Free Fire - C. J. Box [146]
“Why you?” Rulon said, “What in the hell else do you have to do today?”
Joe reached back and patted the list in his pocket. “Chores,” he said.
“I want fresh eyes on the crime scene,” Rulon said. “You’ve got experience in this kind of thing. Maybe you can see somethingMcLanahan or DCI can’t see. These are your people, these hunter types. Right?”
Before Joe could answer, he heard the woman in the governor’s office say, “Right.”
Joe thought he recognized the voice, which sent a chill through him. “Stella?”
“Hi, Joe,” she said.
At the name Stella, Marybeth locked on Joe’s face in a death stare.
“I was going to introduce you to my new chief of staff,” the governor said, “but I guess you two know each other.”
“We do,” Stella Ennis purred.
“Joe, are you there?” Rulon asked.
“Barely,” Joe said.
WHILE JOE CHANGED into his red uniform shirt with the pronghorn antelope Game and Fish Department patch on the shoulder and clipped on his badge that read J. PICKETT, GAME WARDEN above his breast pocket, Marybeth entered the bedroomand said, “Stella Ennis?”
The name brought back a flood of memories. He’d met her in Jackson Hole on temporary assignment three years before. She was the wife of a prominent and homicidal developer who was still awaiting trial. She’d “befriended” the previous Jackson game warden and complicated his life. She tried to do the same with Joe, and he’d been attracted to her. It was a time in his life—and Marybeth’s life—where they seemed on the verge of separation. They’d persevered. Now they owned their first home.
“The governor introduced her as his new chief of staff,” Joe said.
“How is that possible? she asked, “Wasn’t her husband convictedof trying to kill her?”
Joe shook his head. “Marcus Hand was his lawyer and he convinced the jury it was an accident and she was still alive somewhere. Turns out he was right. The Teton County D.A. plea-bargained the rest of the charges and Don Ennis paid some fines and moved to Florida”
“How did she wind up in the governor’s office?”
“I have no idea,” Joe said, “She’s resourceful.”
“This state is too small sometimes,” she said.
“Yup.”
Marybeth approached Joe and pulled him into her with her hands behind his neck, so their faces were inches apart. “Stay away from her, Joe. You know what happened last time.”
“Nothing,” Joe said, flushing.
“Yes, but,” she said.
“Honey . . .”
“She’s a very good-looking woman. I’ve seen pictures of her. She’s beautiful and very dangerous. But so am I.”
He smiled, “You have nothing to worry about.”
“I believe you.”
“Besides, it sounds like I’ll be too busy dealing with Sheriff McLanahan and Randy Pope. I’m not looking forward to that.”
“I don’t trust her,” Marybeth said. “But I do trust you.”
“You should.”
“Plus, Sheridan and Lucy would kill you if you ever did anythinguntoward.”
“That I’m sure of,” Joe said.
“So what’s going on? Another hunter?”
“Apparently,” Joe said. “I don’t know much yet, but the governor’s worried.”
“Any idea how long you’ll be gone this time?”
“I should be back tonight.”
“No,” she said. “I mean on this case.”
He buckled on his holster with the .40 Glock, pepper spray, and handcuffs, and reached for the brim of his Stetson that was crown-down on the dresser.
“I don’t know,” he said. “We don’t even know for sure if it’s foul play. Everyone’s jumpy because of those other hunters who got shot earlier. No one wants to imagine the someone is huntinghunters, but everyone is thinking that.”
She nodded. She didn’t need to tell him there were parent-teacherconferences later in the week at Lucy’s junior high and Sheridan’s high school. Or about the party they’d been invited to with members of their church. Or about the fact that she wanted him home while she battled with her own mother and needed his support.
“I’ll be home as soon as I can,” he said.
She walked him to the door. Lucy was still watching televisionand didn’t look at him. She simply said, “Gone again?”
Joe stopped, hurt. Marybeth pushed him gently out the door into the front yard.