Cross Roads

After hanging up the phone, he swiveled around to face his visitor. “Well, Chief Trummel, I’ve been expecting you. I know you need to talk to all the people of this fine town, and I assure you that I will do everything in my power to help you find this scoundrel. Poor Max, such a needless loss, and Quinton. I hear that he will be okay.  That is indeed good news. Now, just tell me what I can do for you.”

The chief looked into his eyes, searching for clues. He had a gift for finding lies through the eyes but saw nothing in Templeton. “Mr. Templeton, as I understand it, it’s no secret that you want to purchase the land next door, so you can see why you would be one of my primary persons of interest. Just to talk to, of course. Would you mind telling me where you were the night of the fire?”

Templeton laughed, and a twinkle in his eye made the chief curious. “Chief Trummel, you obviously haven’t heard about my new friend, Gloria. She has made me the happiest man in Wind River by agreeing to live with me. I’m afraid that you are looking at a man who is deliriously happy and in love. I’m acting like a schoolboy, as a matter of fact. Now, it is true that she wasn’t living with me at the time of the fire, but if you check around town, you will learn that I was spending most of my waking hours courting her to be my woman. Why, I even let my business go for some time, which is not like me.” He laughed again. “That woman has my head spinning, she does.”

The chief continued watching his eyes, thinking that he was either innocent or very, very good at lying. “Well, what about the people who work for you? Again, it’s well known that you are hoping that Sticks will go under. Is there anyone that is privy to your plans should Sticks come into your hands?”

Templeton sat in his chair, pondering the question. “I just can’t think of anyone. You know that my plans to buy the land are completely above board, Chief. I am, of course, eager for the land to come on the market, but I would never… wait. Yes, Jim, my assistant is aware of how much I want that land.” He shook his head. “No, he would never… It is a preposterous thought. Jim has been with me for years and would do anything to make me happy, but arson? No, he couldn’t possibly do something so dreadful.”