Free Spin Out by James Buchanan Page B

all popped out with age.
    I sat myself down on the faded green couch. “Know the Walkers well?”
    She shrugged a little. “I’ve lived across the road for sixty years now.” Digging a handkerchief out of the pocket of her house dress, Mrs. Fellows wiped away a few of her neighbor’s tears before tucking the cloth in Liz Walker’s hand. “I’ll get you some water.” Liz managed to nod. I don’t think she could yet manage to speak.
    Figured I’d give her a little time, let her get herself back together a bit. I picked up the Book of Mormon off the side table between us. Then I put it on back. Wasn’t sure she’d appreciate me offering her a few lines of comfort. Instead I fidgeted with my Stetson and tried not to look at her. A sad little Christmas tree sat off in the corner. My guess they’d made the effort for Lane’s younger sisters, he had two from what I’d read in the file, but you could tell the house didn’t hold a lot of spirit right then. The girls would probably be in school right now…I didn’t think Christmas break was due to start for another couple days. This weren’t gonna be the cheeriest holiday they’d ever had.
    A deep indrawn breath let me know she’d found some control. “You’ve found Lane?” Her voice cracked as she said her son’s name.
    “I’m afraid we have.” I swallowed. It’s so hard to be the one who has to tell it. You’re supposed to have all the answers and sometimes, like right then, there just ain’t none. “Some folks out hunting came across him.” Hit me that I’d never told her who I was. She right knew why I was there. “I’m Deputy Peterson and I’ve been assigned to look into your son’s death.”
    “Take the water Liz.” Mrs. Fellows shuffled back into the room cradling a jelly jar full of water. She set it on the table and then leaned down to press her cheek against Liz’s hair. That little comfort offered, she pulled back. “I’m gonna call Trish for you.” For my benefit she added, “Her eldest daughter works over at the gas station,” before she headed back into the kitchen.
    Liz took a small sip before asking, “Are you sure that it’s him.”
    “‘Fraid so ma’am.” I just kept twisting the brim of my hat through my hands. “The Office of the Medical Examiner, in Salt Lake, confirmed it based on the dental records you supplied in the missing person’s report.”
    “Not my Lane.” She started crying again. “Not my baby.”
    I scooted up to the edge of the cushion. “I know this is hard right now, do you think you might be able to answer some questions?”
    “I’ll try.” Hiccupping through her tears. “Can I ask you though, what happened to Lane? How’d he die?”
    “We’re not right sure of that at this point.” No sense in telling her what we suspected…wouldn’t do anything to ease her at that point. “The O.M.E.’s report isn’t finished.” All our theories would do is give her more doubts to worry over.
    “No.” Denying it, even though she knew she couldn’t, Liz bit her bottom lip and whined out. “This can’t be happening.”
    I didn’t want to make her remember those last few days…even though I’m sure she recycled them in her mind probably a thousand times between then and now. Still, the more information we had right now, the faster we could give her some answers. “Can you think of anything else, things you might not have thought of when you filed the report about him going missing, that might help us here?”
    “Like what?” She twisted the handkerchief between her fingers.
    “How he was acting.” Although it might be putting things into her head, I asked, “Anything going on between him and Chris maybe.”
    She stilled and looked up at me with a face so tight I could see the veins throbbing under her skin. “You think Chris did something to Lane?”
    “No, ma’am,” I reassured her as best I could. “Right now, I just know your son ain’t coming home and one of his friends