51: The Series

51: The Beginning Chapter 5 Part 2

The door chime rang, and Warden Sims entered the sheriff’s department. Cat was already standing and had turned toward the door before the chime stopped. She sat back down as soon as she saw who it was. He walked straight toward Lindsay’s office and shut the door behind him as soon as he walked in. Warden Sims looked at Little Bob and Cat, then at Lindsay.

“Are you alright?” Lindsay asked Warden Sims.

The warden started pacing and shaking his head.

“Mike, are you OK?” Lindsay asked. “Please give me an answer.”

Warden Sims turned and looked at them and asked, “What is going on in this county? I just took care of a call on the east side of the county about a deer that was ripped apart. I don’t mean it was killed and eaten like natural predation would be. I mean, it was ripped apart with no claw or tooth marks. Yesterday, it was something in the Sycamore River that attacked the kids, and I still don’t have any idea what that was. I can say that whatever it was, if it was an animal of some kind, it was not native to Missouri or even the Ozarks region. This morning, before the deer call, I tried to go back down to the river, and I was met by the United States Military, telling me that the area is now restricted. Did they tell your office anything about that? Because they sure didn’t tell me they were going to be doing training exercises in that area?”

“They didn’t notify us about the training exercises either,” Lindsay said. “Would you like to sit down? Do you want something to eat or drink?” Lindsay asked Warden Sims.

“Do you have any whiskey?” Mike Sims asked as he collapsed into a chair in the corner of Lindsay’s office.

“Sorry, I’m all out of whiskey. What about some pizza and soda?” Lindsay asked him.

He just sat in his chair and nodded. Cat was already up and heading out the door to get it. It was plain to see that Warden Mike Sims was ready to break after the past twenty-four hours. Lindsay and Little Bob did not say anything to him. They let Warden Sims sit quietly and try to compose himself until Cat returned with his plate and soda. He looked up at her and nodded a thank you. He opened the soda, downed half of it without stopping, then looked at them again.

“Sorry about that,” Mike said. “The last twenty-four hours have been crazy. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what I saw this morning. Have you heard anything about the girl, Amber, who was hurt yesterday?”

“I called her parents this morning. She was treated yesterday with the standard antibiotics, a tetanus shot, and stitches and was sent home. A few hours later, she became very ill and was taken to the emergency room. They took out the stitches and admitted her for some type of reaction. They don’t believe it was an allergic reaction or a standard bacterial infection. They are doing tests and cultures and are monitoring her progress. Her doctor is going to send all the information he has to this office, so we know if it is something in the water she is reacting to and if we need to close the river,” Lindsay told Mike.

“So if it isn’t a bacterial infection, what is it?” asked Cat.

“That’s a good question,” Lindsay said. “Mike, I’m pretty sure I know the answer is zero, but what are the chances of an invasive species that has venom being in that river and able to do what those kids are saying it did?” Lindsay asked.

“Absolutely, zero. Even if there were something in that river, there isn’t anything that I can think of anywhere in the world that lives in freshwater, with venom or a toxin, and is a size that could do what these kids are claiming,” Mike answered.

“Then let’s hope that some of the tests they are running on Amber show something we can work with. Regardless of whether it was an animal or not, we need to know what is making her so sick. If it is an infection, we will need to get with the Department of Natural Resources to find the source. Mike, if that needs to be done, you are more than welcome to do it. I know how much the Conservation Department and Department of Natural Resources love to work together.” Lindsay said, knowing that those two agencies hated to work together.

Mike half smiled and replied, “Yes because that would be just as effective as using gasoline to put out a fire. You know as well as I do that would end in disaster. I do not think we need to worry about that, though. I think whatever cut Amber was an animal of some kind, but I also don’t think we will ever find it after the military training that is going on at that river today. With all the noise they are making, I doubt I will even be able to find a frog or fish in that area.”

Just then, the phone on Lindsay’s desk rang, and Cat grabbed it. “Sheriff’s department, how may I help you?” she said. After briefly listening to who was speaking on the other end, she gave them the number to the department fax at her desk before she hung up the phone. “Sorry about that. I set the phone to forward all calls to your phone while we were meeting. That was Amber’s doctor. He is sending some of her labs now.” Cat turned and walked to her desk out front to wait for the paperwork.

“I didn’t know that we could do that with the phones,” Little Bob said as he threw away his empty plate.

“That is one of the many things you will quickly learn if you do take the job as chief deputy,” Lindsay told him.

Cat walked back into the office, carrying what looked to be Amber’s entire medical file. She handed Lindsay the thick stack of papers and said, “You will never believe what these say.”

Lindsay quickly leafed through the stack until she found the pages that contained the results for the cultures and toxicology reports. As she started reading, she found the cultures had come back with small traces of common bacteria, just as you would expect from any cut you would receive in the Sycamore River. The surprise was in the toxicology report. What it said was not even possible. Nothing on earth contained everything that was found. The lab found traces of apitoxin, found in honey bees; latrotoxin, found in black widow spiders; tetrodotoxin, found in pufferfish and other aquatic life; and epibatidine, a lipophilic alkaloid toxin found in a group of frogs classified as poison dart frogs. She looked up from the report.

“Did you read this?” she asked Cat.

“I did, and I have never seen anything like that and have no idea how that could even happen. I will start doing some research if you don’t mind,” Cat told Lindsay.

“Of course, I don’t mind. Please start as soon as you can. It would be greatly appreciated,” Lindsay said. She looked at Mike and Little Bob as Cat returned to her desk. “Would you like me to let you read it or just sum it up and condense it for you?” she asked them.

Little Bob and Warden Sims looked at each other before Mike said, “Just give us the high points of it, Lindsay.”

“OK. What it comes down to is whatever cut Amber’s leg has a combination of toxins found in honeybees, black widow spiders, pufferfish, and poison dart frogs. Can either of you think of a good explanation for that? Because I sure can’t.”

“Don’t look at me. I have no idea. Talk to the deer detective when it comes to the animal issues in this county,” Little Bob said with a big smile on his face.

“Deer detective? Really? That is what you come up with in a situation like this?” asked Warden Sims.

“I’m sorry. Would you prefer squirrel sheriff, or what about trout trooper?” Little Bob asked, continuing to smile.

“All right, guys, you can harass each other later. We have bigger problems right now than you two doing this, whatever it is. You two have the same job. You just work for different agencies,” Lindsay said. “Seriously, we need to come up with a game plan about this whole situation involving the river if there is anything left after the military is done with the training exercises.”

Both Little Bob and Warden Sims looked slightly hurt by what Lindsay had said.

“First,” Little Bob started, “Mike and I have known each other since elementary school. What we have been doing is nothing compared to what we normally do. Don’t worry about any problems with us or our departments working together. We went fishing last week and didn’t drown each other, so we should be fine working on this.”

“We work together fine. If we ever stop talking to each other like this, then you should worry. As for a Sycamore River game plan, what do you suggest? We really can’t do anything until those training exercises are over. I can tell you I searched that river, and whatever had been in that eddy was not there when I was. There was nothing in the water that Amber could have been cut on, not even a log,” Mike said. “I think it was some kind of animal, but what kind is the million-dollar question. There is nothing that is in the Missouri Ozarks that could be in that water and carry any of the toxins that were found in that girl’s leg. I do hope that Cat can find something that makes some sense of this, but I don’t think she will. There is nothing in nature that would combine all of those things.”

Lindsay listened to Little Bob and Mike as she looked at her desk. They were both completely able to handle anything that came their way. She also knew that until the military training maneuvers were over, they could do nothing about what had happened in the water. She looked up, and they were both looking at her.

“I’m sorry, guys. I should not have snapped at you two. And you’re right. There isn’t anything we can do at the river for now. If any information is out there, Cat will find it, and for now, we just need to try to ensure that if anyone hears of anything strange anywhere in this county, we need to share that information. Which reminds me, Mike, did you find anything out at Rita Johnson’s house?” asked Lindsay.

“Something big ripped apart the phone box at the back of her house, but you know that. I didn’t find a claw mark or a footprint anywhere out there. I did see some bootprints at the back of the house, but I’m sure that was you,” Mike said.

“Those were from Andy Baxter and me. When we looked, there were no prints from animals or humans that we could find, but there was a very strong smell when we first got there,” Lindsay said.

“Are you telling me that it was there?” Mike asked.

“I think it was,” Lindsay told him.

“I can’t get over the fact that you and Andy took that call together. That must have been awkward for both of you,” Little Bob said.

“I would like to hear how that went, too. That poor kid does have some problems when it comes to women,” Mike chimed in.

“It wasn’t that bad. I drove and gave Andy things to do, like follow the GPS, and told him to keep trying to call Ms. Johnson. He did well on the call and even did pretty well talking to me. I did find out the next day that the reason for that is because I make him think of his mother,” Lindsay said.

Mike and Little Bob started laughing as soon as the words about her making Andy think of his mother were out of her mouth. She started laughing, too. After the chaos of the past few days, Lindsay needed a good laugh. When she thought about it, she did feel a little like a mother in charge of a bunch of children. Lindsay looked up at the clock on the wall and realized it was well after time for all of them to go home. She saw Big Bob talking to Cat, and Andy was at his regular desk, furiously typing something. She also noticed that the evening dispatcher had yet to arrive. If there was not a good reason for it, Cat would be adding another name to the list to be replaced. She should not be working that many hours covering shifts for other employees.

“OK, gentlemen, I think we have done everything we can do today. I will make sure that the area down by the Sycamore River and out toward Rita Johnson’s has a few more patrols done during each shift. Who knows, we might get lucky and find the answers to our questions. I don’t know about you two, but I am going to start working my way home,” Lindsay said as she began to stand.

Mike stood and said, “I think you’re right. I am going to head out, too. Bob, are you up for fishing again this weekend?

“Of course I am. You know I never turn down a chance to drown a few worms,” Little Bob answered.

Little Bob stood and followed Warden Sims out of Lindsay’s office. Lindsay was close behind and walked toward the front counter where Cat and Big Bob were still talking.

“Hey guys,” Lindsay said to them, “I need you to make sure that everyone who comes on duty knows what is going on about Rita Johnson’s place and the Sycamore River. Let’s make sure there are extra patrols in those areas. I don’t really know what to tell anyone to look for because we don’t know what was at her house. Just take note of anything strange or out of the ordinary. Make sure to keep track of where the military training exercises are moving. I need to know if they are moving around a lot or staying in the same general location. They are shutting all roads down wherever they are, which could create serious problems if we are trying to respond to an emergency.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Cat answered.

“You intend on making me work for a living tonight, don’t ya?” Big Bob asked, chewing on a toothpick.

“Yes, I do. I thought you could use a change of pace from just sitting around finding new ways to mess with poor Andy. Oh, and by the way, that was mean to send him out to my house and tell him I would fire him if he didn’t talk to me. It did work out in the long run, so don’t worry about it, but please try not to be too mean to him,” Lindsay told him.

“I was hoping it would help him a little. You know I’m not good at being all touchy-feely, so that was kind of my version of tough love for the kid,” Big Bob said. “Did it help him at all? I do hope that something helps. He is good now, but he could be outstanding if he can get over his woman issues.”

“I think it did help a little. We discovered that Andy can talk to me at least some of the time and even occasionally look me in the eye when he does it. Don’t worry; I am trying to devise a plan to help him,” Lindsay said. “Cat,” she said, “please tell me that the dispatcher is on their way in and had a flat tire or something, and they will be here soon.”

Cat let out a sigh of exasperation. “The dispatcher that should be here simply hasn’t shown and will not answer any calls or text messages. And this is not the first time that this has happened.”

“OK, call them back and tell them they are fired, and their last check will be mailed to them. That way, they don’t ever have to come back in. I’m sure we have at least one part-time dispatcher who would like extra hours or to become full-time, so call that person and tell them they need to come to work,” Lindsay said.

“We have a few who would be happy with more hours or full-time, so I will start by calling the one that I think would be the most reliable, then call and fire the other one if that sounds good to you. I have a client tonight, and I will make more there than I will here.” Cat said.

“Go for it,” Lindsay told her. “Do things in the order that is most efficient for you. In the morning, make sure I have a list of people who need to be replaced in the dispatch center, and we will sit down and take care of this thing with people just not showing up. If you have everything under control, I will start working my way toward home. If you need anything, yell and let me know when you finally get out of here. We can add all of that to your overtime this week.”

“Have a safe drive home. I will see you in the morning,” Cat said, with a tired smile.

-

When Lindsay got home, her husband, Wren, was already there. Her son Dillon was spending the night at a friend’s house, and she was hoping she would be home in time to see him before he left. However, that had not happened. That was something that she had not missed about working for the sheriff’s department. Just because you were scheduled to work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. did not mean that those are the hours you would work. You may work that shift and then be called in the middle of the night for an emergency or work twelve or sixteen hours straight instead of the eight on your schedule. Nevertheless, she loved the job, and to her, it was worth it.

As soon as she opened the door, she could smell the Thai food that Wren had picked up on the way home. After leaving work, he always passed by the sheriff’s department on his way home. If her car was still there, Wren always tried to either pick up food or cook before she got home. That was just one of the many ways he tried to take care of her.

“Hello, baby,” Wren said as she walked into the kitchen. “How was your day?”

“Well, let me condense it down for you. Any investigation at the Sycamore River is over because the military is doing training exercises in the area without any notification to anyone. Tests came back on the girl who was hurt yesterday, and they found a combination of toxins in her wound that cannot be found in nature. Something that cannot be identified ripped apart a deer over on the east side of the county. Oh, and to top it all off, when I left the office, Cat was still there trying to find someone who actually wants to work so she could go home. Other than that, it was a great day,” Lindsay said.

“I am almost sorry, I asked. I’m pretty sure that is all you can tell me, so I’m not going to ask questions even though I have several,” Wren said. “Go change clothes, and I will make you a plate.”

Lindsay just smiled and followed his instructions. She was too tired to argue. They ate in the living room, watching television, and relaxing for a while before going to bed early. They were both hoping the next day would be a little more normal, if that were even possible for that county anymore.