* * *
“Sheriff Pope in?”
Belinda Moran looked up from her game of solitaire.
“Hello,” she said. “How can I help you?”
Ethan asked a touch louder this time. “Is the sheriff in?”
“No, he stepped out for a moment.”
“So he’ll be back shortly?”
“I don’t know when he’s due back.”
“But you said ‘for a moment’ so I figured—”
“It’s just a figure of speech, young man.”
“Do you remember me? Agent Burke from the Secret Service?”
“Yes. You have your shirt on this time. I like this look much better.”
“Have there been any calls for me?”
She squinted and cocked her head. “Why would there be?”
“Because I told some people they could reach me here.”
Belinda shook her head. “No one’s called for you.”
“Not my wife, Theresa, or an Agent Adam Hassler?”
“No one’s called for you, Mr. Burke, and you shouldn’t tell them to call for you here.”
“I need to use the telephone in your conference room again.”
Belinda frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
She didn’t have an answer to this, just maintained her scowl.