call the sheriff’s office and see if he wants to mobilize the sheriff’s posse to search for her.”
Cole had joined the sheriff’s posse himself after Grace’s death last summer. The group of mounted volunteers helped with crowd control at county events and rodeos, as well as search and rescue in the local wilderness area.
Angela was giving Cole a look that he found irritating. “It’s a big country we’ve got here,” he said, trying to explain. “I don’t know where we’d start to look. Maybe Adrienne decided to leave town on her own. We don’t know yet if she’s truly missing.”
“Well, we’ve got to do something to find out. We can’t just sit around and wait,” Angela said.
“We might not have a choice.” Cole finished wrapping the gelding’s leg and stood. “I tell you what. I’ll call Sheriff McCoy and see if they know anything yet. Why don’t you go ahead and load this guy, Garrett. Maybe by then we’ll have some answers.”
Cole released the end of the stocks and swung the side bar wide, so Garrett could back the gelding out. Its shod hooves scraped the concrete floor as it moved out of the equine treatment room. Angela followed Garrett and the horse outside, leaving Cole alone as he pulled out his cell phone and scrolled to the sheriff’s office phone number. The trouble with drug traffic through town last summer had made him cautious, and he’d placed both Deputy Mattie Cobb and the sheriff’s office on his contact list.
A woman answered the phone. “Timber Creek County Sheriff.”
Cole identified himself. “I’m a friend of Adrienne Howard’s, and I’m worried about her. I’m wondering if I could talk to Sheriff McCoy.”
After only a brief time on hold, Cole recognized the sheriff’s voice immediately. Its deep, rich timbre was unmistakable. “Hello, Cole. I understand you’re calling about Adrienne Howard.”
Cole explained the relationship he had with Adrienne and how she’d missed her appointment earlier in the day. “The kids and I are worried about her, so I thought I’d call and see if anything had changed.”
The sheriff hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. “We’re taking her absence seriously, Cole. I’m concerned enough that I’ve authorized a missing person’s report.”
“I don’t know Adrienne very well, but it seemed out of character for her not to show up today. Is there anything I can do?”
“What time were you expecting her?”
“At three o’clock. She schedules horse clients at my clinic.”
“That’s good to know. We need to interview people who worked with Adrienne. Can you make a list of clients that she’s seen in the past few weeks? We’ll need names and phone numbers.”
“We have some confidentiality issues that would prohibit me from doing that, but I’ll do my best. Angie and I can make a list tonight and get permission for you to call. I don’t anticipate any problems with that. We’ll have it for you as soon as possible.”
Garrett and Angela came back into the treatment room, Garrett’s eyes searching out Cole’s. The grief that lingered in his friend’s face caused an icy tingle to run up Cole’s spine, giving him a bad feeling.
“I have Garrett Hartman here at the clinic with me, Sheriff. If you get a lead that calls for a search party, let us know and we’ll activate the posse.” Cole hesitated but decided to go ahead and ask. “When do you expect Deputy Cobb to return?”
“She’s on her way right now. We expect her around seven.”
It seemed odd, but knowing Mattie would return soon made him feel a little better.
Cole said good-bye and disconnected the call. He shared the details he’d gleaned from the sheriff with Garrett and Angela. Anxiety pinched his daughter’s face. She’d formed a bond with Adrienne while they worked together here at the clinic. Angie had been through a lot lately. First his divorce, then Grace’s death, and now this. The strain was beginning to
Cole had joined the sheriff’s posse himself after Grace’s death last summer. The group of mounted volunteers helped with crowd control at county events and rodeos, as well as search and rescue in the local wilderness area.
Angela was giving Cole a look that he found irritating. “It’s a big country we’ve got here,” he said, trying to explain. “I don’t know where we’d start to look. Maybe Adrienne decided to leave town on her own. We don’t know yet if she’s truly missing.”
“Well, we’ve got to do something to find out. We can’t just sit around and wait,” Angela said.
“We might not have a choice.” Cole finished wrapping the gelding’s leg and stood. “I tell you what. I’ll call Sheriff McCoy and see if they know anything yet. Why don’t you go ahead and load this guy, Garrett. Maybe by then we’ll have some answers.”
Cole released the end of the stocks and swung the side bar wide, so Garrett could back the gelding out. Its shod hooves scraped the concrete floor as it moved out of the equine treatment room. Angela followed Garrett and the horse outside, leaving Cole alone as he pulled out his cell phone and scrolled to the sheriff’s office phone number. The trouble with drug traffic through town last summer had made him cautious, and he’d placed both Deputy Mattie Cobb and the sheriff’s office on his contact list.
A woman answered the phone. “Timber Creek County Sheriff.”
Cole identified himself. “I’m a friend of Adrienne Howard’s, and I’m worried about her. I’m wondering if I could talk to Sheriff McCoy.”
After only a brief time on hold, Cole recognized the sheriff’s voice immediately. Its deep, rich timbre was unmistakable. “Hello, Cole. I understand you’re calling about Adrienne Howard.”
Cole explained the relationship he had with Adrienne and how she’d missed her appointment earlier in the day. “The kids and I are worried about her, so I thought I’d call and see if anything had changed.”
The sheriff hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. “We’re taking her absence seriously, Cole. I’m concerned enough that I’ve authorized a missing person’s report.”
“I don’t know Adrienne very well, but it seemed out of character for her not to show up today. Is there anything I can do?”
“What time were you expecting her?”
“At three o’clock. She schedules horse clients at my clinic.”
“That’s good to know. We need to interview people who worked with Adrienne. Can you make a list of clients that she’s seen in the past few weeks? We’ll need names and phone numbers.”
“We have some confidentiality issues that would prohibit me from doing that, but I’ll do my best. Angie and I can make a list tonight and get permission for you to call. I don’t anticipate any problems with that. We’ll have it for you as soon as possible.”
Garrett and Angela came back into the treatment room, Garrett’s eyes searching out Cole’s. The grief that lingered in his friend’s face caused an icy tingle to run up Cole’s spine, giving him a bad feeling.
“I have Garrett Hartman here at the clinic with me, Sheriff. If you get a lead that calls for a search party, let us know and we’ll activate the posse.” Cole hesitated but decided to go ahead and ask. “When do you expect Deputy Cobb to return?”
“She’s on her way right now. We expect her around seven.”
It seemed odd, but knowing Mattie would return soon made him feel a little better.
Cole said good-bye and disconnected the call. He shared the details he’d gleaned from the sheriff with Garrett and Angela. Anxiety pinched his daughter’s face. She’d formed a bond with Adrienne while they worked together here at the clinic. Angie had been through a lot lately. First his divorce, then Grace’s death, and now this. The strain was beginning to
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