Free Diana Anderson - Entering Southern Country 01 - Famous in a Small Town by Diana Anderson Page B

at her.
    “Tell him it might be evidence in Virgil Neal’s murder.”
    Justin repeated what she’d said into the receiver. He listened a moment and then hung up. He looked up at Raven and said, “Down the hall, first door on the right. You can go right in.” He eyed the duffle bag. “You need any help with that?” He pushed his chair out from his desk.
    She hoisted the duffle bag strap over her shoulder. “No thanks. I got it this far.” She walked across the lobby and down the hallway to the door he’d indicated. She took a deep breath, opened it, and stepped inside. He didn’t look up as he sat at his desk finger pecking at the keyboard on his computer.
    As she covered the distance, she took in her surroundings. The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted poster was on the wall across the room from his desk. His office was well organized with tan filing cabinets. His desk was neat with the exception of a stack of manila folders and a folded newspaper. A near empty coffee mug with a Marine logo and USMC written on it was within arms reach of him. Open window blinds covered a large window behind his desk.
    She slid the strap off of her shoulder and dropped it on top of his desk. Dust flew off the canvas bag and into the air.
    His fingers stopped, and he eyed the bag. “What’s that?” He looked up at her and then his face registered surprise. “Raven? Raven Sawyer?” His bewilderment was more than evident.
    “Yes.” She looked at her shoulder where the duffle bag strap had been and brushed the dirt off of her. “Not that we’ll ever see each other again after today, but at least while I’m here, please don’t call me Agnes.”
    “You’ve had your name changed?” he asked, still perplexed.
    “So that’s how you become sheriff.” She thinned her lips and raised her eyebrows. “Very perceptive. And all the while I’d thought that your daddy had gotten you elected.”
    “My father had nothing to do with me getting elected.”
    “As I remember, Angus had his hand in everything.”
    He ran fingers through his hair and leaned back in his chair. “Did you come here to talk about the elections?” He eyed the duffle bag.
    “I found this buried under the backside of the trailer when I went to retrieve the dog.” She motioned toward the bag. “It’s all yours to do with what you want.” She turned, walked toward the door, and reached for the doorknob.
    “What’s in it?”
    “Besides a few earthworms and dirt—money, lots of money. I didn’t count it. Don’t know if it’s real or not, but that’s for you to decide. I’ve done my civic duty. Goodbye, Sheriff.” She yanked open the door, hurried down the hallway, and into the lobby.
    As she walked by the deputy’s desk, he asked, “Are you Raven Sawyer, the author?”
     

22
     
     
    Raven had taken the dog to the veterinarian and managed to get there right before they had locked up for the day. Of the many questions asked, the one that puzzled her, “What’s the dog’s name?” As she had looked down at the dog’s inquisitive bright blue eyes and his white coat, she pondered the question a moment and then answered, “Gabriel.”
    After he had been examined, tested for parasites, and given his shots, she’d thought she was ready to pay the bill and be gone, but was informed that the dog needed preventative treatment for fleas, ticks, and heartworms. The bill wasn’t out of her budget, but more than she’d considered and had left her to realize the expense of a pet. Well worth it, but she still planned to find him a good home and had written information about the dog along with her cell number on a slip of paper and had tacked it to their bulletin board.
    On the drive home, her thoughts went over Deputy Ledet’s discovery of her identity. She hadn’t wanted it to be revealed, and if and when she did, she hadn’t a clue how to handle it with the media and her fans. She had always hoped to remain faceless and her past hidden. But she had told him