I'll Protect You (Clueless Resolutions Book 1) by W B Garalt

passenger side window.  Glancing over, Chief Devaro noticed the smile in a reflection from the cruiser window.
    After a fifteen minute drive into Sheffield they arrived at the Town Office Building.
    Sheffield was a sparsely populated agricultural town abutting East Wayford on its northeast border.  The town had several appointed constables but the State Police maintained a regular police patrol presence there.
    “Hey Doc, how have you been?” Lou Devaro asked, in the form of a greeting, when they entered the First Selectman’s office.
    “Fair-to-middling, Lou.” Doc responded in his well-worn, old-time dialect.
    After an introduction of Inspector Chace to Doc Franklin, the trio went over some details of the East Wayford homicides and all agreed that there appeared to be similarities.
    Chief Devaro and Inspector Chace got directions to the scene from Doc.  As they were about to leave Doc asked if he could “tag along”.  He indicated that if this death was ruled a homicide, it would be the first one in the history of the Town.
    “I don’t get many chances at firsts at my age.” he said.
    Lou nodded and, with a chuckle, responded, “I hear ya, Doc, we’ll drop you off back here after the inspector finishes.”
    On the ride to 410 Old Persia Road, the scene of the dead body discovery, Doc told the chief and the inspector that on Sunday, the previous day, the owners of the residence had gone out of state an on overnight Memorial Day family reunion and picnic.
    The house was recently listed for sale by a local realty brokerage.  Doc didn’t recall the name off hand, but the sign at the property would show a telephone number.
    He continued on with how the body was discovered in the driveway at around 1:00 AM by the next door neighbor.  As was the local habit, the owners had asked their neighbor to keep an eye on the property while they were away.  The neighbor had noticed head lights moving along the driveway through the shrubs.  When the neighbor wasn’t able to reach the owners by cell phone, he walked over to investigate.
    Upon arriving on the grim scene he called 911.  The state trooper on patrol responded around the same time as the rescue truck.  They could not get a pulse but the body was still warm.  Resuscitation procedures were started and were maintained on the rescue truck ride until it reached the hospital, but to no avail.  The trooper had filed a report at his barracks at the end of his shift and had left for home.
    The trio of law officials turned onto Old Persia Road and drove to the scene of the suspected crime.  As they approached the address they could see an SUV with flashing lights parked across the driveway.  Standing beside his SUV was an old time local constable, looking like a sheriff in a western movie with his wide brimmed hat and a strapped on revolver hanging off his hip.
    The chief pulled his cruiser to the side of the road and they got out.   Police barrier tape was strung across the driveway entrance.
    “Hello Doc” said the constable as the group approached, “I’ve been standing guard here since the others left, at the request of the trooper.  I didn’t get his name, but he wore badge number 301.”
    “Thanks Bill,” Doc responded, “I’ll get relief for you within a half hour, or so.  Will that be Okay?”   The constable agreed and proceeded to explain that they would see a tarpaulin on the driveway where the body had lain.
    “I’ll need that tarp back as soon as you folks are done,” he added.
    “Okay Bill, I’ll make sure of it”, promised the first selectman. “Has anyone else come by since you’ve been here?” he asked of the constable.
    “Yeah, a landscaping crew showed up around quarter to seven. They got here for an early start on a landscaping overhaul operation, which had been pre-arranged for today, at a time when the family was away.” responded the constable.
    Inspector Chace nodded knowingly.  He and his family lived in a