Cat's Claw (A Pecan Springs Mystery)

photography.
    “And as soon as you’ve got a good documentation,” she added, “please seal this room. And seal that outer sliding door, too. We don’t want anybody coming in that way.”
    China had taken several steps away, toward the door. “This whole thing makes me absolutely sick,” she said thinly. “If somebody like Timms ever got his hands on Caitie, I’d kill him.”
    “You do that, you’d better get yourself a good lawyer,” Sheila said with a small grin. “But we’re in your debt, China. If you hadn’t walked through the house and seen the photos, they might have disappeared.” She shook her head. “And we may find other incriminating material, when we have the time to get enough people out here to do a thorough search.”
    “I shudder to think what that could be,” China said as they went down the hall. “The stuff in that room is the worst I could imagine.” Her voice was gritty.
    Yes, what was in that room was awful, unspeakably awful. But Sheila knew she couldn’t predict what a full search would turn up here. It looked like Timms was a pedophile. What else was he? Who else was involved?
    But she only said, “When this is all over, let’s sit down over a cup of tea and some of your fresh-baked cookies and talk about it, China. In the meanwhile—”
    “I know,” China said with a sympathetic look. “In the meanwhile,you can’t tell me what’s going on.” She shook her head ruefully. “Actually, I’m not sorry, Sheila. I don’t envy you your job. After what we saw here today—down by the creek and in that bedroom—I’m glad to be an ordinary citizen. I can go back to my quiet herb shop and let you and your cops deal with the ugly stuff.” Her mouth tightened. “And after seeing those girls’ photos, I personally believe that cat gave George Timms exactly what he deserved. If Ruby were here, she’d probably tell us that it’s natural justice, arranged by the universe in payment for his sins.”
    “I’d prefer not to trust the universe,” Sheila said wryly. “Although I have to admit that the justice system doesn’t always do the best job.” She had seen far too many cases where the innocent paid the price and the guilty got off scot-free, some of them aided and abetted in their escape by their defense lawyers. But in this instance, she had to agree that if the mountain lion hadn’t killed George Timms, it was likely that his cache of secret photographs would never have come to light. Depending, of course, on what they found on Timms’ computer, and whether it would have been enough to get a search warrant for both his house in town and this place.
    China nodded. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. I’ve got to get to work—and to pleasanter things.” She paused, her face darkening. “Except that I’m concerned about our guys. I try to remind myself that Americans are going back and forth across the border every day, thousands of them. But that doesn’t help. I still worry.”
    “I know,” Sheila said. “I try not to think about it, but I’m worried, too—which of course doesn’t do anybody any good.”
    Unexpectedly, China leaned forward and put her arms around Sheila. “They’ll be okay,” she said, with a strong, solid hug. “And so will we.”
    She lifted a hand in good-bye and was gone.

    A half-hour later, Sheila and Bartlett stood in the kitchen, getting ready to head back to town. He had taped the front and back entrances with yellow plastic crime-scene tape. While he was doing that and locating the keys to Timms’ house, Sheila had a phone conversation with Sheriff Chambers.
    After her brief explanation of what their preliminary search had turned up, the sheriff had agreed that the house wasn’t part of his crime scene. But he had also agreed to post an officer out front.
    “I’ve got to have somebody directing traffic, anyway,” he said. “When we’re done out there and ready to leave, I’ll let you know and you can post one of your officers.” He had also said an immediate yes to her request to have Timms’ body fingerprinted. The prints would be needed for exclusion purposes here at the house and on the laptop Annetta Blount was working on. He also reported that the county forensics team would have a preliminary report later in the day.
    “Sounds like you folks have your hands full,” he added. “You need any additional assistance, you let me know. Y’hear?” He paused. “One of our guys told me that Blackie is