Lunch …
After nosing around Mrs. Reitman's ruined house, everyone needed a break, and an early lunch. Dief seconded that motion whole heartedly.
Back in town, Ray pulled up to a small diner called The Badger Hole. It's log cabin theme spilled out onto the sidewalk. Warped, wooden picnic tables lined the concrete along the front picture window.
"Looks good, as long as they don't actually serve badger." Ray said sarcastically as he pocketed the Riv keys.
"Ray, I believe the restaurant's name has more to do with Wisconsin's nickname than the meat. Though I've wondered what badger would taste like." Ben remarked. Meg trailed along behind, closing doors after Fraser.
"You're quiet, Inspector, nothin' to add?" Ray asked. He'd noticed her preoccupation but couldn't figure out why. He thought she'd seem more thrilled to be Fraser's official lady love. Perhaps trouble in paradise?
"It's been a long day, Detective, that's all." she answered.
The three humans took a table while the wolf waited beneath a picnic table. Ben and Meg sat side-by-side. Gently, she slipped her left hand into his right; just long enough for an 'I love you' squeeze.
"Are you alright, Margaret?" Ben searched her face in concern. He'd noticed her silence as well.
"I'm fine. We can talk about it later." She gave him a quick smile.
Ben wanted to talk to her right then. He wanted to by-pass lunch and take her back to the hotel room. She satisfied his real hunger.
"Okay," He winked at her quickly.
Dief enjoyed a wolf-size to-go box as Ray drove the Riv and the Canadians to Joshua's work place. The small, independently owned, electronics store sat three blocks from the crime scene and four
from the court house. Ben easily memorized both Joshua and the Mayor's probable routes that fateful night Mrs Jackson died.
"Hello, let me know if you need anything." A jovial man in his late forties greeted the three investigators.
"Mr. Taylor?" Ray asked, opening his ID.
"Yeah, that's me. What can I do for you, Detective?" He looked from Ray to Ben and finally to Meg.
"We're investigating on behalf of Mrs. Reitman." Ben began, shifting his weight on the crutches. Meg noticed him grit his teeth in frustration.
"Oh yeah, Josh's mother. How is she? I heard about her house burning." Mr. Taylor asked, genuinely concerned.
"She's fine. Listen, we just wan to know what happened the night Joshua Reitman stole your car." Ray by-passed the pleasantries.
"Josh didn't steal it, per se, he just didn't ask before he took it. He knows where I kept the spare key. He's not a bad kid, Detective, he just panicked is all." Taylor gestured freely with his beefy hand as he talked.
"Mrs. Reitman spoke of a note Joshua left in his car for you." Meg prompted, cutting Ben off before he could give a morality lesson.
"Yeah, here it is." Taylor found a manila envelope under the cash register and handed it to Ray.
Mr. Taylor, Sorry, I have to leave for a while. You can have my car in place of your LTD. Josh
Two sentences covered a store receipt in the young man's hasty scrawl. All three investigators read the missive.
"I really only reported it stolen because the sheriff gave his mom the run around about the missing persons report. Said he was an adult, he'd turn up, that kinda thing. Jerk." he muttered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Who'd you report the car stolen to?" Ray asked.
"The state police, why?" The stocky store owner frowned, wanting an explanation.
"We'll keep in touch, thank you, Mr. Taylor." Ben gave Ray an almost imperceptible look.
"Yeah, any time. Josh is a good worker, a good kid." Mr. Taylor watched as the strangers left his store.
"So, the sheriff's probably in on it." Ray declared as soon as everyone settled into the Riv.
"Perhaps not, Ray," Ben began.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, it's his right to take off, that people disappear every day and nothing bad happens. I'm telling you, Fraser, that guy doesn't trust the sheriff any more than Mrs. Reitman or he'd have reported the car to the Sheriff's Office." Ray argued, tapping the steering wheel with the palm of his hand.
"Detective Vecchio has a point, Ben." Meg chimed in from the backseat.
Ray looked back at her, hazarding a turn in his seat.
"Don't be so shocked, Detective." Meg said frostily.
"IF the Sheriff is indeed party to a cover-up then we have a much larger problem." Ben stated, pausing to coat his lower lip with his tongue.
"Oh?" Ray cruised slowly toward the court house.
"Whom to report the corruption to and their word against ours." Meg finished.
They all sat in silence.
As predicted, the Mayor's Cadillac had been repaired since the hit-and-run. Ray, having lovingly restored TWO Rivieras, examined the body work.
"This body work is excellent. The paint is a shade off but not bad." Ray proclaimed as he knelt beside the front fender. He raised up, wiping his hands off on Fraser's hanky.
"We need evidence; blood, hair, something." Meg mused, studying the wheel well,
"Find the auto body shop, find the evidence." Fraser added. Dief barked in agreement.
"The phone directory listed a few such places, perhaps they have the damaged fender." the Mountie suggested.
"Okay, let's head back to the hotel, make a few calls. I'd like to check in with Mrs. Reitman." Ray jingled his keys as he led the way back to the Riviera.
****