Dempster Road

Chapter 4

The crowd milled about expressing a shared puzzlement over the incident, after searching the bridge again top to bottom and finding nothing. Both policemen turned together at the sound of the tow truck engine revving up, and they ordered everyone to get back until the car was on land.

The line suddenly snapped taut, flipping mud into the air in tiny spatters, and after a moment, the winch began its steady winding screech. The light bar that had been just under the surface rose at a sedate pace from the river.

Water streamed from the vehicle, coursing back down the muddy bank like shiny fingers as it was dragged slowly upward. Barney waved the driver on, and the winch stopped as the truck took over, hauling its load up onto the roadway. Barney ordered Stan to keep everyone back, including the aggressive female reporter, who managed to click off several shots while complaining about being hurried along with the rest.

"Stan Withers, what would your mother say about pushing a woman around like that?" The taunt was only partially in jest. The woman aimed her camera again, and the Deputy blocked its view with his arms.

"Belinda, I don't usually push you around – seems to me it's always been more like, over." Several of the men nearby began to laugh at her reddening face. Even in the pale glow from the floodlights, Belinda's colour was obvious. He gave her a broad wink, increasing her discomfort, and walked back to the dripping automobile.

The woman turned her glare on the laughing men and slung her camera over her shoulder.

"Empty." Barney scratched his chin. The tow driver pried the trunk and the passenger door open with his crowbar for the policemen to make their examination, and jumped back as more, dirty river water spilled out over his barely dried shoes.

"Doors and windows all shut, but she's empty, and the keys are in the ignition . . . still on. Trunk's empty too." He chewed at the similarity with the car on Hwy. 6 but said nothing.

"So . . . Edgar was out of the car when it went in the river." Stan said.

"Looks like, but why all locked up? His hat's on the floor but his searchlight's missing and so's his shotgun."

"You think they could all be down there along with Edgar?" Stan looked down at the river.

"Maybe. If he is there. We'll have to wait 'till mornin'. Clyde'll have to do a dive for us."

"Hope he's sober enough." Stan said.

"If he ain't, it'll be you that gets him sober, so maybe you better call on him tonight." Stan checked his watch and pulled a face but nodded, and headed back to his own car. "And check in with Stella before you go. Bring her up to date."

Barney turned as a flash of light bloomed on his periphery. "Did I say you could take pictures?"

"Freedom of the press, Sheriff." Belinda snapped one of Barney and smiled wickedly. Barney shook his head and watched the reporter from the Dempster Voice as she checked her camera. Belinda was very well known in town, primarily for her methods as a 'get the story at any cost' reporter. Here she was again, forcing the issue in her trademark denim jacket, tight jeans and in-your-face expression.

"That's a shame, Belinda."

"What is?" She took his talking to her as permission to come closer.

"I don't want to see any of those shots in your paper until I say it's okay."

She frowned and set her mouth. "That's not your decision, Barney."

"First names ain't gonna get you any closer. I mean what I say, now scoot."