Chapter I

“Unit 7, Unit 7. Do you read? This is dispatch!”

“This is Unit 7, over!” Deputy Patterson replied.

“Have a report of an intruder at 3505 Oakwood Dr.”

“I’m familiar with the address that’s Widow Freeman’s place!” Patterson announced.

“Roger that, Unit 7. How far are you out?”

“About 10 minutes, over.”

“She reports that whoever it is they’re very tall. Please advise if you need backup upon arrival.”

“Will do, over and out!” Patterson wrestled his cruiser into 180-degree turn go back east and headed for the Freeman residence.

It was nearly 11:00 pm when Deputy Buck Patterson arrived with his lights on, but his siren off. He immediately scanned the property with the spotlight on his driver side door. He saw movement of a tall dark figure disappear behind the brush and tree line. He immediately called dispatch for back up. “Emily, this is Buck. Go ahead and call-in backup. I spotted the suspect!”

“Acknowledged, will do.” The Dispatcher replied.

Mrs. Freeman lived in a cabin that had once housed a family and her husband, Harold, who had operated a small farm. Since his death two years before, the farmland had gone unattended and had become overgrown with weeds, grasses, and saplings. Mrs. Freeman was too old to handle all that work now and lived off Social Security and some investments that Harold had made over the years. Having had 4 children during the course of their marriage, the poor woman hardly ever heard from her own children even after sending them holiday and birthday cards each year. The only thing she had now was her garden and memories of a once rich family life that had been taken away from her. The heartbreak of the rare contact with her family had been hard to bear.

She saw the pulsating red and blue lights through her curtains when Deputy Patterson arrived and saw him outside with his flashlight. Buck had unsnapped his holster and was sweeping the underbrush cautiously with his flashlight beam when Deputy Hoyt Mitchell arrived along with Deputy Pete Withers. Mitchell glanced at his partner, Withers, “Go and make sure the old widow is alright. I’ll join up with Patterson, and we’ll check out the landscape. Go!”

Frustratedly, the Deputy got out in the darkness as colored lights blinked in the night and knocked on the widow’s door. She opened the door with a joyous reception. Glad to have company even under these circumstances! “Come on in, Deputy. I’ll bet you could use a snack! I just made a batch of cookies earlier today!”

Deputy Pete Withers felt as though he were a little kid visiting his grandmother’s. This lady had a warmth and charm that made anyone feel welcome. She was tall and willowy still having a certain youthful look about her. She gave Pete’s wrist a playful tug and pulled him into the kitchen. There she uncovered a platter of freshly baked cookies. They smelled wonderful, but the deputy resisted.

“Looks great!” Pete said, “but, I’m on duty. I can’t.”

The widow wouldn’t hear of it. She smiled and held a cookie up to him. Hoyt reluctantly took the cookie and munched it. Homemade chocolate cookies! Crunchy and rich with chunks of melted chocolate! He was hard pressed not to show his surprise and delight, feeling like a kid again, but he kept his composure. “That’s quite a treat. You made those from scratch?”

“Sure did,” She smiled. “My kids absolutely loved them.”

“Your kids didn’t know how lucky they were, Mam.”

“I wonder if they even remember?” She remarked almost tearfully.

Pete patted her on the shoulder, “I’m sure they do! “

“Would you like some milk?” She smiled.

“Oh, I can’t be eating up your food,” Deputy Withers uttered.

“Don’t worry. I have plenty of food. It’s all I have! I can’t eat all this anyway. I’m going to bag up some cookies for your buddies too. You boys burn up a lot of energy risking your lives to protect and serve.”

“That’s awful nice of you, Mam,” Pete nodded.

Just then, Mitchell and Patterson came in the door. “Mam, do you have any means of self-protection?” Asked deputy Buck Patterson.

“Yes, that double barrel shot gun over there in the corner,” Mrs. Freeman pointed to it.

Deputy Patterson walked over, unfolded the barrel from the stock and inspected the rifle, “You sure have kept the chamber and barrels cleaned. Do you know how to use this thing. It has quite a kick.”

“I used it a few years back to shoo off a big cougar. I didn’t hit him, but I shot over his head and scared the Dickens out of him!”

The deputy laughed, “I’ll bet you did!”

“Seriously, Mam, we went way back into your property, but whoever it is must be long gone by now!” Offered Hoyt Mitchell.

“You were right. Whoever it was, they were huge. I caught a glimpse of him blending into the foliage before I could get to him!” Deputy Patterson added. “I’m going to take my vehicle back behind your property. I think there’s a trail back there We might be able to intercept whoever this person is.”

Hoyt Mitchell glanced at Buck, “We better go!”

“Wait a minute, you Boys,” Widow Freeman, replied as she handed them a white paper bag that looked to be from a bakery.

“What’s this?” Buck smiled.

“Homemade chocolate cookies,” Deputy Withers explained with a smile.

“Mam, I can’t take that from you,” Patterson replied.

“Oh, yes you can,” Mrs. Freeman smiled.

“She won’t take no for an answer,” Pete laughed.

“They sure smell good, “Deputy Patterson relied.

“Excuse us, Mam, but we got to go fight crime,” Hoyt said with sarcastic bravado.

With that, the two deputies walked out the door. Patterson turned back to glance at Deputy Withers, “You stay with Mrs. Freeman for a little while longer. I’ll let you know if we find anyone.”

After the two deputies drove off, Pete patted Mrs. Freeman on the shoulder, “I’m going to walk around your cabin and check for footprints or anything else. I’ll be back in few minutes,” he explained.

“Well, okay,” The widow agreed solemnly.

“Just wait,” Pete reassured her.

The deputy, grabbed his flashlight out of his patrol car, and began sweeping the ground around the cabin. The soil was sandy and soft, but there were footprints overlapping the deputies earlier. He could tell by the kind of shoes they wore for their own uniforms. Then Hoyt found something snagged on the corner of the cabin on the right side. It was a tuft of hair or fur. Maybe it was from a large animal, he thought. He went to his car and grabbed a plastic evidence pouch. With a plastic gloved hand, he picked the tuft of hair and stored it in the bag. He took this to his car. He then went back into Mrs. Freeman’s cabin, but didn’t mention the sample he had taken. He didn’t want to frighten the older woman.

Meanwhile, Patterson and Mitchell had reached the end of the trail, and not seen anything when suddenly Deputy Hoyt pointed out at the edge of the headlight beam. He pointed to what appeared to be large tracks. Both men got out of the Sheriff’s cruiser to check out several huge footprints. Patterson knelt down and examined them. He rubbed his face and stared over at Hoyt. “Who in the hell is out here walking around barefoot in the brush?”

Withers replied, “Much less with what is likely to be 22-inch-long tracks.”

“Do we have a plaster casting kit in the trunk?” Patterson muttered as he stared at the tracks.

“I think so.” Mitchell replied.

“I’ll take some cell phone pics of the tracks,” Patterson said as he pulled out his cell phone.

“This’ll take some time,” Withers advised as he broke out the plaster casting kit.

“It appears that we have the time,” Patterson shot back.

“Unit 7, Unit 7!” The voice of dispatch crackled over the sheriff’s vehicle speakers.

“This is Unit 7. Go ahead.”

“What’s your status?”

“We’re examining evidence. Any problems? Over.”

“Negative, Unit 7. All is quiet for now.”

“Good, we’ll need time for some plaster casts we are taking.”

“Roger that. Keep us advised. Over.”

The driver side door spotlight kept the impressions on the ground illuminated as the two men made the plaster castings of the footprints. “Damn, this had to be one big bastard and heavy as hell too,” Muttered Deputy Mitchell.

“Yeah,” Patterson replied thoughtfully, “But, seems too big for any normal man. I’m going to do some research on these dermal ridges. There’s a forensics examiner down in Corsicana who has done this kind of work.”

“You mean that guy who does Bigfoot research?” Mitchell scowled in the light. “You really want to open up that can of worms?”

Patterson glanced at his fellow Deputy, “This aint normal, Hoyt! I saw that big bastard blend into the thicket when I drove up!”

“Okay,” Mitchell sighed, “Whatever.”

Sheriff Gus Grainger walked into the county facility and asked Morning Dispatcher, Kate, to hand him the night before incident report log while she handed him a fresh mug of hot coffee. He reviewed what had happened at Widow Freeman’s place. “Damn, three of my deputies tied up on one location?”

“Other than it was a pretty quiet night, Sheriff, “Kate explained. “I read the incident report log myself.”

“Well, that’s good work young lady,” The sheriff winked at her as he walked into his office.

Kate walked into the Sheriff’s office, “By the way, Deputy Withers dropped off that fur sample evidence at the coroners along with the plaster castings.”

“Thank you, young Lady,” Sheriff Gus nodded and sipped his coffee.

Sheriff Grainger reviewed the night before Incident Report Log

County Sheriff Department Night Activity:

• Trespasser reported at 3505 Oakwood Dr. Deputies called. Evidence acquired. Welfare check on resident Widow Freeman. No injuries or property damage reported. Time: 11:43 PM
• Steer Fell off back of cattle truck. Animal recovered. No traffic accident reported.
• Location South Hwy 183 and Willow Exit. Time: 12:00 AM
• Runaway child identified as Andy Jefferson picked up on FM 143 and detained at County Juvenile Detention Center. Time: 1:55 AM.
• No further incidents reported.

Well, Gus Grainger thought to himself, a relatively quiet night. He’d wait to see what Sam Weatherford, Executive Coroner, would find after sending the evidence out for DNA lab testing. The Sheriff would wait for his night crew to brief him on what they’d found at the Freeman residence the night before when they came in if there weren’t too many other things happening in the county when they got in.

Several weeks later, a call came into the County Sheriff’s office. Widow Freeman was reported missing. Deputy Sheriffs did a thorough search of the area, but found nothing. Sheriff Grainger was in his office when dispatch relayed a call directly through to him. “Sheriff, Deputy Patterson here.”

“Tell me something good, Buck,” Gus Grainger sighed.

“Wish I could, Sheriff, but I have an answer at least,” Buck replied.

“Fire away son!”

“Can’t Sheriff. You need to come down and see this for yourself!”

“Why the mystery, Buck?”

“You’ll know when you see this, Sheriff.”

“Oh, hell!” Grainger blurted out. “This better be good, Buck!”

“See you soon, Sheriff.” Buck Patterson replied noting Grainger’s irritation, but he knew his judgment call was for the best as he looked down at that diary he had just read.

Sheriff Grainger headed over to the 3505 Oakwood Drive that afternoon wondering what the hell Buck had found, and why he wouldn’t to keep it hushed up. A half our later he rolled up to the cabin sitting in front of unkept farm acreage. The afternoon was starting to get late. Deputy Buck Patterson’s cruiser was parked in front. The place looked in order. No sign of a struggle or forced entry. He examined the rooms of the house for any clue as Buck waited patiently with a leatherbound book in his hand. “You won’t find on thing out of order, Sheriff.”

“So, what’s the big damn mystery about, Buck?”

“Take a look at this and you’ll know what I’m talking about,” Buck replied hand the sheriff the curious looking book. On the cover he read, “My Personal Diary.”

“You’ll find all the clues there.” Buck sighed resolutely. “Better have a seat, Sheriff,” Buck gestured toward a kitchen table chair.

September 29, Thursday

Dear Diary,

I’m looking forward to harvesting all my root vegetables in my garden soon. I checked the soil and what I planted this spring and it’s almost ready. Can’t wait! I sent Jody, my youngest daughter a birthday card. Don’t know why I even bother, other than I love her. I never hear back from her. What did I do wrong. Had to stop and dry my eyes. If it wasn’t for an occasional conversation with the neighbors or a check by those wonderful Sheriff’s Deputies, I don’t think I could go on!

Curious, I found a huge footprint in the soil next to my garden, but thank God whoever it was left my veggies alone. Have enough trouble with rabbits and squirrels. Hope I don’t have to call the Sheriffs out again.

 

October 3, Monday

Late morning, I was out just beginning to dig up some turnips and potatoes when I spotted something that frightened me! A tall dark figure in the tree line seemed to be watching me! It liked to have scared me to death! I got up and ran for the backdoor when I suddenly had the strangest thing happen. A voice inside my head. It calmly told me not to be afraid. Not to be scared. That it would never hurt me! I thought I was losing my mind! For some reason that I’ll never understand. I didn’t go in the house. I just turned to see who it was. Whoever it was acted shy. Then the voice in my head said he would show himself when he was sure I would not be too scared. Then I knew he had left!

 

October 4, Tuesday at 8:30 in the morning

Dear Diary,

I came out of the cabin with a basket for picking my veggies when to my surprise on the big flat stump where I lay my gardening tools and vegetables was a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers strung together with some strands of woven wood! It was the nicest thing that anyone has done for me since before Harold passed away two years ago! I was so surprised! I immediately took them inside and put them in a vase with water. That made my day!

When I went back outside there, he was again lingering in the shadows of the trees. I told him thank you in my thoughts. I felt this warm feeling come through, and my normally lonely heart felt warmth! It was very strange. I’ve never felt anything like it since I married Harold as a young bride! It was coming from this stranger who lingered in the tree line. I told him to come forth, but he told me I wasn’t ready for him yet. Then I felt him leave again. I was actually sad that he went.

I went back to digging up some of the vegetables. There was honey dew melon, squash, turnips, and red potatoes. I also had some strawberries almost ready to be picked. They looked so inviting. It looked like this would be a good year!

I left some of the veggies on the flat stump for him. Hoping he would see them and know they were a gift.

 

October 6, Thursday 9:00 o’clock in the morning

 

Dear Diary,

I was anxious today to see my mysterious friend. Yesterday, I didn’t feel well but I took some honey and lemon juice and got some rest and felt better. I hoped that he had gotten the vegetables I’d left on the stump for him! Sure enough, the veggies were gone and in their place were 4 ears of fresh sweet corn! Corn that had survived what Harold used to harvest before he left this world! I felt the presence of my new found friend and I thanked him.

As he stood there in the shadows, I asked him what did he do? Where did he live? What was he going to do with himself? Why was he interested in me? Here I was conversing inside my head with a mysterious being. Was I just going crazy, or had I been lonely for too long?

What he told me put me into tears! He told me that he once had a family. He had a woman and a son. They had lived in the woods happily, but were wary of people so they remained hidden whenever people intruded upon the land, because they wouldn’t understand. He said one day a human hunter accidentally shot his son! The hunter had been trying to hit a deer, but missed and the stray bullet hit his boy! He was angry and thought about killing the hunter but he knew it was an accident, and if he did kill the hunter many more humans might show up in a hunting party. It was safer to recover his boy and carry him home. When he got back to their dwelling his woman went into shock and very severe grief! She never recovered! She grieved until her broken heart killed her. There was nothing he could do to bring her out of it! Upon hearing this story, I cried and cried my eyes out! I felt so sorry. I knew what that sadness was to carry around.

He told me that he knew that I lived alone and that I longed for my family just as he did for his own. He told me that he was sad for me too. I did not understand how he could know all these things, but he knew from reading my thoughts. I could not help but feel close to him. I asked if he would come out of the shadows and let me see him, but he refused. He was afraid I would not accept the way he looked. I told him I knew he was kind and that I did not care, but he said I was not ready yet. I told him I was sorry and I had not yet asked him what his name was. He told me his name was “Grollo”. I told him my first name, “Elaine”. With that I felt him leave, and I missed him. I was so emotionally drained I went back inside my cabin and collapsed on the couch falling asleep for hours.

 

October 10, Monday 1:00 PM

 

Dear Diary,

I was anxious not hearing from my new friend, Grollo. I was afraid for him. But, as I worked in my garden that day, he came. I was happy! I asked him what he had been doing. He said that some of the people I called sheriffs had come out into the woods near where he lived and he had to hide from them and elude them. They never saw him, but they were too close for comfort. They did sense an unease and they did possess instincts that they have barely developed unlike his own people have. He said he missed talking to me too. I told Grollo that I worried about him. He worried for me too, he said. Grollo said he would bring more of what I called corn and I told him I would leave more vegetables on the stump for him. He said he loved what I grew in my garden and he would never steal any of it after he watched how hard I worked on the garden. He was grateful! With that he left again.

Sheriff Grainger thumbed through the diary, seemingly fascinated, “Buck, did you read all of this?”

“Yes, sir! Crazy, isn’t it?”

“I’d never have believed it if I hadn’t read this myself!” Grainger huffed.

“That’s why I told you to come down and see for yourself!” The deputy nodded.

“Jeez! It’s just too much!” The Sheriff sighed and began reading again as he sat at the kitchen table.

 

October 15, Saturday 9:00 Am

 

Dear Diary,

I hadn’t heard from Grollo for days now! I was worried sick. Maybe he had lost interest in me, but that didn’t see right, or maybe something had happened to him! I was sick with worry! Then as I sat there on the stump just thinking too upset to do any work, here came Grollo. I told him I been so worried that something had happened to him. I was even having a hard time sleeping!

Grollo told me that the past few days had been difficult. Well trained men that knew how to track his people and recognize the structures that they build were out trying to find him to prove with their “Science” that he and his people existed, but it was more for their fame and profit than for their science. They called themselves “Bigfoot Hunters” they might even shoot me if they couldn’t capture me! I cannot let that happen. I cannot be taken alive into captivity either! I do not want to have to hurt or kill them if they get too close! I must leave this area now. It is becoming too dangerous!

No, I pleaded! I cried. Don’t leave me! Don’t go without me! I have nothing to live for anymore! Every day that goes by I am all alone. I feel like I’d rather die! Please take me with you! Please! I heard nothing from him for several minutes and I thought he had left, but I sensed his presence. Suddenly, this big monster like man ape creature emerged from the shadows of the tree line! I was horrified! Grollo looked so big and fearsome! I nearly passed out! I turned to try and run, but I heard that calm and soothing voice of his again!

Please don’t run. I told you I would never hurt you. Look at me! I turned. I cannot help my appearance or how you see me, but I have no choice over my appearance just as you look as you do! We are both spirits locked in our bodies. Our spirits know each other! Do you see? Yes! I cried! Yes, I see! Take me with you! I told him. I have no family that cares about me anymore and I cannot go on like this!

Grollo, was doubtful. You have a nice place to live. You have comfort, food, a vehicle. You have too much to lose, Grollo said. You would not be happy. It would be a much different existence for you! I would not want you to become dissatisfied after a while. I t would be a hard life, he warned. Of course, I would protect you and provide but it would be very different! I do not want you to suffer!

I told Grollo I was already suffering! I felt rejected and unloved. I was forgotten by my family! They were probably just waiting for me to die so they could take what I had and divide it up between them! They have forgotten about me! Please take me with you! I don’t care anymore, I pleaded! I had no doubts within me. It was better to leave this forsaken existence of mine and go with him than to go on with my life at this empty loveless cabin!

I must think about this very carefully, said Grollo. I do not want to take you into an existence you would not be happy and safe in. I must think carefully about this! You have a lot to give up! I will think carefully about this, and when the next rising of the sun happens, I will let you know my decision! With that Grollo left and I cried even more as I slowly walked back into my place feeling like I couldn’t continue here anymore!

Sheriff Grainger stirred in his chair and nodded his head in disgust, “A poor woman ignored by her every own family! Makes me sick to my stomach!”

“Me too, Sheriff!” Patterson replied.

“Last entry!” Sheriff Grainger grunted “This is a kicker!”

 

October 27, Wednesday 11:00 AM

Dear Diary

Made up my mind to leave. I don’t care anymore. Living like this has driven me to the point of no return! Did not hear from Grollo but I’m leaving anyway! I’ll catch up to him and force him to travel with me. Together we will live on the edge of civilization and be free of being alone and forgotten! I’ve had enough of this kind of existence!

A Note to whomever reads this whether it be deputies or the sheriff or rescuers! PLEASE DON’T COME LOOKING FOR ME! I JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE! NO, I AM NOT CAZY. I CAN’T STAND LIVING LIKE THIS ALONE ANYMORE!

Sincerely,

Elaine Freeman/Former wife to my beloved Harold and mother to four children

 

The Sheriff paused after reading the entries his eyes flooding with disbelief and pity, but a healthy disgust with this woman’s family too! “Thanks for calling me out here, Buck. I’m glad to know just exactly how all this happened!”

“I knew you would have wanted to know. I just figured better to keep this off the airways.” The Deputy nodded.

“You guessed right, Buck.”

The door burst open and a young woman about 30 years old came in. Buck recognized the family resemblance almost immediately. It was one of the Freeman siblings. She looked disheveled with her hair in a messy bun. “I got here as soon as I found out!”

Your mother sure could have used a visit from you and your family a lot sooner,” Sheriff Grainger snorted holding the diary. “Do you know what’s in here?”

“I don’t have X-Ray vision!” The daughter snapped.

“You had no idea that your own mother was desperately lonely and you and your family didn’t even care to keep in touch after your Daddy died?”

“That’s none of your business! You don’t have any right to be nosing in our personal business!” The daughter yapped back like a little angry dog.

“Oh, yes, I do have the right, young lady, this is an official investigation, and I’m examining evidence to find out just that the hell happened! Your mother is a reported missing person, and it’s my job to determine just why!”

She began to quiver as if suddenly feeling a twinge of guilt

“I want you to sit down at this table, and read your mother’s diary of her last few days before she went trekking off into the wilderness! You read it right now young lady!” Grainger’s voice was loud and intimidating!

“Okay! Okay!” The daughter raised a hand to her face as though she were going to be slapped.

” Can I get a glass of water first?”

 

“Deputy Patterson, would you get this young lady a glass of water, please.” Sheriff Grainger motioned toward the kitchen as Buck nodded. He turned toward the daughter. “I want you to read every damn word your poor mother wrote and don’t skim over anything! “

“Y-yes sir,” she stammered.

Just then Grainger’s cell phone rang, “Grainger here. Lloyd, what’s up? Oh, you got the DNA results. Good. You can’t say anything else? Ah, sure I’ll drive over. Is it that important? Okay, okay.” Grainger glared at Buck. “Got to go Deputy Patterson, can you take over from here?”

“Yes Sir, I can handle things from here,” Buck replied as he gave the daughter a contemptuous glance.

“Send me a report later. I’m done for the evening.” With that Gus Grainger headed out to his Crown Vic and a drive out to the county coroner’s office.

It was late Friday evening when the sheriff arrived at the facility. Few of the staff were on hand. Most had gone home or out to blow off some steam at a restaurant or bar. Grainger strolled down a hallway of flickering overhead fluorescent tubes and old waxed linoleum floors that reflected the aging ceiling lights. It was eerily quiet and echoish as his footfalls sounded down the empty corridor.

Lloyd gave the sheriff a tired smile and gestured for him to have a seat. “Sorry to drag you out here, but I figured this was the best way to let you know what was found.”

“Lay it on my Lloyd,” Grainger tiredly sighed

“How long have we known each other now, Sheriff?”

“Oh, I’d say 15 years or a little more. Long enough to know this shit aint worth it!” Grainger grimly joked.

“I got a story to tell, yuh,” Lloyd pulled out a filing drawer producing a whiskey bottle and a couple of glasses with raise eyebrows like a mischievous child. “Care to imbibe?”

“Oh, why the hell not?” Grainger muttered with a slight grin. “I’m off duty anyway.”

Lloyd poured a couple glasses of the dark amber liquid then they clinked their glasses to a toast. “To a world without so damn many unanswered questions!” The coroner quipped.

After taking a few sips, Lloyd gave the sheriff a thoughtful expression, “That sample your deputy brought over I took half of and sent out to a lab that we subcontract as we don’t have the facilities to be doing all that work as often as we have to, but I kept a sample of that specimen and ran my own tests. You know why?”

“I think I know where you’re going with this,” Gus Grainger nodded.

The coroner sighed,” As I suspected the lab, I farmed out the work to, gave me the results I expected from the bastards. Analysis Inconclusive!”

“Gus, I tested that clump of hair, and it wasn’t from an animal. Not a bear, not a deer, not coyote, but what I expected did happen.” Lloyd paused. “I had something like this happen a few years back.”

“You don’t think they gave you an honest result,” The Sheriff replied knowingly and finished his whiskey.

“Exactly! The sons of bitches lied!” Lloyd muttered contemptuously.

“So, you came up with something else.” The Sheriff snorted.

Lloyd gestured to pour another drink for Grainger, and the sheriff nodded an held out his glass.” I figured I’d need another one before you said what you have to say.”

“And, you’ll need it too,” Lloyd said. “But let me tell you a little story first getting back to what I was going to tell you. About 5 years ago I had another exact same case. The sample I sent to the lab contradicted what I myself found out from my own testing. All these damn labs are tied into DARPA. They’re always on the look out for whatever they don’t want the general public to know about. Bastards!”

“Come on, damn it! Out with it, man!? Grainger huffed impatiently.

“Same as 5 years ago, Gus! What your deputy handed me I tested thoroughly and this is what I came up with,” He handed over a report to the sheriff. “You’ll see what I came up with. That hair was off of a primate related to man but not quite. Somewhere between a gorilla and human DNA with a 97% probability. A very slim margin for error! That lab was lying about their results!”

“That came off the Freeman property which I’m currently investigating a missing persons case on,” Sheriff Grainger responded.

“Well, maybe now you know why,” Lloyd explained. “Same damn thing as 5 years ago, but that’s not all. Two weeks after I submitted my report on my findings I get a visit from a couple of federal agents. They wanted my report. They told me that under the aegis of National Security, I was to surrender my findings, not speak to anyone about the test results, and that I was now sworn to secrecy!”

“Damn Lloyd!” Grainger replied sarcastically, “You always manage to get yourself in trouble!” The sheriff kidded.

“So, here’s my advice to you, Gus, take that report, make a copy, hide it away somewhere, and don’t tell those bastards a thing, because I predict that they will be paying you a visit sometime in the near future to confiscate yours.”

“Why would they do that, Lloyd?”

“Because, Gus, your office made a special request as part of an investigation and it’s of public record. There’s nothing the NSA, CIA, FBI, and a host of other intelligence services know that we don’t, and whatever it is about this Sasquatch type mystery they don’t want the public to know about!”

“Yeah, I had to run a couple of agents out of the county one time. I know how these bastards work.”

“I just didn’t want you to get blindsided, Sheriff,” Lloyd his tone. Having great respect for Gus Grainger.

Sheriff Grainger pushed himself up from his chair,” Well, Lloyd, Mama’s got a chicken dinner with all the trimmings waiting for me at home and I don’t want to get her pissed off. What’re you going to be doing tonight?”

Lloyd hung his head silently, “Oh, probably heat up a TV dinner, maybe watch a movie or read.”

“What your old lady doesn’t cook?” Gus Grainger frowned.

“She left me two years ago. Said she didn’t like the hours I had to keep. I suspected there was more to it than that, but what the hell.”

“God, I’m sorry, Lloyd. I didn’t know.”

“Well, Sheriff, you can’t possibly know everything,” Lloyd sighed.

“I’ll have you over for dinner sometime, Lloyd. You need some home cooking,” Gus said almost apologetically.

You know, Gus, there’s one thing about being alone. It’s a form of certainty in an uncertain world. You know I get to see the end result of what a lot of people do to each other, and I have to figure out just exactly how it happened. Don’t know how it hasn’t gotten to me yet.”

“You and I both, Lloyd, I get to see it up close and personal way too often.” Sheriff Grainger lamented. “Anytime you want to stop by the office late in the afternoon I have a bottle of joy stashed away for special occasions,” he winked.

Gus Grainger reached out to give Lloyd a ham-fisted handshake. “You take care.”

The sheriff got into his cruiser and drove off, wondering about everything he’d seen and heard on this particular day, and wondered how he’d put up with it all for so long. Normally he’d be looking forward to the dinner he knew his wife had made with such care. She was the only certainty he knew of in this world. Poor Lloyd, he thought to himself. Poor Elaine Freeman, he thought again to himself. He settle in as he drove his Crown Vic, the sun had set and twilight took over as he drove though shadows that were cast across the two lane blacktop.

The End