Roanoke: The Price of Power

The Scene

Dare raced against nightfall, pumping his legs down the westward trail until he came upon Doc and Archard standing roughly where Swift's body had been found.

He slowed his pace then halted beside them, doubling over for a moment to regain his breath. When he looked up, Arnold Archard was giving him a distasteful frown.

"What do you think?" Dare asked between breaths.

"I think that without a body, it would very hard to call this a murder," said Arnold. "I know you're not a magistrate's investigator, Dare, but isn't it sensible that I would need a body to investigate?"

"You're right, of course," Dare said, his breath finally catching. "and I did send a man to hide the body. But he told me it wasn't here."

"Interesting," Doc said.

"Very," added Anthony. "So someone found it and moved it."

"Or the killer came back and hauled it away," said Dare.

"Not likely," said Dare. "When we arrived at this woefully disturbed crime scene, Doc told me that you probably sent a man to remove the wagon and the body. Your man said there was no body, but what of the wagon?"

"He dismantled it. Hid the meat and parts in the brush."

"Where?" asked Doc.

"I don't know. He said twenty paces off the trail."

Arnold clucked his tongue and scratched the back of his head.

"You've been very helpful, governor," he said, his disapproving grimace holding fast.

"Now, hear me!" said Dare. "I ran all the way out here to warn you that the killer is probably watching you from the shrubs as we speak! And if I disturbed your bloody crime scene, it's only because I don't want a panic in my colony!"

"True enough," said Doc, "and that forethought is appreciated. Now I say we make our way back before night descends in full. Even though you brought a torch, Governor Dare, I wouldn't think it wise to be caught beyond the walls tonight."

With that, the three men headed back to Roanoke colony.

* * * * *

The homeward journey was completed in silence and the three crossed the west gate just as the sun winked out over the horizon.

Arnold overheard Dare asking the man at the gate, who was standing by to shut it for the evening, something about a patrol. It was then that he and Doc parted ways from the governor and continued on toward the cottages in the center of the town.