Chapter 46

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Gary knew there was little else he could do with the investigation, he just had to wait until Abby was ready to admit that she had been molested. That day might never come, so he just had to wait. Gary could have gone home, he trusted sheriff Duncan to contact him if that day ever came, but he stayed. Much of his community blamed him for sturring up the lunatics who took out the Capitol last year. Although Gary's children and grandchildren invited him to family get-togethers, they seemed uneasy when he was around. But Sanctuary was different. Maybe because many of these people had criminal records, they were much more forgiving of someone like him. And Gary enjoyed the little quirks of Sanctuary, celebrating Halloween in late July, Christmas in August. Michael returned to work, he still had years of physical therapy ahea of him, but he seemed to be getting better. And Gary found out that he was indeed a good cook. And he continued his work, helping pedophiles resist giving into their temptations. Mayor Bowen recovered, but she and her family knew that she would get worse, and she fully planned to take her own life before her ALS took over her body completely. And mayor Bowen's daughter and daughter-in-law adopted another child during this period. The child was from a refugee camp, noone was exactly sure who the little girl's biological parents were, but she would be raised by two loving mothers. Rudy Chambers, the safecracker who opened Angel's safe, he made parole, it didn't hurt that he helped the local police in their investigation. At the local church minister Drew Chambers made his usual speech. "This man is Rudy Chambers. He has just been released from prison. He has served his sentance, paid his debt to society. But Rudy is also our brother in Christ, let us welcome him into our community." Gary was at this church service, he had begun attending church with Leita Rose. Leita was letting Gary stay at her bed and breakfast free of charge, the FBI was no longer paying him to be here. Gary had made it clear that it could be years before he got another lead on Angel's killer. Leita said that was fine with her, she wanted to contribute and do God's work. Perhaps she liked the company. Gary didn't want to admit it but perhaps he was coming to like Leita Rose more than he wanted to admit. One reason was that Leita Rose had murdered her last husband, and by last it was generally understood that you don't get another husband after that. Gary adapted to this town, helped out during a second terrible storm, was even being considered to be part of the Druid Order. He felt he would like that, helping protect these people who needed protection. The only thing that bothered Gary was that the killer was still out here, living his or her life. Jimmy and Mary Elizabeth were still dating each other, she still tried to get him to eat more vegetables. William Lambert was working on his business, raising his other children. John Larabee made his son-in-law Frank the editor-in-chief of a local newspaper. Gary didn't like the thought of failing to find the killer, but it seemed like he had. But then one day, in late August, Gary got his next big break in the case.