Page 28 of Sofa King Wanted

“I’m Peter Engold. I got your message at the hotel.” He shakes Georgia's hand and then glances around. “Why did you want to meet out here?”

“We’ve got a proposition for you,” Georgia says, taking over. “You’ve got something of mine, and I’ve got something you want. I think trading would make everyone happy.”

“I’m not admitting to having anything of yours, but what information could you possibly have for me? This town hasn’t been much of a challenge to uncover secrets. Including unlocked trunks.”

I see Georgia flinch, but it’s the confirmation we needed about him being the one that took the photos. When I inspected her cruiser earlier, I could see scratches along the lock. It had been tampered with, and it was a calculated risk to assume Peter was the one that did it.

“You’re here to find someone to blame for Simon’s death. Correct?” Georgia asks, and Peter shrugs, once again not confirming anything. “What if I told you there’s a way to close this case up nice and tight, all while making your boss look good?”

“I’d say I’d be willing to hear you out,” Peter agrees.

“Have you heard of the Cottonwood Swamp Monster?” Georgia’s expression is dead serious.

“Is this a joke?” Peter looks at me, and I shake my head.

“The legend goes that back in the eighties, a kid was eaten by the Swamp Monster, and ever since then, this park has been abandoned.” There’s a sound of water splashing in the distance, but Georgia keeps her eyes on Peter.

“Okay, if this is all you’ve got, I’m out of here.” Peter goes to turn around, but I step in his path.

“You’re going to listen to what the sheriff has to say.” I’m a good foot taller than him, and as he leans back to look up at me, he realizes he’s alone out here and could be easily overpowered.

“Fine,” Peter says and turns back to face Georgia. “So what, you want me to say some local legend killed Simon Gregory?”

Georgia grabs a folder out of the passenger seat of her cruiser and holds it out to Peter. When he flips it open, she tells him what’s inside. “Simon was a journalist. He was here writing a piece on the Cottonwood Swamp Monster and was accidentally shot by a local hunter in the process.”

Peter flips through the case file that I helped Georgia create. It’s airtight, and all the extra evidence that was discovered since I’ve been here corroborates this new story.

“And you think the family is going to buy this?” Peter looks up at Georgia, and although he’s not completely convinced, I can see he’s thinking it over.

There’s another splash in the water behind us, and Georgia points with her thumb over her shoulder. “The truth is, there is no Swamp Monster. Some dummy dropped off a gator in the pond back in the day, and it bit off a kid's toe. Since then, they made up the legend to keep kids away from it.”

As if on cue, the biggest gator I’ve ever seen surfaces in the pond. We stare at it for a long second before it submerges again, and Georgia shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“I could call Robert Gregory right now and tell him everything,” Peter says.

“Or you could take this story, collect your fat check from the Gregorys, and be on your way.” Georgia steps closer to Peter and puts her hand on her gun. “Or we can do this the hard way. I’ve got video of you stealing the photos out of my cruiser, which is a felony.” She points to me, and I nod. “See, the fed guy knows.”

“You’re bluffing.” Peter looks between us, and I shrug.

“Robert Gregory gets the stain off his son's name, and in return he’s going to donate the money to clean this park up and get the gator out.” Georgia leans a little closer to Peter, and I tense, ready for a fight. “I think it’s bullshit Simon’s name is clean because clearly he was a monster, but he’s dead, so I guess we can call it even.”

“It’s a good deal,” I say to Peter, and his eyes move to mine. “You either go to jail, or you sell this story to your boss. What’s it going to be?”

“Let me make a call,” Peter sighs as he steps away and pulls out his cell phone.

Although we try to listen, he’s too far away to catch most of what he’s saying.

“Think he’ll take it?” Georgia asks.

“The dad wants a resolution that leaves him looking good. This is the best he’s going to get.”

A few moments later, Peter hangs up the phone and walks back to us.

“You’ve got a deal,” he says, reaching into his suit and taking out a manila envelope.

“This all of them?” Georgia asks before checking inside.

“It is,” Peter says and then taps the folder. “And this is everything?”

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