Love Songs: The Wrong Note - A Collection of Short Stories

11

Buckie edged closer to the basement. The windows were so dirty it was hard to make out anything. Buckie heard a woman scream.

Tearing off as quickly as he could, he ran straight to Grover Doggins' office. The sheriff, pouring himself a cup of the tar that Cleo called coffee, spilled more on his uniform than hit his cup.

"Whoa heah, padnah?" the sheriff said. "Where's the fire, Buckie?"

"Sheriff," Buckie said breathlessly, "you gotta come. Come quick."

"And where exactly am I supposed to go to, young man?"

"To Big's. He's got her! Sheriff, come on."

"Now, just a minute, son. Ain't you supposed to be doing latrine duty over at the church?"

"Sheriff, I know you think I'm foolin', but I ain't. If you don't come now, he's gonna do something awful. Something awful bad."

Just then, Violet Jansen stormed through the door.

"This seems to be my day for all the plagues of Egypt," the sheriff said.

"Ms. Jansen," he said. "How can I help you?"

"Grover," Violet said. "You gotta start a search for Avery. I ain't seen hide ner hair of that girl since . . ."

"Come on, Buckie," the sheriff said. "Show me what you seen."

Buckie did not have to be told twice. He shot out of the sheriff's office like a bluetick on a coon's tail. The sheriff followed closely behind.

Violet, who did not have a clue as to what had just happened, waddled as quickly as her old-lady high heels would allow.

A few hundred yards from Big's house, the sheriff ordered Buckie and Violet to remain where they were.

"Violet," the sheriff said, "you make sure that you and the boy stay right here. I'll take care of this. Don't get in my way. Understand?"

Buckie shook his head. Violet muttered 'yes.'

"Is that all you want us to do, Grover?"

"Listen for my voice," said the sheriff. "If I run into trouble, I'll yell. Go back to town and bring help."

With that, Grover quietly made his way to the house and disappeared into the basement.