“So maybe the person wanted exactly that,” Mitch suggested. “To implicate Parker?”
“I don’t know why they’d think Parker would vandalize his own lot, but if so, they screwed up there, too, because Parker has an alibi.” I nodded toward my report on the screen again.
“An alibi who’s also Jamie Burke.”
“Still not speculating,” I said, holding up my hands. “Ask Marci when you see her. She’ll know.” Our dispatcher was the repository ofallO’Leary gossip.
“Marci? Why would I see Marci?” Mitch demanded, like this was the craziest notion ever.
I rolled my eyes. “Okay,first?Because you guys are totally together and people have been speculating about it since September. You’re about as subtle as a brick through a window. Andsecond, the woman works here.” I jerked my thumb out toward the squad room. “First law of secrecy is never to look overly guilty.”
“Fuck.” Mitch ran a hand over his hair again, and I debated whether to give him shit about who was responsible for his new look, but I didn’t.
Look at me, being all mature.
“You know, I’ve spent years learning detective skills from O’Leary’s top investigator,” I said instead.
“Uh huh.Well, that’s part of why I called you in here, actually.” Mitch leaned back in his seat. “What would you say about becoming full-time?”
I frowned. “I… me? Here?”
“Yeah,you. You’ve worked here longer than anyone besides Marci and Si. And O’Leary’s getting busier. After that business with Everett Maior last fall…” He shrugged. “The town is finally ready to spend the money for an extra full-time spot.”
“Oh.Wow. That’s… a surprise.” I forced a smile. “Love that you call an abduction, an attempted murder, and the unmasking of a serial killerthat business with Everett. That’s funny.”
Mitch lifted an eyebrow. “You’re not excited about this.”
Not a question, but I answered it with one. “What makes you say that?”
“I’ve known you for too long, Con. Anytime you change the subject, it’s a dead giveaway.”
Jesus. Why did everyone in the world seem to realize this when I hadn’t? It was seriously annoying.
“Okay, then.” I took a deep breath. “No. I’m not really excited. I love working here, I do, but… This isn’t what I want to do full time.”
“You’ve got another idea in mind?”
“Yeah. Landscape design. I want to create a division of Ross Landscaping specifically for that.” I swallowed. “I actually went and got approved for financing, wrote up a business proposal for my mother, the whole nine.”
I’d basically shit bricks for a week, absolutely positive that the funding wouldn’t go through, but somehow, miraculously, it had. And it had been a total head rush to know someone out there had thought this plan was solid, besides me. But now, talking to Mitch, I felt a little of the same trepidation.
Mitch considered me for a moment, his eyes narrowed. And then he smiled. “I think that’s an amazing idea.”
“Really?”
“Of course! You know your dad and I were close, and I can tell you for fucking certain that there isnothingthat would make him prouder than having you involved with the business.”
I laughed a little in relief. “Thanks, Mitch.”
“What’d your mom say about your proposal?”
“Mmm. I think it’s safe to say she’s not quite as excited as you are.” I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. “I warned her it was coming back in December, but she still seemed surprised when I actually handed it to her last week.”
“And?”
“And she hasn’t said anything to me about it yet, except that she’ll meet with me next week to give me her answer.”
“Next week, huh?”
