My heart leapt, and I tried not to smile too broadly as I hurried across the steamy walkway to meet him. “Shouldn’t you be resting, Officer?”
“I’ve had a few matters to attend to,” Charlie said. His eyes looked tired and his complexion ashen, but he seemed relieved to have made it on time.
“So I see.” I reached down and petted Toby between the ears, and he leaned into my leg affectionately.
“He needed a home for the time being,” Charlie said. “He’s a good dog. He stayed with the Pendletons all the way to Saint Isidore’s. I found him outside the door to the funeral home this morning. There will be a service in a few days.” He spoke quietly, gently, as if nervous Toby might overhear him.
“And for Nellie Fuller?” I said.
“I’ve sent word to her family in New Fiddleham. There are no remains to send home, but a few of her effects survived the fire.” He hung his head. “It does not feel right to diminish the valor of her actions, but her official cause of death is a lightning strike.”
I sighed. Marlowe had made himself clear that it was in the public good to keep the case covert, and avoid stirring up panic with reports of dangerous creatures running amok. Blowing up a house with a fifty-foot mythical beast was the opposite of covert. However, I had to agree with Charlie that it did not feel right.
“Misters Horner and Lamb send their regards, by the way,” he said.
“You’ve given them a visit as well? Is there anyone you’ve not spoken to since I saw you last?”
“It has been a busy night,” he said. “I wanted to sort out the last of this mess before turning in. You’ll be happy to hear those two are getting along. Well, they’ve stopped actively looking for rocks to hurl at each other, at least.”
“I imagine not having any bones to bicker over may have helped,” I said.
Charlie nodded. “It does simplify matters. Mr. Horner is bound for South Dakota this afternoon. He’s already found another dig to attach himself to. Mr. Brisbee is making the most of the situation as well, it seems. I think it might be for the best.”
“What might be for the best?”
“The farmer is settling his affairs in town, but he’ll be accompanying Mr. Horner to the next excavation. I was not expecting Mr. Brisbee to take the news quite so well, but he seems more than ready to leave the valley behind and do some exploring of his own. He said it’s what his late wife would have wanted, and I’m inclined to agree. He’s given Lamb permission to root through whatever’s left on the dig site and take it back to the university.”
“You have had a full dance card, haven’t you? I guess I should be proud to have made the list.”
“I couldn’t let you leave without saying good-bye.” He looked into my eyes for several long seconds. I could have wrapped myself up in that gaze like a warm blanket. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but then paused and glanced bashfully away. He cleared his throat and straightened his uniform. “And thank you, of course, for all of your help,” he said, “on behalf of the police department of Gad’s Valley.”
It began to rain gently. The little station’s narrow awning did nothing, and the first drops chilled my neck and pattered against Charlie’s uniform, darkening the blue in uneven speckles.
“Of course,” I said, using every ounce of effort to will the disappointment out of my face. “We were only too happy to be of service, Mr. Barker.”
He looked on the verge of speaking again, when the conductor bellowed, “All aboard!” and the whistle screeched.
“I suppose I had better . . .” I gestured toward the train.
Charlie nodded. “Good-bye, Miss Rook.”
“Good-bye, Mr. Barker.”