He was the county veterinarian, though that title didn’t fully explain him. In rural places, veterinarians often become unofficial emergency people by sheer repetition. They know how to read injuries, how to assess force, how to keep calm when other people are looking for someone to tell them what the damage really means. Dr. Cole had also spent years volunteering with the volunteer fire company and knew most of the tow operators in three counties.
He called me after Deputy Torres apparently mentioned my concerns about George’s death.
We met at a diner halfway between the farm and Millbrook. He arrived in muddy boots and a canvas work jacket and ordered coffee without looking at the menu.
“I can’t tell you your husband was murdered,” he said after introducing himself. “Not yet. Maybe not ever. But I can tell you the crash report bothered me from the beginning.”