“When have I said I was afraid?”
She just took another bite of the burger and waited.
“I’m here because you,” I held up a fork of spinach and stabbed it toward her, “called me here.”
“You’ve been planning your vacation since November.”
“Ever tried to be Chief of Police in this town?”
She shook her head.
“Smart.” I chewed the spinach, she went after the burger again, and Willie sang on about being on the road.
“If you want to reschedule this handoff,” she said, “I could keep the powers a little longer.”
“No, that screws things up. There are rules in place for a reason, and one year is the rule for the powers. I knew it was coming up.”
We were quiet for a few more bites. “So Bertie’s calling a meeting tonight,” I said.
“About the festivals she’s planning to throw?”
“You coming?”
“No. Very no. What’s the most no?” she asked. “That much no. Doubled.”
I laughed. “It’s not that bad. She’ll listen to suggestions.”
“She’ll conscript volunteers.”
“I’m on the hook no matter what. Don’t you want to pitch in a little time for the good of the community?”
“Gee, what would that be like? Good of the community? Would that be like digging tourists’ vehicles out of sand banks and sand dunes and the ocean and the lake and the river and off the side of the cliffs and…”
I laughed again. “Point taken. But if you ever get tired of dragging people out of ditches, I’m sure Bertie would have a delightful concession stand or sweaty, costumed mascot position for you.”
“Nope. I’ll leave the festivals and events to the Valkyrie. I’m happy in the ditches.”
The dragon pigoinked, tired of being ignored, so I fed it a couple more forks while we finished our meal.
I picked up the tab, Frigg said she’d catch the next one, then she headed to the door. Before she opened it, she turned, hand on the bar.
“Oh, and Delaney?”
“Yes?” I left money on the table, scooped up the dragon pig, and headed for the coat rack.
“Take some time off. You, of all people, have earned it.” She pulled the hood of her coat over her head and sauntered out into the rain, slow and easy as a summer day.
Chapter Three
Ryder texted two more times:rentable teepee, andbungee jumping.
I laughed at that last one because jumping off cliffs wasn’t my idea of relaxation.
I sent him a smiley face, then pulled up to Than’s house. The shades were drawn. I didn’t see any light peaking around the edges.
“What do you think?” I asked the dragon pig, lying in the passenger seat.
The windshield wipers were going full tilt. Even though the car was idling, it wasn’t enough to keep the rain from blurring up the world.
