Free Iris Avenue by Pamela Grandstaff Page B

Sheriff and he told me all about it.”
    “He knew?”
    “He lived a few blocks away. He heard the explosion and got there right after it happened. He found her trying to put out the fire with a garden hose. He knew who she was, knew who her husband was. They had all been under surveillance for months. He knew she’d taken the child out of the house and that she wasn’t involved in the drug business.”
    “Did she know he knew?”
    “No,” Ian said. “She thought he believed her story. He knew what would happen to her and the kid if he took them in. He made a judgment call. I probably would have done the same.”
    “And you never talked to her about it.”
    “No need to. I kept a close eye on her but she never made a false move. She’s a good mother to Tommy and a darn hard worker. We may have given her a home but she’s earned everything else she has.”
    “Under the table, of course.”
    “Not exactly,” Ian said. “I include her wages in with Delia’s and then Delia gives her cash. That way I pay the IRS and the Social Security office and no one’s the wiser.”
    “It didn’t bother you to be covering for her all this time?”
    “You have to consider a person’s character in context. That girl may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but she’s got moral fiber, an exemplary work ethic, and a steel backbone. She was under extraordinary pressure and did the right thing by that boy. I don’t regret it for an instant.”
    “I worked for you for six years,” Scott said. “But I didn’t know how hard this job can be.”
    “You’re doin’ fine,” Ian said. “The spirit of the law sometimes comes into conflict with the letter of the law. I prefer to think of law enforcement as more of an art than a science.”
    “There’s a woman claiming to be Miranda’s mother who’s looking for her. She knows she’s here in Rose Hill.”
    “I thought Miranda was an orphan.”
    “This woman is looking for the child she gave up for adoption. She’s dying and wants to meet Miranda and Tommy before she dies.”
    “Probably wouldn’t know there’d been a switch,” Ian said.
    “Probably not.”
    “Well, keep me informed,” Ian said. “If I can help her out I’ll be glad to. Poor, motherless child.”
    Scott told Ian about the feds being in town investigating Mrs. Wells.
    “She’s a piece of work, that one,” Ian said. “No soul in her, if you ask me. If she’s cornered she’ll kill anyone that gets near her. If Ava’s agreed to testify she’ll be in her sites. I don’t want Delia over there in the middle of this, but I’m sure my wife will continue to do as she pleases.”
    “I’m staying at Ava’s until this is over,” Scott said. “I’ll keep an eye on things.”
    “That’ll get the scanner grannies’ knickers in a twist,” Ian said. “The phone lines will be burning up with that bit of information.”
    “How come you never cracked down on them?” Scott asked.
    “If you want to know something,” Ian said, “or you want something to get known, you couldn’t ask for a better instrument. They’re better than a bullhorn on Rose Hill Avenue.”
    Scott thanked Ian and walked on down Iris Avenue to Pine Mountain Road, and then turned left and walked up to Rose Hill Avenue. From the corner he could see a light on in Maggie’s apartment. He stood there on the corner and watched until it went out. Then he went to Ava’s.

CHAPTER FOUR - Wednesday
     
    Malcolm Behr showed up at the station bright and early, as Scott was enjoying the blueberry muffins and thermos of hot coffee Ava had prepared for him that morning. Malcolm was the town’s fire chief and a hairy beast of a man who most people referred to as “Bear.”
    “You got plans this morning?” Malcolm asked him.
    “Nothing that can’t be rearranged,” Scott said. “Why?”
    “Mean Mann just called me. Seems he’s got the Corps of Engineers and a special wildlife agent coming down to break up a beaver dam that’s