Garvey’s house was small and humble, not quite a shack, but not really a full-sized house either. It bore just three rooms—one bedroom, a bathroom, and the living area. He’d built his own porch, which showed signs of wear and tear and needed a new coat of paint. She was surprised to find the house neat and tidy as she looked through the windows, but dismayed the house was locked up tight. That was unusual, too. Garvey always had his door open when he was home. His was an open-door policy, and he always had a few friends hanging about. The stillness of his place gave Edna shivers. She pushed a couple numbers on her cellphone and brought it to her ear.
“Rickdale Sheriff’s Department, Carla speaking,” a soft voice droned.
“Carla, it’s Edna. Can you send someone around to Garvey’s? His car is at the cafe, but he didn’t show up for work today, and he’s not answering his phone or his door. This is not like him.”
“Hold on, Edna. Let me get Ash.” The phone went silent for a moment before Carla picked it back up. “Are you at Garvey’s now?”
“Yeah. It’s just absolutely still here. No movement at all. Not even the wind.”
“Okay, stay there. Ash is on his way. Call me if anything changes.”
It didn’t take long for Ash to arrive. The sheriff’s office was less than a quarter mile from Garvey’s house.
“Hey, Mrs. Miller, what’s up?” Ash greeted Edna. Ash at twenty-two still looked as fresh-faced as he had at fourteen.
“Does this seem odd to you?” Edna asked him. Despite their eight-year age gap, Ash had spent enough time hanging around Garvey’s before he became a deputy.
“Back in the day, yes, but Garvey’s really mellowed out the past couple years. Still, if he was here, his door would be open. That’s one thing that never changed. His car’s not here, though, so I suspect he isn’t either. What’s going on?”
“Both Jim and Everly saw him at the bar last night. Since then, his car is still parked at the cafe, but he isn’t there. He didn’t show up for work this morning, and now he’s not here either. No one has seen him all day.”
“I understand your concern, Mrs. Miller, but Garvey’s pretty resilient. He’ll turn up. It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t catch a ride with someone heading out of town to fetch Duke from Texas, what with Caleb being injured and all.”
“But wouldn’t he have said something? He’s the manager of the cafe, for Pete’s sake.”
Edna’s temper rose. It was totally within Garvey’s character to take off on some side adventure, but without telling anyone.
“He should have at least called me and told me he was leaving town for a couple days.”
“Yeah, probably. You’ll hear from him before long, I’m sure. I’ll check on his house during patrol, too. He’ll turn up. Sheriff Greyson is over at Caleb’s now. I’ll have him ask Caleb if he’s talked to him.”
Edna took a deep sigh. She couldn’t shake the feeling something bad was going on, but there wasn’t anything more she could do.
“I have to get to the cafe and cover for him. Will you let me know if you hear anything, Ash? Anything at all?”
“Yes, ma’am, what’s within my power to. Careful driving into town. That fog is back,” Ash said and tipped his hat to Edna as he got back in his cruiser and drove away.
“That fog was out last night, too,” Edna said. “I wonder...”
She didn’t finish her sentence, just got back in her car and made her way to the cafe. Garvey’s car was still there, just as she expected it to be, and Garvey still hadn’t turned up.
“Everly, can I ask a favor of you?” Edna said as she entered the kitchen and wrapped the apron around her thick waist.
“Sure, what’s up?” Everly set her notepad down and gave Edna her undivided attention.
“This fog really worries me. I’d just feel a lot better if you’d stay in town until it lifts. If I get Jim to fix up the little room above the bar, would you stay there, please? It’s such a bad time of year. Caleb’s accident, Garvey’s disappearance, the drifter...I just have a bad feeling about it all, and it would make me feel better to know you’re safe.”
Everly smiled. “Your concern is sweet but not needed. I live in the opposite direction of the fog. I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t know,” Edna said. “I just can’t shake the feeling that no one’s going to be fine this time.”
“Do you mean Mae?”
Edna startled to hear Everly say the name. “We don’t talk about that, but, yes, since you asked. It has everything to do with that. I realize I’m probably being silly, but it would just really make me feel better if you did. I can at least rest assured knowing one person I care about is safe.”
Everly’s heart was touched. Edna was usually a reserved person, not very emotional. It was actually really sweet and very hard to refuse.
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to stay in town for a couple of days. I’ll ride out and grab some stuff and come back after my shift.”
“Go now, before it gets dark. I can handle the cafe while you’re gone. Please, the fog is already rolling in.”
“CALEB, HAVE YOU TALKED to Garvey in the last twenty-four hours?” Tom asked, turning back to face them from the porch steps.
“No, why?” Caleb answered.
“He’s not answering his calls and left his car at the cafe. Did you send anyone out to pick up Duke by chance?” Tom pressed.
“I tried, but no one was available. No one’s too keen on leaving Rickdale right now.”
“That's to be expected. If you hear from Garvey, give me a call?” Tom handed Caleb his card, even though it wasn’t needed. Everyone knew the sheriff’s number.
“Yeah, I can do that, though I don’t expect to hear from him. He has his priorities, I have mine.”
“Still, let me know if you hear anything. Your momma won’t keep you down long. You’ll be hanging about town soon enough, I reckon.”
Jennifer offered Tom a stink-eye, but she knew he was right. She was lucky to keep Caleb in bed that long. He must be in more pain than she thought.
“Caleb knows I won’t keep him, but he does need to rest. He hasn’t complained so far. I’d give him a couple more days, and if he’s not yammering to get out then, I know things are a lot worse than he claims.”
Tom chuckled. “Sounds like you all have your work cut out for you. I best head back to the station. I’ll call if there’s any new developments.”
“Sounds good.” Jennifer looked out at the road. The fog had already begun drifting in, thicker than it was the night before. “That fog...” she shook her head.
“It’s something, isn’t it,” the sheriff agreed. “Nothing good coming out of that fog. I hope you don’t have to go out in it.”
“Not me. I know better. Goodbye, Tom. Drive safely.”
“That I will,” he said, tipping his hat and driving off.
Chapter Eight
Ash drove by Garvey’s every so often, and every time he found no changes, his concern grew. It really was out of character for Garvey by that point. He was an attention-seeker. He would have had to tell someone what he was doing, even if it was just to brag about some stupid prank. To make matters worse, the fog got thicker and thicker. It enveloped Ash’s cruiser so tight he had to crawl down the road just to be safe. His headlights flashed on a pair of denim legs, and he stopped his car. He grabbed his flashlight and stepped into the fog.