The Rivers Webb by Jeremy Tyler Page A

sure. There seems to always be somebody out there doing something they’re not supposed to, right?”
    â€œYeah…” Dan was finding himself distracted by Elijah’s voice, which had all but shed its familiar southern lilt.
    â€œHope you don’t mind me sayin’, but it sounds to me like you’ve done a pretty good job o’ blendin’ in up there.”
    â€œHow do you mean?”
    Laughing, Dan responded, “Hell, Elijah, if I didn’t know diff’rent, I’d think you was just another northerner by the way ya’ talk!” This drew a laugh out of his old friend as well.
    â€œTry tellin’ that to my partner. He still says I sound like I’m fresh off the farm.”
    They both laughed at that, then Elijah decided enough pleasantries had passed.
    â€œAll right then, Dan, nice as it is that you called, I know it wasn’t to make fun of my accent. What’s up in Coweta County?”
    â€œWell, we got us a visitor. Fella by the name o’ John Webb. I was wonderin’ if you might be able to tell me somethin’ about him.”
    â€œLove to help. Why would I know anything about him?”
    â€œWell, maybe not you, specifically. But I thought you might be able to pass the word around. He’s a detective from your neck o’ the woods.”
    â€œFrom this precinct? He doesn’t sound familiar.”
    â€œWell, alright, maybe not from your EXACT neck o’ the woods…listen, all I know is that he’s a homicide detective from New York City, and he’s been dropped in my lap, and I don’t know anything about ’im.”
    There was a pause for a moment.
    â€œIt’s gonna be hard without knowing what precinct he’s from…”
    â€œI’d appreciate any help you can give me.”
    â€œSure. I’ll ask around. At least he’s homicide, so I’ll have a good idea of who to ask. It may take a day or so, though.”
    â€œWhatever you can do.”
    â€œOf course, of course. Hey, if you manage to get any more details, call me.”
    â€œSure thing. I’ll talk to you later.”
    Dan hung up the phone and immediately began to hate himself. What was he doing? Checking up on a cop who volunteered to come down and help? On a member of the Rivers family, no less? What was he hoping to find?
    But he couldn’t shake the bad feeling he had about Webb. From the start, he had the idea that the man was hiding something. Yesterday’s little escapade by the bridge just added fuel to the fire.
    Yesterday. There was something else about yesterday that had bothered him. With George’s murder and everything to follow, he hadn’t given it much thought, but…
    â€œFred, keep an eye on things. I’ll be back in a little bit,” he called as he grabbed his hat and started toward the door.
    The other deputy just nodded in response. Poor Fred. He didn’t have Dan’s expertise or training, nor did he have Roy’s strong presence or natural powers of observation. He was a good man, and the people liked him, but he always felt like he was two steps behind.
    Of course, the recent events made that even worse. With two murders, everyone had to be at their very best to meet the challenges that lay before them. Fred was starting to feel like he simply wasn’t up to the task. Dan knew this, but there just wasn’t a whole lot he could do for the man.
    â€œIf the sheriff comes in before your shift ends, tell him my report is on his desk, and I’m checking up on some of the crowd from the funeral.”
    Dan left quickly, as though afraid that, should he take a moment to consider his actions, he would surely change his mind. He remained undeterred, however, and he got into one of the two remaining squad cars and drove towards Mulfry.
    It occurred to him, as he passed the Mulfry Post Office, that he had absolutely no idea why he was really here. He didn’t