The Secret of the Stones by Ernest Dempsey (reading fiction .TXT) 📕

Will answered politely, “We just need to ask you a few questions, ma’am.” He put his wallet back into a jacket pocket. “Your husband home, too?”

She eyed them suspiciously. “He’s out of town today. Should be back later tonight though.”

Morris continued, “You happen to know where he went?”

“Didn’t say. Just told me that he would be back tonight.

“Does he go off like this a lot?” Trent scoped out the surroundings while he talked.

“Just depends. He might have gone huntin’. I assumed that was what he was doin’. I stayed at my mother’s last night about thirty minutes from here. His truck was gone when I got back this mornin’.” She waved a hand carelessly toward the carport. “Ya’ll can come on in and have a seat if you want to. I was just about to have a cup of coffee.”

They nodded and followed her into the living room of the enormous cabin. She directed them to some deep couches in the center of the room while closing the door behind them. The rustic feel of the interior meshed well with the natural surroundings of the woods. “Would either of ya’ll like a cup of coffee?”

Morris raised his hand and shook his head politely, “No, thank you, ma’am. I appreciate it though.”

Will shook his head, “I’m good.”

“So your husband does a lot of hunting, Mrs. McElroy?” Trent asked as she sat down in a soft-looking, dark brown seat.

“Depends on the time of year, but he doesn’t really go very often,” she took a sip of her coffee. “But you boys didn’t drive all the way up here from Atlanta just to talk about my husband’s hobbies. Why don’t you just cut through the bull and ask me what you came here to ask me?”

Trent smiled at her frankness. “Fair enough, Mrs. McElroy. Are you familiar with this man?” He produced a picture from his jacket pocket and handed it to her across the coffee table.

She smiled, “Of course. That’s Sean Wyatt. He’s been a friend of ours for years. Joe’s known him since they were boys. Sean’s about eight years younger, but they have always had a good friendship. I suppose it’s on account of their families bein’ so close for so long.”

“Their families?” Will interrupted.

“Yep. They’ve known each other for decades, going all the way back to their grandparents. Joe’s parents got married at an early age and started having kids shortly thereafter. Sean’s parents wanted to travel the world and see everything before they had children, so that’s why the boys are so many years apart.”

“Have you seen Sean recently?” Will continued.

“Nope. Can’t say that I have. He was up here a month or so ago, but he’s always so busy with work and all.” There was a pause before she said, “Now that you mention it, I guess it’s time he get his butt up here to say hello.”

Trent pressed her, “So, he hasn’t called or anything in the last couple of days?”

She looked at him like he had just asked a stupid question. “I just told you I ain’t heard from him for nearly a month.” Looking from Trent to Will and back she asked, “What does the Atlanta PD want to do with Sean Wyatt anyway? He ain’t never done anything wrong. One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.”

The two cops looked at each other as if to ask permission to tell her. Trent spoke up, “Mrs. McElroy, we have reason to believe that Sean Wyatt was involved in the murder of Frank Borringer two days ago. There is also suspicion that he murdered two police officers at the residence of Thomas Schultz yesterday.”

If they had slapped her across the face with an iron skillet she could not have been more surprised. “Are you two out of your minds?” Her voice raised. “The idea that Sean Wyatt could be implicated in a murder, much less three of ‘em, is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. What would make you think something crazy like that?”

“Wyatt is our only suspect at this time. We have reason to believe that he is somehow involved. That’s all I can tell you at this time.” Trent tried not to be insulted.

The stare she gave him could have melted steel. “You have reason?”

These guys were just doing their jobs, but the idea that Sean had murdered someone was overwhelming. After taking a second to calm herself down, she spoke again, “Gentlemen, I am sure that you have got something that is making you think that Sean was the one who did these things. But I can tell you right now, you’re wrong about it. Now, I haven’t seen or heard from him in nearly a month, like I told you. But I will say this, if my husband is helping him, then I don’t blame him. I’d a done the same.”

It was Will’s turn to speak again, “Would you help him if he had betrayed his best friend?”

She looked at them both, not sure what the younger detective was talking about.

“You see, ma’am,” Will explained, “Tommy Schultz was kidnapped a few days ago, just before a press conference he had scheduled at the Georgia Historical Center. Apparently, he had found a new artifact that was going to be put on display at the center, but he disappeared a few hours before it took place.”

At this, she stood up. “Now I know you two are crazy. You’re insinuating that Sean killed three men and kidnapped his best friend who, by the way, he’s known since childhood?” Her head shook violently. “I’ve heard