Chapter 8

Sheriff Eckle was relieved to see the crime scene lab’s van pull into the driveway of the McHenry house ahead of schedule. He was uncomfortable around Cinnamon Lambert. His face prickled whenever the girl’s piercing eyes touched it. In them, he saw a wisdom that went beyond both their years.

He gave Deputy Hunter a pat on the back and said, “Take over.” He then sprinted over to the van to supervise the scene as the crime lab gathered evidence.

Deputy Hunter knew Todd fairly well and had seen the girl around but had never spoken to her. Rumors were that she wasn’t entirely warm to any masculine overtures. But something about the way she leaned into Todd’s protective embrace suggested she wasn’t as icy as the local youthful testosterone population implied.

He pulled a worn black notebook from the front pocket of his shirt. Flipping to a fresh page, he smiled at Cinnamon. “Miss Lambert, I need to ask you a few questions.”

Todd spoke in sotto voce, “Deputy, could you ask your questions away from probing eyes?” He nodded towards the gallery of onlookers. “Many of them were agreeing with Roman Ouellette.”

Glancing around, Deputy Hunter noted that Ward and the other deputies were having a tough time with crowd control. “Good ideal, Todd. Miss Lambert, you should go home now. I’ll be over later to ask some routine questions regarding the McHenry house.”

“Its crazy to think she or her mom have anything to do with whatever happened.” Todd spoke vehemently, angry to think how Roman had almost turned the crowd on Cinnamon.

“We’re not focusing on them. The department is asking all the residents of the neighborhood these questions.”

Cinnamon’s silence was uncannily unnatural. Deputy Hunter felt she most likely had something to say on all subjects. He wondered what had her absolute attention. Following her gaze, he saw that Sheriff Eckle and some of the crime lab guys were examining the rag doll. “Miss Lambert, did you hear…”

Ignoring both men, she said, “That looks like Little Joe.” Cinnamon broke away from Todd’s embrace and hurried over to where the sheriff stood.

“Little who?” Both men spoke at once.

“Cinnamon, wait.” Todd shouted as she crossed under the yellow police tape. He looked at Deputy Hunter, as he stuffed his notebook back into his pocket with a sigh, muttering, “Women!” Then to Todd he said, “Let’s go get her before she makes the Sheriff angry. He’s already wound up tight.”

Someone from the observant crowd shouted shrilly, “Sheriff, look out. The witch’s daughter is sneaking up on you. She’ll hex you and your deputies. Don’t look in her eyes. Someone grab her.” The crowded ebbed forward like the unrelenting tide of a destruction bent hurricane. They had been waiting for an opportunity to break the monopoly of watching from the sidelines.

Sheriff Eckle recognized hysteria when he saw it. His deputies struggled to keep the group back, as one lady grabbed the Lambert girl’s arm, causing her to cry out in pain. Her boyfriend and Hunter were trying to keep her from being torn apart by the mob. In a voice that some would later say was reminiscent of Sheriff Brown, Eckle shouted, “That’s enough. Everyone not directly involved with this investigation is to go about your business now, or my deputies will arrest you for obstruction. Deputy Hunter, get the riot gear ready.”

The last directive proved unnecessary, disappointing the deputy once again, as the disgruntled crowd dispersed.

(WC= 5,006)