Chapter 8

Amaris walked out the back door toward the police car. Mr. Bruce hesitated and then followed behind. The officer got out and then walked toward Mr. Bruce.

“Lyle, what’s going on? The dispatcher said that there was a murder.” The officer said, paying no attention to Amaris.

“Reid, It’s Grover. Looks like someone broke in and he surprised them and they killed him.” Lyle said.

Sheriff Reid Clifton had been the local sheriff for a long time. He is supposed to retire at the end of the summer. His wife passed away a few years ago from cancer and he was going to move out of state to be closer to his daughter and grandchild. This sleepy little town had seen it’s fair share of speeders and drunk drivers, kids pulling pranks, and under age drinking, but in his time as an officer he had only investigated a handful of murders.

“Did you touch anything Lyle?” Sheriff Reid asked finally looking over at Amaris. “This is your grandmother’s house, she’s not home? Where is she?” Sheriff Reid looked at Amaris almost as if he expected this type of thing to happen simply because she was here. Amaris found she could not answer under his intense gaze. Didn’t he understand that Grover was like her uncle. She had learned how to fish and ride a bike with Grover. He had been her only father figure growing up. She could not believe he was gone.

“Girl, I’m asking you a question. Where is your grandmother?” The Sheriff now turned more fully toward her. He looked her straight in the eye now. Amaris looked straight back at him and answered with a bold, almost defiant “I don’t know.”

As the Sheriff started to look away and walk toward the house. Amaris almost yelled at his back. “Where were you? Where were you this afternoon? Where were you when those men came to the school? When they attacked us on the ball field and then chased me into the forest?”

The Sheriff stopped and suddenly spun on his heels. “You were there? You were the one that they chased into the forest? How did you get away? I think that we need to have a very long chat Amaris.” Mr. Bruce stepped forward and got between the Sheriff and Amaris.

“Reid, she has had a very long day and is scared out of her mind. We entered the house through the kitchen and saw that someone had broken into the house. I made her wait in the kitchen while I looked around. There was no one else there. I only touched Grover to see if he had a pulse. I did not disturb anything. I will take her back to my place up on the mountain. When you are done here and need to talk to her give me a call.”

The Sheriff nodded once and then took one last look at Amaris as he walked off into the house as he spoke into his shoulder radio.

Mr. Bruce put his arm around Amaris and guided her to his car. During their whole exchange Amaris had frozen. It finally registered with her that Grover was dead and that she did not know where Gran was. She could be dead too. As she sat back into the car seat and Mr. Bruce shut the door and came around the driver’s side to sit down, all her questions came flooding back.

As soon as the car door shut she turned suddenly and began firing off questions.

“Mr. Bruce, What happened to Grover? Why are these people after me? Is he dead because of me?” She looked at him with fear and guilt in her eyes. She couldn’t take much more of this. All she wanted right now was to know that Gran was safe and that these people would go away.

“Lyle, Amaris. Please call me Lyle.” He said kindly. “Grover was bludgeoned, and I do not know if his death has anything to do with you. Certainly someone was looking for something and he surprised them. As for why these people are after you, that is a story that will have to wait until we are at my cabin.”

He placed his hand on Amaris’ arm and a zing of raw electricity went through her. It was like every cell in her body were hit by 10,000 volts. Amaris jumped backwards and stared at him. It was the strangest sensation that she had ever felt and yet she found that she craved more. Amaris pulled her arm in close rubbing it as Lyle slowly closed his hand and moved it back to the steering wheel. “I’m sorry. Let’s get going. When we get there I can try and find you something to wear. I think my sister still has some of her old things stored in my attic. We can see if any of those fit you.”

Amaris was not sure if she should go with him, and yet there was suddenly such a feeling that she did not want to be away from him. He was the only thing that she had that she knew and was safe. Even he was different and she was not sure what to make of it. She reluctantly nodded and Lyle started the car and turned out of the driveway.