Page 28 - Labelle Gramercy, Detective

Road Kill

The policeman grabbed my arm. “Listen! It’s up to us to stop her.
They’re going to one of two places: where Ewidge fell, or where they
saw him fall. Which is it?”
I racked my brain, trying to ignore the pain his grip was inflicting.
“I don’t know! She didn’t say!”
“Then we’ve got to split up. Can you remember how to get to that
clearing where they saw Ewidge take a header? It’s closer.”
“Yes, yes. I can remember.”
“Then go. Go fast. And pray that we’re in time.”
He was off like a shot, and I followed suit. It being the weekend, I
had on shoes more appropriate to outdoor activity, so I was able to
move a lot faster than I had previously. I passed a couple of hikers on
the way, barely noticing them. Labelle’s determination and Sherrie’s
vulnerability filled my mind. Either of them could suffer great injury
if the situation got out of hand. And my responsibility would be
unavoidable. I had gone beyond the rules to help a student, and the
results would be on my hands. My career, its past and truncated
future, flashed before my eyes, just as if I had been hurtling over the
abyss like Ross Ewidge.
I half-ran, half-stumbled over a rise and my objective came in
sight. But it was deserted. Wheezing, I flopped down on a stump and
wiped my brow. The day was already getting hot. Then I remembered
that the other location was visible from where I sat. I shaded my eyes
against the morning sun and squinted.
Yes! There, standing not more than ten feet from the edge of the
cliff were two female figures. My eyesight is not what it used to be,
but I could tell it was Sherrie and Labelle. Sherrie was shaking her
head vehemently while Labelle stabbed the air in making some point.
Fassner was not in sight.
I wanted to yell, to get their attention somehow and distract it
from the unpleasant re-enactment evidently in progress, but before I
could catch my breath, something caught my eye. A darkly-clad
figure, male by its build, suddenly rushed out toward the girls from
the underbrush. Labelle’s back was to this intruder, but Sherrie saw
him and screamed. Despite that, Labelle did not immediately react,
and the man ran straight into her with his arms extended. He was
going to push her over the edge!

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