Emmetsburg: Forty-four

“How's the wife?” asked Bremer, following C.W. around to the back of the coupe. The heat of the day made him sluggish and distracted. He fought for focus on the grim task before him, concentrating on the dead girl’s family. There was nothing to be done for her. It was the family who would cry for justice and vengeance. Theirs would be the burden of the living. Justice is never for the dead.

“She runs good,” C.W. winked with a grin. He laid a hand in the trunk. “Ready for this?”

George drew a handkerchief from his pocket and covered his nose and mouth, to little effect. “Sure is a stinker.”

“That she is, poor thing.”

“Welp,” Bremer rallied himself. “open her up, let's have a look.”

The latch had broken in the crash. C.W had to lean on the trunk with his full weight and pull at the edges at the same time. It opened grudgingly, creaking loudly. Bremer's brow crumbled. He turned his head aside, then shook it slowly. He gave a weighted sigh and spit into the ditch.

“Haven't called the State Police just yet,” said C.W. “Wanted to run all this by you first.”

“Close her up.”

George went around the side. C.W followed. He could see it in George's face. He could see George knew something more.

“Got an idea you know who did this?”

“State Police will just come in and make a circus of things, claim credit and get folks all riled up.”

“I'm listening.”

“Keep this quiet a bit,” said Bremer. “I'll take her over to Brennan's funeral home, get her cleaned up a bit.”

“Got an idea who might have done this.”

George waved over the tow truck driver. He stuffed the handkerchief back into his pocket and squinted against the bright sunlight at C.W. He'd heard of the stranger up at John Perkin's place. Putting two and two together was about as simple as things get in the Sheriff-ing business. He'd have a chat with the tow truck driver and ask Joe Brennan to keep this quiet for a while. No need to give folks a reason to worry, have them locking their doors at night and getting all out of sorts for no reason. He nodded slowly.

“Got an idea.”