Page 19 of A Touch of Murder
"Do you guys not have a police chief yet?" Adam knew the old chief had retired and the town had been looking for a new one.
"Not yet, and none of us want the job. Things are good the way they are until someone is foolish enough to want to be in charge. Captain Russel knows what he's doing, so we let him keep doing it." Barret shrugged.
"Except for things like insisting you use subpar programs." Maggie grinned. "Anyway, I'm due at the church to help with a project. Call me if I can be any more help, and, Adam, figure outwhat area you want me to paint. I'll use as much space as you want to give me." She waved as she left the men alone.
Barret walked farther into the room and set the sketch Maggie had done on the table. "So, this is our guy, huh?"
"As best as I can tell you. Maggie got it almost perfect. Add in the smell of tobacco and body odor, and a bit of sweat on his brow, you'd have him perfectly." Adam took a seat. "She really is amazing."
"She is. Did you see that mural she did on Beck's bakery windows a few months ago? The painted sweets looked almost edible. She's going to do your windows soon?" Barret put the drawing aside and sat across from Adam.
"I have a friend coming in who does aura readings. Maggie thought it would be a fun way to advertise. I'm all for it if she's up to it, but I wish she'd let me pay her for it."
"She never takes payment for those. We pay her for her work with the police, and she does some side jobs around town, but she doesn't need much. She's always lived simply. Saved most of what she made teaching so she could retire happily. As long as she gets to draw or paint, she says she's rich. I'm almost jealous that she is doing what she loves," Barret told Adam.
"What would you be doing if you did what you love?" Adam asked.
"I really don't know. It could be as simple as sitting on a rock deep in the woods, watching the deer play. I guess maybe I'd be a hiking guide or something that gets me out in the forest more than I get to now. What about you?"
Adam thought about it for a moment. "I think I'm doing what I love. I'm helping people, but I'd like to change a few things to make it perfect."
"Like what?"
"I'd like to be able to turn my visions on and off at will, so I didn't have to wear these gloves all the time. It makes it hardto do a lot of things. Ever tried to use a touch screen wearing gloves, or use fingerprint ID to unlock a phone?"
"Shit, I hadn't thought about that. How do you handle it?"
"I have a flip phone and still have an old landline in the apartment. Jacey helps when I need something done on a touch screen. I go into the bank instead of using an ATM. It's just the little things that make me wish for an off switch at times." Adam had other problems with his ability always being on, but they were personal, and he didn't know Barret well enough to bitch about those to him.
"So, if you simply shake someone's hand without the glove, what happens?" Barret asked.
"I'd get visions of some part of that person's life. I can't control what I see. It could be something that happened as a baby or something that went on yesterday. Those visions would keep coming, sometimes jumping from one era to another until I released their hand." He thought of all the things he'd been forced to see when he'd been a child before they'd learned what was going on and that he needed gloves all the time. "The person I shake hands with would have no way to stop me from seeing things that might be very personal or private. I might get a glimpse of graduation, but I also might see that person's honeymoon. It's best if I just never touch anyone without my gloves on."
"I can't even imagine. I guess you've gotten used to it over the years, but I can see why you'd change that if you could." Barret refocused. "Anyway, there was another reason I dropped by. The kids at the high school are doing a candlelight vigil for Trina tomorrow night on the football field. Most of the town is attending. I was wondering if you might want to go with me and keep an eye out on the attendees and see if one of them might be Trina's killer. I came up with the idea before I saw Maggie's drawing, but even now, I think we'll hold off on showing thataround town so we don't scare her killer off. If he is local, I think he might show up to her vigil. Criminals often like to insert themselves in events like that."
Adam leaned back. "Sure. Jacey told me about the vigil, and I planned on attending anyway. I'd be glad to hang with you and keep an eye on the crowd. I still don't think he's local, but it can't hurt to watch for him just in case I'm wrong."
"No one will think anything about two friends hanging out. I won't be in uniform. A couple of the other officers will be there officially, but several of us will be undercover as if we're just paying our respects. We can mingle with the crowd better that way."
"Where should I meet you?" Adam asked.
"I can swing by and pick you up, if that's okay? The vigil starts at seven. You close at six, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then how about I pick you up at six-thirty, then after the vigil we can drop by Ally's and grab dinner? I won't have time to eat before the vigil, and I know I'll be starving. Of course, we can go somewhere else if you don't like Ally's, or I can grab a burger after I drop you off if you don't want to eat." Barret laughed. "I feel like I'm making all the plans."
"It's okay. I will be hungry, and I love Ally's. I haven't been in a while. I'd like to grab dinner after. What's the dress code for the vigil? Jacey told me to wear whatever, but have you heard anything more official?" Adam enjoyed the small restaurant in the center of town and had eaten there often after moving to Hidden Falls. He'd gotten more focused on cooking since then, but the thought of Ally's hot rolls had his stomach growling already.
"Nah, it's the high school kids. Everyone will be casual. Maybe bring a jacket. It still cools off here at night. I'm probably wearing jeans and a t-shirt."
"Then I'll be ready at six-thirty. Jacey is helping his brother, Kacey set up the sound system, so he'll leave here at four. I guess they asked Kacey to sing a few songs."
"I hear it's supposed to be a big event. Captain Russel's daughter is on the cheer squad, and they've got some big presentations. The school band will be there, and who knows what else? Trina was popular, but even if she hadn't been, the kids in this town are pretty close. Her death hit many of the kids hard." Barret stood. "I better be going. I still have work to do. I just wanted to check in." He reached for Maggie's drawing. "I'll get copies of this to start showing around town after tomorrow night. Oh, and I spoke to the Wilsons. We had to discuss some other things, but I mentioned about you doing a read on the body. They said they would be grateful for any help. So Old Man Finley said you can come in anytime on Sunday to do the reading. I told him I had to talk to you, but we'd probably come in early. I figured by doing it on Sunday, you wouldn't have to close the shop since you're not open on Sunday anyway, and by doing it early, you could get back and relax the rest of the day. Jacey is welcome, but if he can't drive you there and back, I'd be happy to. I'll even hand you water and chocolate bars if that's needed."
Adam grinned. "Both will be needed. I'll take you up on your offer if you don't mind. That way Jacey won't have any excuse to get out of going to church. His mother still glares at me for the last Sunday I had him help me."
"Isn't he old enough to stop letting his mother tell him what to do?" Barret said it teasingly.
