Page 42 of The Girl on Hallow's Eve

“That seems like something you wouldn’t just forget,” I point out. “Why pretend you didn’t know what I was talking about?”

He looks like he knows I’m not impressed or intimidated by him and can keep up without issue and that both aggravates and surprises him. He fights a pissed-off smile by running his tongue briefly over his teeth.

“Because I didn’t mention it to you yesterday and I figured that would seem like a problem,” he says.

“Why didn’t you mention it? I would think you’d understand how that kind of confrontation would look considering the events that unfolded not long after,” I say.

“Yes, I do understand that. But, as I said, I prefer not to think about it. He has caused the company and me personally a lot of grief, time, and money. I was furious about him showing up at the open house and didn’t want him to cause any more problems, so I took care of it.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

He looks almost amused by the question.

“I called the police and had them take him away through the tunnels and out the exit, where he wouldn’t be noticed by anyone in attendance. I didn’t want such behavior to be visible to our guests,” he says.

“It explains why the other guy didn’t come out of the hallway the way Rainey did,” I say into the payphone I stopped at to call Sam after leaving the office. “Remember we were wondering why he would be so angry and heated, but then leave the guy in the restricted area and storm away? It turns out, he didn’t. He had him arrested and escorted out through the tunnels.”

“Where are you?” Sam asks.

“A convenience store outside Heggs. I needed a drink and wanted to call and let you know what’s going on,” I say.

“So, what do you think? Is that a piece of all this?” Sam asks.

“I think it’s obviously a piece of it. How big of a piece is yet to be seen. There’s just something about Rainey I don’t like,” I say.

“I know. Are you heading home now?” he asks.

“Not yet. I’m going to the police station to ask about Joshua Lawrence’s arrest. But I shouldn’t be long after that.”

“See you later. I love you.”

“Love you,” I say.

I hang up and go inside for provisions to carry me through before heading to the police station.

Glen Nielson is walking through the lobby reading paperwork when I open the door.

“Hey, Glen,” I say.

“Emma. Did we have an appointment?”

“No,” I say. “I just found out about something and I wanted to ask you about it.”

“Okay,” he says. I explain the situation. “Joshua? He wasn’t arrested. I mean, that Rainey guy called and asked us to arrest him and everything, but it wouldn’t have done anybody any good. The guys just cuffed him to make a point, brought him outside, gave him a stiff warning, and let him loose.”

“And he didn’t make any threats or anything?” I ask.

“If he had, we wouldn’t have let him go.”

“Alright. Well, I’d like to talk to him. Can you get me his contact information?” I ask.

“I’ll do you one better. I’ll tell you how to get to his house.”

That’s one element of rural law enforcement that’s distinctly different than larger departments or departments in big cities. You’re far more likely to have grown up right alongside the people you’re dealing with on a daily basis and have a bit of a different perspective on how to handle them.

It’s still only early afternoon when I get home, so instead of waiting around for Sam to get home from work, I decide to bring him lunch. He grins at me when he walks into his office and sees me sitting behind the desk, my feet propped up on it.

“This is a nice surprise,” he says, coming over to kiss me.

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