Chapter 3: The Secret Behind the Rescue
Travis didn't answer immediately.
The parking lot seemed to grow quieter.
Even Wade, who had been busy shouting into his radio, appeared to notice the expression on his deputy's face.
"Emily," Travis said carefully, "what did you just tell me?""
"I said I remember him.""
"You're sure?""
"Travis, I was sixteen, not unconscious. I remember everything from that night.""
He walked away from the patrol SUV.
"Tell me exactly what you remember.""
Emily sniffed.
"I was in the hospital. They had warmed me up, and I was waiting for Mom. A man came into the room.""
"Was it Wade?""
"I didn't know his name then. But he had the same face. Same voice. Same badge.""
Travis looked back.
Wade was now speaking with another deputy who had arrived.
"Why would the sheriff have been at the hospital?""
"That's what I wondered.""
"Did he talk to you?""
"Yes.""
"What did he say?""
Emily hesitated.
"He told me I was lucky. Then he asked if I remembered anything about the night I disappeared.""
Travis leaned against his truck.
"What did you tell him?""
"That I remembered a truck.""
"A truck?""
"An old dark pickup. It was parked near the service road. I heard someone shouting before I fell down the embankment.""
Travis's stomach tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I did.""
He closed his eyes.
She was right.
Three years earlier, during the investigation, Emily had mentioned hearing an engine and a man's voice.
The search team had dismissed it as confusion caused by cold exposure.
But Wade had visited her.
And now he was standing in a parking lot, trying to suppress evidence of an assault.
"Emily," Travis said, "did you tell the sheriff about the truck?""
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
"He told me not to worry about it. He said there were a lot of trucks in those woods.""
Travis rubbed his forehead.
"Did you see the license plate?""
"No. But I remember a sticker.""
"What sticker?""
"A blue eagle.""
Travis went still.
He remembered Wade's old pickup.
A dark blue Ford F-150.
There was a faded eagle sticker on the rear window.
"Travis?""
He swallowed.
"Stay with Mom. Don't talk to anyone about this yet.""
"Why?""
"Because I need to understand what happened.""
He ended the call.
Across the parking lot, Wade was watching him.
"What was that about, Cole?""
"Nothing.""
"Funny. You look like you just found religion.""
Travis ignored him.
He walked toward Evelyn.
"Can I speak to you?""
She nodded.
They moved beneath the awning, away from the customers.
"Do you still have the security footage?""
"Yes.""
"Does it record audio?""
"Every camera does.""
"How long does your system keep recordings?""
"Thirty days unless I save them.""
"Then save the entire day. Not just the assault.""
Evelyn frowned.
"Why?""
"Because I think there's something else on that recording.""
She studied him.
"Something involving the sheriff?""
"Maybe.""
Evelyn looked toward Wade.
"That man has been coming here for years. Sometimes he'd sit in the corner booth and talk to people who never paid for anything.""
"Who?""
"Men from the county. Contractors. People who wanted favors.""
"Did you hear anything?""
She shook her head.
"Not clearly. But I remember one conversation.""
Travis waited.
"About the old timber road?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Three years ago. Wade was sitting with a man named Franklin Pierce. They were arguing about a truck that had been abandoned near the woods.""
Travis felt a cold sensation spread through his chest.
"Did you hear anything else?""
Evelyn lowered her voice.
"I heard Wade say, 'Nobody is going to find out what happened out there.''"
Travis stared at her.
"Why didn't you report it?""
"I didn't know what he meant. And I had a daughter to raise. Wade made it clear that people who caused trouble in his county sometimes had trouble keeping their businesses open.""
A gust of wind pushed dust across the parking lot.
Travis looked toward the highway.
"Can I see the recording?""
"Not here.""
"Why?""
"Because he has friends inside the department. If I hand over that drive, I don't know whether it'll ever make it into evidence.""
Travis nodded.
"Then we need someone outside the department.""
Evelyn considered him for a moment.
Then she reached into her apron and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I already called someone.""
Travis unfolded it.
The name at the top belonged to an investigator with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Beneath it was a handwritten phone number.
"You know this investigator?""
"Her name is Agent Rebecca Lawson. She came through here last year after a state trooper was injured. She left me her card.""
Travis looked up.
"Why?""
Evelyn gave him a tired smile.
"Because she said if I ever saw something that needed reporting, I should call her directly.""
He took out his phone.
Before he could dial, Wade approached.
"What are you two whispering about?""
Evelyn folded her arms.
"Breakfast specials.""
Wade looked at Travis.
"You've got five seconds to stop acting like a detective.""
Travis didn't move.
"You're not my supervisor anymore.""
Wade stepped closer.
"You think being suspended makes you untouchable?""
"No.""
"Then what do you think it makes you?""
Travis looked at the sheriff's badge.
"A witness.""
Wade's expression hardened.
He leaned toward Travis.
"Be very careful about what you say next.""
Travis didn't lower his voice.
"Why? Are you worried about the security cameras?""
For a split second, Wade's eyes moved toward the diner's roof.
It was barely noticeable.
But Travis saw it.
So did Evelyn.
Wade straightened.
"You're finished here.""
He turned and walked toward his patrol SUV.
But he wasn't leaving.
He was making a phone call.
Travis watched him.
Then he dialed the number on Evelyn's paper.
A woman's voice answered.
"Agent Lawson.""
"My name is Travis Cole. I'm a former deputy with the county sheriff's department.""
"Former?""
"I was suspended about ten minutes ago.""
"Why?""
"Because I refused to arrest an innocent man after Sheriff Wade Mercer struck his service dog.""
There was a brief silence.
Then Rebecca Lawson spoke.
"Do you have evidence?""
"Video footage. Multiple witnesses. A veterinarian documenting the dog's injuries.""
"Good. Preserve everything. Do not give that footage to anyone in your department.""
Travis looked at Evelyn.
"That's what we were planning.""
"Is there anything else?""
He hesitated.
"My sister disappeared three years ago during a winter storm. A search dog named Rex found her. She now remembers seeing a truck near the service road that night.""
"Was this reported?""
"She says she told Sheriff Mercer.""
The agent's tone changed.
"Did you say Mercer?""
"Yes.""
"Mr. Cole, I need you to listen carefully. Do not confront him about that disappearance.""
"Why?""
"Because that case was closed.""
"I know.""
"No, I don't think you understand. The original investigation contains inconsistencies. We requested additional records twice. Both times, the county failed to provide the complete file.""
Travis looked toward Wade.
"What kind of inconsistencies?""
"I can't discuss the entire investigation over the phone. But I can tell you something.""
"What?""
"The truck your sister described was registered to a company owned by Franklin Pierce.""
Travis remembered Evelyn's words.
Franklin Pierce.
The man who had argued with Wade in the diner.
"Where is Pierce now?""
"Deceased.""
"When?""
"Two years ago. His death was ruled an accident.""
Travis felt his mouth go dry.
"What kind of accident?""
"A vehicle fire.""
The phone remained silent for a moment.
Then Rebecca asked another question.
"Mr. Cole, did your sister ever tell you whether she heard the driver say anything?""
Travis glanced toward the diner.
"She said she heard shouting.""
"Anything specific?""
"Not yet.""
"Then you need to ask her again. But only when she's ready.""
The call ended.
Travis stood motionless.
Three years.
Three years of believing the rescue had been a miracle.
Three years of thanking the dog who had saved his sister.
Three years of assuming the sheriff had simply been another officer involved in the search.
And now everything was beginning to look different.
His phone vibrated.
A message from Darnell appeared.
Rex is at the clinic. The vet is examining him. He's conscious.
Travis exhaled.
Then another message arrived.
He keeps looking toward the door. I think he remembers you.
Travis smiled sadly.
He typed back.
Tell him I'm coming.
But before he could put the phone away, Evelyn grabbed his arm.
"Travis.""
He turned.
She was staring at the security monitor inside the diner.
The live camera feed showed Wade standing beside his patrol SUV.
He was speaking to a man in a gray jacket.
The man handed him a small envelope.
Wade slipped it into his uniform pocket.
Then the man pointed toward the diner's roof.
Toward the security camera.
Evelyn's face went pale.
"That's Franklin Pierce's brother.""
Travis stepped closer to the monitor.
"Are you sure?""
"I've seen him here before. His name is Raymond.""
The camera showed Raymond opening the driver's door of a gray pickup.
Before getting inside, he looked directly toward the camera.
Then he raised one hand.
Not a wave.
A warning.
Travis turned toward Evelyn.
"Save that footage too.""
She nodded.
But as she reached for the recording controls, another sound came from outside.
A sharp metallic crash.
They rushed to the window.
Wade had just slammed his patrol SUV door.
He was staring directly at them.
His radio crackled.
Then his voice came through the open window.
"Dispatch, I want every available unit at Miller's Diner.""
He paused.
And added something that made Travis's blood run cold.
"We have a witness who may be in possession of stolen county evidence.""
Travis looked at Evelyn.
Then at the security monitor.
The sheriff wasn't just trying to hide what he'd done to Rex.
May you like
He was preparing to make sure nobody ever discovered what had happened three years earlier.
And now, somewhere inside the veterinary clinic, the only witness who might connect both incidents was fighting to survive.
