The River Runs Dry Read Online Free PDF Page A

I'm gonna let you have a run at it. I'll try to keep the media out of it as much as possible, keep things under wraps. This town hasn't seen anything like it in a long time, and they'll be all over it as soon as they get a sniff.”
    “They already did,” Jack said, shooting his eyes over the front page for the local newspaper on his desk. I saw in on the news as well.”
    “Yes, well, that was a slip up. I don't know how but someone knew about police movement and managed to get a scoop. I'll try to stop that from happening again....”
    Suddenly the phone in the middle of Jack's desk started ringing loudly, cutting the Sheriff off. “Well take it,” he said, nodding at the phone.
    Jack picked it up and his frown grew more intense. He nodded slowly as he listened to the man on the other end.
    “Right, thank you Dr. I'll inform the parents.”
    He put the phone down and stared back up at the Sheriff with grave eyes.
    “Well,” asked the Sheriff?
    “We have a match sir. It's Taylor Lane.”
    “Jesus fucking Christ,” said the Sheriff, standing up and pulling his hat once more from his head. He brushed his hands through his thinning white hair, beads of sweat dripping down his brow. “Well, so much for keeping the media out of it.”
    Jack nodded, his mind ticking over. Taylor Lane was a new up and coming singer, a beautiful girl who'd lived in Burgess her whole life, but who'd gone to LA recently to try to make it big. She hadn't, yet, and now she never would. To the local people of Burgess, however, she was a shining light. News of her murder would be a real shock for the town, even Jack, who hadn't been there long, knew that.
    “Do her parents still live round here?” asked the Sheriff, moving over to the window and peering out into the bright sunshine.
    “I think so, yes.”
    “Right, I'll take a priest and go see them. It will be best coming from me.” He started shaking his head, almost disbelieving. “Taylor Lane. Did anyone even report her missing?”
    “Yes sir, but only recently. Her parents thought she wasn't getting in touch because she was too busy in LA. They went to visit her at her apartment, but the doorman said she hadn't been seen in a while. That's when they reported her missing.”
    “What a fucking mess.” The Sheriff exhaled deeply. “This is the part of the job I hate the most. It's always worse when you know the family, and these circumstances....Jesus.”
    “Would you like me to go sir? I don't know them, it might be easier.”
    “No, no, Jack. You do your job. The ball's in your court now. You find this fucker, OK, keep your mind on nothing else.”
    Jack stood as the Sheriff walked to the door, a large sweat stain appearing down the center of his back. “And Jack, you might want to get a better fan for this room. They say the heat's not going anywhere for a while.”
    With that he stepped out of the door, just as another blast of hot air swept past Jack's body.

Chapter 4
    Jessie sat outside the front porch of her house, her feet soaking inside a bucket of iced water. It was her day off, although that barely meant anything more than lingering around town or back at her house these days.
    There were a couple of books to her side, sitting on a small table. She picked one up and started reading, before hastily putting it back down again.
    It had been hard for her to re-engage that side of her, ever since her mom died. That smart girl with the keen mind had been dulled by grief and the tedium of her job, a job that started as only a part time way to make some extra cash during the holidays. Now it was all she did. She was stuck in that cyclical way of life that afflicted so many others; living to work, not working to live.
    The neighborhood was awash with people sitting in their front and back gardens, all undercover and hiding in the shade. Some were tending their flowers and shrubs, desperately trying to keep them alive through the heat. Inside, few houses had proper air