Dark Sky (Joe Pickett #21)(17)

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—

Do you have any ties to our valley?” Marybeth asked Griffith.

“Not really anymore,” Griffith said. “I used to come up here in the summer and stay at my grandparents’ cabin in the Bighorns. I always liked it. But no, I don’t know many people here yet.”

“I’ll help with that,” Marybeth said. “In fact, there’s a Chamber of Commerce social tomorrow night at Rex’s Taxidermy on Main Street. You should come. I’ll introduce you around to the business community.”

Griffith nodded, but didn’t commit. She seemed suspicious of Marybeth and not quite comfortable with her. Marybeth empathized. After all, she was about to ask something very sensitive of the new county prosecutor.

“Do you plan to put down roots here?” Marybeth asked.

“I haven’t made that decision yet. I’m operating one day at a time. I know how fortunate I am to get a position like this, given my age and gender. I want to make the most of it and we’ll go from there.”

“Good for you,” Marybeth said. “It won’t be as hard as you think. This place is filled with strong women. The county attorney before Duane Patterson was Dulcie Schalk. She is my best friend.”

“And you’re the director of the library,” Griffith said. “I haven’t been in there yet.”

“I know.”

Griffith looked startled.

“I didn’t mean to sound judgmental,” Marybeth said. “I’m not chastising you. But it’s an old Carnegie building and very small. I usually know who’s there and who’s not.”

Griffith sipped her coffee and winced. “This is quite strong.” Then: “Is there really a purpose to libraries anymore, with the Internet and all?”

Marybeth tried not to react. She said, “Small-town libraries are often community centers as well. Ours is. It’s a place where you can meet a good cross section of locals and learn more about them. I find out more about what’s going on in the valley by talking with locals than any other means.”

“Interesting.”

Marybeth didn’t want to say how much Joe relied on her for inside information and intel when it came to his own job and the cases he worked. Not only did she use library resources to do research and access law enforcement databases, she was also his behind-the-scenes partner and adviser. Her position at the library provided him with background and insight he’d never have by himself.

Marybeth took a sip of coffee as well. It was bitter and she guessed the pot had likely stayed on the warmer since lunchtime.

“You asked me to meet you,” Griffith said.

“I guess there’s no reason to beat around the bush. May I call you AnnaBelle?”

“Sure.”

“AnnaBelle, I know you inherited a caseload of work when you took over here. In particular, there are potential charges against a man named Nate Romanowski.”

“Ah,” Griffith said with a self-satisfied smile. “Now I know why we’re here.”

“Nate is an old family friend,” Marybeth said. “There’s no doubt he’s a different kind of person and he’s very rough around the edges. But he’s a good man.”

“A good man?” Griffith said. “Are we talking about the guy who is accused of assaulting the last sheriff and literally ripping his ear off of his head? That good man?”

“Yes,” Marybeth said. “As I’m sure you’ve seen from the case notes, his wife and baby had been kidnapped, he needed to get out of jail to save them, and the sheriff refused to help or cooperate. And Nate never should have been jailed in the first place. That’s in the notes, too.”

Griffith took in Marybeth and looked her over carefully. Marybeth tried not to crack.

“We probably shouldn’t be having this conversation. You’re asking me to make a determination on an ongoing case.”

“I guess I am,” Marybeth said.

“I can’t do that.”

“I get that. I do. But I thought it important that you know the background. Nate is . . . unique.”

“Are you saying he should be judged by a different set of rules than everyone else?”

Marybeth realized that was exactly what she was asking, although hearing it in so many words unsettled her for a moment.

“Let me put it this way,” Marybeth said. “You’re new here. You’re obviously smart and ambitious.”

“Thank you, I guess.”

“In your job, you’ll likely make enemies.”

Griffith didn’t reply.

Marybeth said, “If somebody decided to hurt you, you’d want someone like Nate around.”

Griffith looked at Marybeth quizzically. “What would he do?”

“Whatever he had to. Nate has been looking after our family for a long time. I don’t always condone his methods, but it’s very reassuring to know he’s out there.”

“Isn’t that why we have law enforcement?” Griffith asked.

“It should be,” Marybeth conceded. “But it doesn’t always work out that way.”

At that moment, Marybeth felt her phone burr in her purse on her lap. She glanced down to check the screen.