5/2 12:10

Hugo got in touch with about a dozen townspeople and asked them to meet Mrs. Brown at the recreation center by the reserve; once everyone had gathered, they'd begin a systematic search that afternoon. Just as he hung up the phone, Kevin walked into the station's cramped little office looking anxious. He nodded to Hugo, then went straight to the Sheriff's desk.

"Hey, Kevin, what's up?" The Sheriff forced out a smile. "You here to help find Joey Brown?"

"I heard about Old Frantz."

"Oh, word travels fast."

"This town's small enough, nothing stays a secret from anybody."

"So, what is it?"

Kevin told the Sheriff about what he'd run into on the river road the night before — the wet marks, the long shape vanishing into the water. He looked somewhat relieved to get it off his chest, but the Sheriff's expression turned grave.

"An alligator that could weigh over two hundred kilos..." The Sheriff put a hand to his chin, thinking.

"Whether you believe me or not, you know plenty of people in this town live right along the river — my family included."

"Mine too. But look, I know two people are missing, and maybe you really did see a big gator, but the problem is there's no proof either of them was eaten by one. As far as we know right now, they're just missing."

"So what am I supposed to do? Go find the alligator myself?"

The Sheriff nodded. "Logically speaking, that's the only way we'd have grounds to warn people to evacuate. I don't want to start a panic in this town."

Kevin stared at the Sheriff in disbelief, clutching at his hair, at a loss for words.

"Kevin, if there's nothing else, I've got to go help out Mrs. Brown and the Frantz family. Excuse me."

The Sheriff put on his cowboy hat, and, gut leading the way, strode out of the station, leaving Kevin standing there dumbfounded and Hugo behind his desk.

Kevin turned to look at Hugo, a hopeful look in his eyes.

Hugo picked up his keys and let out a long sigh. "I'll go with you to a few households I know well, and we'll tell them what you saw, all right? That's about all I can do."

"Thanks, Hugo. Better than doing nothing at all."