Part 81 (2/2)
”That'd be great. We've got an abandoned hotel down at the end of Main Street . Might be nice if someone bought it and reopened it for business.”
Annja smirked. ”Not me. I've got too many other things I need to take care of.”
Ellen's eyes glanced down to the package on the desk. ”That her stuff?”
Annja looked at the envelope containing Jenny's personal effects. ”Yes. I have to take them to her family and explain what happened. I figure it's the least I can do for her, considering all the stuff she went through.”
”We never really know, do we?”
”What's that?”
”What people are like. We make friends, we live with them, we love them, but deep down inside they're always a mystery. And sometimes the only way to unravel it is when they die on us.”
Annja nodded. ”Sometimes death is no solution to any mystery. Only the start of it.”
Ellen stood. ”You come back anytime, you hear? I'd be honored to call you my friend.”
Annja shook her hand and then gave her a hug. ”Consider it my honor, as well. You take care of yourself, Sheriff.”
Annja scooped up the envelope and walked outside to her rental car.
Joey was leaning against the car with his arms crossed. ”I heard you'd come back to town.”
”I was going to come see you.”
”Were you?”
Annja smiled. ”Come on, I'll give you a lift.”
Annja climbed into the car and started the engine. As she slid the car into gear, she looked at Joey. ”How are you?”
He shrugged. ”Fine. Everyone's trying to get over the shock of what happened. Even though Dave never necessarily came out and kept everyone under his thumb, people still felt it. And since Tom and Sheila were in on it, that just reinforced the effect. With them gone, things will blossom.”
”Blossom?”
”Yeah.”
Annja smiled. ”Nice choice of words.” She paused. ”I found out that it was David who killed Cheehawk. He must have been tracking us that night.”
”I eventually figured out it was him, as well. I'm glad I tried to blow up his truck.”
Annja whirled. ”That was you? Jenny and I were in that truck!”
”Yeah, I didn't know you two would stumble across him or that he'd switched vehicles with the Feds. Obviously, I never meant for that to happen to you.”
”Yeah, thanks, pal.” Annja had to laugh. ”That was a close one.”
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