"Art?" Tim knocks on the doorframe and sticks his head in. "Some LPD guy is here to see you."
Art glances to where Tim is pointing at a buzz cut, stiff-necked, ape of a guy in a gray suit. Just what he needs at three o'clock on a Friday afternoon. Sighing, Art walks out into the squad room. "Chief Deputy Art Mullin, what can I do for you?"
"Nice to meet you Chief, I'm Detective Jim Carroll, LPD, Homicide. " He extends his hand and the two men shake. "I'm looking for a Deputy Givens?" He glances at his notes. "Raylan Givens?"
"Raylan's on medical leave." Art says. "He was shot in an altercation down south of here in Harlan a coupla weeks ago. He's still out recovering."
"So he's been out of commission for what, the last two weeks?" The detective makes a note.
"Yeah, why you askin'? Art says. "Something I should know?"
"Not yet," the detective says. "Hopefully, not at all. Thanks for your help." He turns to leave.
Instinct seasoned with years of experience makes Art speak up. "I'd like to know a little bit more, Detective. This is one of my deputies and if you want to talk to him, I don't appreciate being kept in the dark."
Looking around the busy Marshals' office, Det. Carroll motions to the door Art emerged from. "Can we talk in private?"
"Let's do that." Art shuts the door to the office and stands in front of the desk. "Have a seat."
"I'll stand, thanks."
"Suit yourself." This guy is an asshole, thinks Art. "So why are you lookin' for Raylan?"
"We found a body, a little over two weeks ago. There was some difficulty with identification due to circumstances and decomp, but it turns out to be a guy named Gary Hawkins. He's a realtor here in Lexington. Cause of death wasn't natural."
"I got that, you bein' homicide and all." Art says
"You know him?"
"Yeah, I know who he is."
"How do you know Mr. Hawkins?" The detective has his notebook out again, pen poised to write down whatever information Art has.
"His wife, well, his soon-to-be ex-wife, was involved in a shooting a month or so ago. He was in the office then."
"Deputy Marshal Givens was involved in that shooting as well, wasn't he?"
"Yep, he was." Art says. "He was with Mrs. Hawkins when the shooting occurred. They were the ones being shot at. Thanks to him, they got out of the situation alive."
"Deputy Givens is also 'involved' with the victim's wife, isn't he?" Carroll actually makes quotes in the air when he says 'involved', as if Art is too dense to grasp his meaning, or they're back in seventth grade. Jesus H. Christ.
"She's Raylan's ex-wife," Art keeps it simple. He's not telling this jack-off anything he doesn't already know.
"Okay. Two ex-husbands. That's interesting." Again with the note-taking.
Art crosses his arms over his chest. "Det. Carroll, I'm still not sure how you came to be here asking about Raylan. Are you accusing my deputy of something?"
"Not at all," the detective says, unconvincingly. "Just trying to connect some dots. I would like to talk to him, though. Haven't been able to get hold of the 'widow', either. You wouldn't have any idea where they might be, now, would you?"
"No, I don't. Raylan's been out of the hospital for a week or so, but I haven't talked to him for a few days. You're assuming they're together?" Art asks, thinking the detective is more than likely right, but not enjoying the insinuation that he's hiding some personal knowledge of Raylan's plans.
"Mrs. Hawkins has a nosy neighbor. Saw them put a suitcase in the trunk and take off a couple of days ago. Real friendly-like." He stares at Art. "She also mentioned that the house is under foreclosure. And yet…Mr. Hawkins was never reported missing."
"They're in the middle of a divorce." Art feels his face redden. "I would suspect they're avoiding each other like most divorced people do."
"Evidently she isn't avoiding her other ex."
"I'm not privy to the details of Winona's private life. Raylan's either, for that matter." Not entirely true, but Art is pissed now. Raylan's a lot of things, but he's not a murderer, and neither is Winona. And this guy is a hard-nosed jerk. Art knows that much.
"Listen," Carroll says. "I know how I feel about my guys; and I'm sure you feel the same way about Deputy Givens, but if you know where they've gone, we really do need to contact Mrs. Hawkins; Winona, is it?"
"Yeah." Art thinks for a moment. "Tell you what. I'll see if I can get hold of Raylan on his cell and have him give you a call. I won't tell him why. You take it from there."
"Sounds fair."
"Give me a couple hours. He doesn't always answer the damn thing."
"I appreciate your cooperation." He hands Art his card and leaves.
As soon as he hears the elevator door shut Art calls out, "Tim!"
"Yeah, Art?"
"Find out everything you can on a Detective Carroll, LPD Homicide. I want to know who I'm dealing with."
"You got it, Boss."