After leaving the diner, Roy takes Dustin by his house, where they find the mayor waiting. Is something wrong? Are they in trouble? Find out in this week's chapter of The Sheriff. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they've been up to. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
Dustin’s first irrational thought was that the mayor’s being
there was something to do with him, but he dismissed that idea quickly. It was
obvious he had business to discuss with Roy. He hoped it wasn’t anything bad.
“Want me to wait here while you talk to him?” Dustin
offered.
“No need for that,” Roy assured him. “Nothing you can’t
hear. Let’s see what’s going on.”
They both got out of the truck. The mayor was already
heading in their direction. Judging by the big grin on his face, Dustin didn’t
think he had any bad news. That was a relief.
The mayor was about five foot six or seven, and his gray
eyes sparkled with good humor. Dustin couldn’t help but wonder if his thick
black hair was naturally wavy or if he had to use something to get that effect.
He had a touch of gray at the temples, but it didn’t really make him look old
or anything. He wasn’t near as good looking as Roy, though.
“Hey, Roy, I was just thinking about leaving you a note.” He
nodded at Dustin, who nodded back.
“No need now, since we’re here. Let’s go inside.” They
followed him inside the house. Dustin noticed Roy didn’t need to unlock his
door. He couldn’t imagine doing that at the apartment. Burnham must be a much
safer place than Tucker Falls.
“Want a beer or something?” Roy offered.
“Another time,” the mayor said. “Thanks, anyway.”
Roy turned to Dustin. “Want one?”
Dustin shook his head. “I’m good, thanks.”
“Before I forget my manners again,” Roy said with a knowing
grin, “Dustin, this is our mayor, His Honor Melvyn T. Callendar. Melvyn, this is Dustin Johnson.”
The mayor held out his hand and Dustin shook it. “Glad to
meet you, Dustin. Any friend of Roy’s is more than welcome in Burnham.”
“Thanks, Mr. Mayor. Nice to meet you too.”
“Shoot, just call me Melvyn. Everyone does.”
“Okay, cool.” How neat it must be to live in a place that
was so friendly, Dustin thought. Roy’s a
lucky man.
“So, what’s up, Melvyn?”
Roy asked. He waved toward a chair, but the mayor shook his head and
remained standing. “Nothing wrong, I hope?”
“Well, I’m afraid Pete Jackson passed on.”
“Damn, sorry to hear that.”
Unsure what to say, Dustin didn’t say anything.
“Pete was our oldest resident,” Roy said softly in
explanation to Dustin. “Just turned one hundred a couple months ago.”
“Sorry to hear that,” Dustin said.
“He had a good long life,” the mayor said. “Outlived his
wife and both of his children. Didn’t have no other relatives.”
“He was a good guy,” Roy said. “We’ll all miss him.”
“Amen to that.” A moment of silence followed.
“There wasn’t anything suspicious about the way he died, was
there?” Roy asked.
“Oh no, not at all. The visiting nurse said she went in to
check on him, and he must have passed in his sleep. Very peaceful.”
“Well, that’s good. I thought maybe that’s why you were
here. Must be something else, though.”
“A related matter, yeah. I got a call from Pete’s lawyer.”
Roy’s eyebrows arched in surprise. “Already?”
“Apparently, Pete had this all worked out a
long time ago,” the mayor explained. “You know where his house is, don’t you?”
“Yeah, sure. Nice little place over on Grover Road. Don’t
tell me someone’s already broken in and vandalized it?”
The mayor laughed. He winked at Dustin. “Roy always thinks
like a sheriff, doesn’t he? No, no, nothing bad at all, I promise. Roy, how’d
you like to have an actual sheriff’s office?”
Dustin glanced up at the handsome sheriff. Roy seemed not
only stunned, but speechless.
to be continued
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