The Sheriff’s Second Medal
Chapter 03 - The Sheriff’s Second Medal
Daniel Vale had grown up with Jack and Mara.
Their fathers served in the same military unit. After returning home, they founded the Iron Wolves together. Jack’s father became a mechanic. Vale’s father entered law enforcement.
The two silver medals were made from the same damaged helicopter panel.
One went to the Rourkes.
One went to the Vales.
Sheriff Vale wore his during every election campaign.
Jack understood Mara’s clue.
The second medal could open something connected to the first.
Before they could study the files further, red and blue lights filled the parking lot.
Sheriff’s deputies surrounded the Iron Hollow.
Vale spoke through a loudspeaker.
“Release Eleanor Cole and exit with your hands visible.”
Ellie looked at Jack.
“He calls me Eleanor when he’s angry.”
Vale knew her personally.
Jack stepped outside alone.
Rain ran down his leather vest.
Vale stood behind a patrol vehicle wearing his tan uniform and the silver medal beneath his collar.
“You brought a kidnapped child into a gang clubhouse,” Vale said.
“She came here herself.”
“That is your version.”
“It is hers.”
Vale smiled.
“A frightened child repeats what adults teach her.”
Jack looked at the sheriff’s medal.
“Where is Mara?”
For one second, Vale’s expression became empty.
Then he ordered deputies to search the bar.
Jack refused without a warrant.
Vale produced one signed twenty minutes earlier. It authorized a search for Ellie, illegal weapons, and narcotics.
Inside the storage room, deputies found two bags of prescription pills beneath a motorcycle seat.
Amos swore they were planted.
Rosa checked the packaging.
The pills came from a county evidence seizure that Vale had announced on television the previous week.
Jack understood the plan.
Vale would arrest the club, take Ellie, recover the memory card, and bury Mara’s evidence again.
But Ellie had moved the card.
During the argument, she slipped it inside the jukebox coin return.
Deputies searched her pockets and found nothing.
Vale took her by the hand.
Ellie pulled away.
Jack watched helplessly as social services placed her inside a county vehicle.
Before the door closed, she pointed toward Vale’s medal and mouthed two words:
SAME SCRATCH.
A crescent-shaped scratch crossed both medals.
May you like
They had once been a single piece of metal.
Together, they formed a key.
