"I'll reach out." I grab the tire.
"I can dispose of it," Rusty offers. I shake my head no. I likely won't need it for anything, but I also don't need to toss it. Not yet. I throw it into the back of my cruiser.
I pull out my phone as I get into my cruiser to check on Kindred. She’s been at the same spot for far too long. It might be her office, but she comes and goes, always flitting around this town. Maybe the wedding planning has her fully occupied.
I make sure I pass by there on my way to the station. I can see her inside through the window at her desk. Candy is with her, which means Hollis is likely there too. It puts me partly at ease. I know for the next few hours she’s tucked away, safe.
When I pull into the station's parking lot, I see a patrol vehicle parked next to my normal spot. I park next to it, seeing a woman inside, wearing a uniform. She steps out of her cruiser when I do. I don’t recognize her. I know most of the other sheriffs that butt up against my county.
“Morning,” I say. She’s not in just any uniform but a deputy one. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I hope so.” Her tone is stiff, like she’s speaking to a drill sergeant. She's even got her hair slicked back in a tight bun, but I don't get the sense she's served, and my senses are correct ninety-nine times out of a hundred. It's why I moved up quickly in rank and was one of the youngest Rangers in history. “I’m your new deputy.”
Fuck me.
“No, you’re not.” I turn, heading toward the building. I can hear her feet running to catch up to me. She appears vaguely familiar, but I can’t place her.
“What do you mean I’m not?” She follows me inside. I want to shut the door in her face, but this is an official police station, to a degree.
Our 911 calls go to a dispatch that covers several counties. If you need backup or if it’s an off-time, they’ll alert other sheriffsto respond. I have never had that issue. I keep my radio on at night. I have had to be a backup for others, but it’s rare and, truthfully, nothing that’s a real issue.
“I am. I have my papers.” I stop, turning to face her. She almost runs right into me, but I step back. Her shiny gold name tag reads Beckett. “Here.” She hands them to me. “I’m sure you got an email too.”
“I’ll have to check. Been busy this morning.” I walk over to my desk, dropping the paper down. “I didn’t appoint you.”
“They said you were having problems appointing someone, and since I’m from two towns over, they thought?—”
“They thought wrong.” I run my hand down my face, not having time for this shit today. That might be why I thought she appeared familiar. I might have crossed paths with her before. I’m good with faces, but in this town, during the busy season, a lot of people are coming and going.
“So you’re firing me?” Her thin brows pull together. I’d guess her to be in her late twenties.
“Sit,” I order her, turning on my computer.
I pull up my emails, seeing that I have in fact been appointed a deputy, and so have a few other counties. It was a mandate the governor issued. I keep reading the email from Chuck. He covers Bells County and was in the Air Force. We get along well. Both of us are straight to the point kind of people.
He does, however, point out that it might not be the worst thing to have a deputy. It could free up time. I rather like that idea. Today, I have been keeping busier. That makes the days go faster while I try to figure Kindred out, but that isn't working.
I need a new plan, and not having to drop everything for a call could help with that.
"All right, I need to go over a few items, and then I can show you around town."
"I know the town."
"But do you know the people?" She shakes her head, her lips slightly pursed. "Then you don’t know the town. Are you sure you want this job?"
"Yes."
"Then you need to get to know the people." My attention is on the computer as I go over her background. She attended college for a few years, then went to the academy, and afterward spent several years patrolling in the city before coming here.
"Why?"
"This is a small town. It's different from the city."
“I grew up in a small town. I know how they operate.”
“Then you know that knowing the people makes things a whole lot easier.”
“If you say so.” She shrugs.
