FORTY-SIX
Tuesday 1930 hours
Katie was relieved her uncle’s SUV was parked in her driveway to the side of the house. She didn’t call ahead, but she knew her uncle would at least stay a few nights until they either had a closed case or he needed to get back to his condo.
Katie opened the front door and wasn’t immediately greeted by Cisco, which was extremely unusual. She put down the box and briefcase and then walked to the sliding back door but they weren’t outside.
“We’re back here,” called her uncle from down the hallway.
Katie walked to her office, which was the smallest bedroom in the three-bedroom farmhouse. Standing at the doorway she asked, “What are you guys doing?”
Her uncle was seated at her desk on his laptop. There were a dozen colored sticky notes across the desktop. Cisco was lying on the floor. He instantly jumped up, tail wagging, to greet Katie.
“Sorry, I took over your office, but I need to findout a few things away from work. There were too many interruptions and check-ins today,” he said.
Katie knew how much her uncle was loved and respected as sheriff. “It’s okay. Sometimes we just need solitude to figure things out.” She walked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Anything I can do to help?”
“No, but I do know you’ve probably brought some work home too. Actually, I can’t believe your whiteboard is blank.” He smiled, indicating the wall in front of him.
“You noticed.”
“I also know you and McGaven were buried neck-deep with boxes in the property room.”
She laughed. “Can’t sneak anything by you.”
“You hungry?” he said.
“Oh no, thank you. I ate too much pizza.”
“I remember those late pizza nights at the department.” He took off his glasses and smiled at Katie. “You look tired. You need some rest. You and McGaven were lucky you weren’t killed in that trailer.”
Katie nodded, looking down—she knew they were. That feeling of terror when the trailer went over the ledge would stay with her for a while. “I know. I don’t know what I would have done without Gav being there.”
“He’s really become a great detective… and well, you two as a team. You’re unstoppable.”
She laughed. “We’ve been through a lot and he’s still my partner.”
“I never told you this…” he started.
Her curiosity heightened. “What?”
“Early on, a few times, I wanted to transfer McGaven to the detective division because they needed the help. I didn’t think the cold-case work would turn out like it has. It would’ve been a big mistake on my end. Now other detectives are assistingyou.”
“Along with some of patrol.”
He studied his niece for a moment. “You know you could take the sergeant’s exam any time.”
“I know.” It wasn’t that Katie didn’t think about it, but she was happy where she was—at least for now.
“You’d make a great detective sergeant.”
“More paperwork, though.”
They laughed.
“I know,” he said. “Anyway, you’ve got plenty of time.”
Katie yawned. “I’m going to clean up and look at a few things… and then go to bed.”
