Free Meadowview Acres by Donna Cain Page B

Brody out here this afternoon, and the dog had acted kinda squirrely. He got Hunter, and the boys decided to investigate a little. They came up to the dozer but couldn’t see inside. They thought it was Claymont’s rig, so Hunter hopped up to look through the window. That’s when he saw the blood. It’s all over his face, poor guy. Paramedic says it’s some kinda brain hemorrhage, most likely. He probably didn’t even feel it come on. Says it probably took him pretty quick.”
    “What about Bug?” He asked. “Was she with Hunter and Eli?”
    “Not at first. She had seen the guys goin’ into the woods and followed ‘em just as a prank. Try and scare ‘em or somethin’. She came up just as Hunter found Mr. Jackson. They’re all pretty shook up. Feelin’sick to their stomachs and what not. Tell you the truth, I ain’t feelin’ so hot myself. I’m sweatin’ like crazy, and my head’s killin’ me,” Deputy Clay responded.
    “I know what you mean, Michael,” said Sheriff Buchanon as his corn dogs rumbled around in his belly. “Let me go take a look. Finish up with the kids and then give them a ride home. Have Rachel call their parents. Just tell them what their kid witnessed, and that they may be feeling a little upset. What’s that box the Andrews kid has?”
    Sheriff Buchanon had been looking at the kids as he spoke to Deputy Clay and had noticed Eli holding onto what looked like a shiny silver box.
    “Oh, Hunter says they had that with ‘em when they came out. Probably somethin’ to do with all those experiments they do. I’ll go get their statements and have Rach call their folks.” Deputy Clay wiped the sweat from his forehead and headed toward the kids.
    Sheriff Buchanon spoke quickly with the paramedics and got basically the same story as he had from Deputy Clay. Most likely a hemorrhage of the brain, couldn’t tell more until the autopsy. No foul play from what they could see. Sheriff sent them to wait in the ambulance while he looked over the scene.
    The corndogs were really churning as he made his way over to the bulldozer and climbed up the side to the driver’s door. When he looked inside, the pain in his head was almost unbearable. He had started to see little flashes of blue light…

BOOK TWO

CHAPTER 12
    Sheriff Buchanon
    T he florescent lights in the hospital corridor were hurting Sheriff Buchanon’s eyes. The searing headache he had experienced at the construction site had vanished as quickly as it had come on, just after Deputy Clay left to take the kids home. It had left a remnant, however, and the lights were trying to coax it back.
    He passed by the information desk and nodded to Adele, who worked the evening shift. Unfortunately, he was quite familiar with the way to the morgue. This time it was personal, though. Claymont Jackson was a good man. He was a kind person who always had a smile ready. He was well respected and liked within the whole community of Hallston. He was a hard worker and a good family man. His wife loved him, so did his son.
    That had been tough. The sheriff had filled out all of his paperwork back at the scene and waited for the paramedics to remove Mr. Jackson from the bulldozer. After the ambulance left with Claymont, Sheriff Buchanon had gone straight to the high school. The game was almost over, so he waited by the ticket booth for Agnes to come through. He knew Darren would be awhile, meeting with the recruiters there and changing into his street clothes, but Agnes had come out quickly with Shasta Port by her side.
    They both froze as they saw him. Although she was hoping to find her husband with the recruiters or in the parking lot, Agnes had known something was up when Claymont never showed up in the bleachers and didn’t answer his phone.
    “Evening, Ladies,” he started. “I wonder if I could have a word with you Agnes.” Leading up to it was the hardest part for the sheriff.
    “Oh Dear God, it’s Claymont! I know it is! I’ve been