Oh hell yes, he wanted to meet for dinner. He texted back:
Love to. Let me check in with my boss first. Then where?
He was surprised by her offer. As far as he knew, the contestants were supposed to go out together to the local pizza place after practice. Unless Jerold was getting to her and she was avoiding him. Brock felt his blood pressure rise.
Stop it. You don’t have the intel on that, so stop reacting like you do.
His phone pinged.
I’ll come find you at the front gate. We’ll go from there.
Huh.So she wanted to be a little mysterious. Fine by him so long as he got to spend time with her.
Excellent. See you in a few.
Brock checked his watch and headed for the security station beside the first aid station. Unlike the other structures, this one was closed to the elements. Brock followed the sound of voices to a small, hot office, the two fans only succeeding in blowing stale air around. Four other guys were there, including Sargent Williams and Officer Tom Hicks, who Brock had met earlier that week. Kyle was waiting along with Jake and a couple of the other guys from Watchdog. Brock searched Kyle’s face for any indication of how much trouble he was in, but the guy was a blank slate.
Everyone gave report. One other teammate had chased a couple of teens away from the wide, sandy bank up by the stage. When the festival started, the beach would be wall-to-wall parents and kids listening to the music, but for now, it was off-limits. Brock rocked on his heels while he waited, wondering how he should phrase what happened with Jerold. The guy totally had it coming but since he was also a participant Brock hoped he wouldn’t be a big enough ass to press charges or try to get Brock thrown off the assignment.
He needn’t have worried. Jake reported right before him. “Had to deal with a small altercation between a couple of the fiddlers.”
“Between the contestants? What, somebody play over someone else?” Kyle asked.
Jake grinned at that. “A little spilled coffee resulting in a minor burn.” He raised his eyebrows at Brock. “Itwasminor, correct?”
Brock cleared his throat. Kyle was looking at him with ice-blue eyes that gave away nothing. “Yeah, minor. Got her checked out in first aid. She’s fine.”
“Brock resolved the situation pretty quickly. Rachael was impressed.”
“Wait,” Kyle said. “Rachael was there?”
“As a bystander. No worries, boss. All is well.”
Kyle looked back and forth between the two men. Nope, he knew he was missing something. But he shrugged and said, “Anything you want to add, Badger?”
“It went down pretty much as Jake said. Then at fourteen hundred, I apprehend a trespasser with a camera…” He went on to describe the trespasser and his suggestions for beefing up security along that part of the fence. Kyle nodded, made some notes, then went on to the next guard. Brock breathed a sigh of relief.
Kyle finished with instructions for the next day. “Keep up the patrols. These days are going to be slower, but when the crowd arrives on Thursday, we’ll have more to do over on the campgrounds. Once they get their wristbands, festival-goers are allowed onto the grounds at will between eight A.M. and half an hour after the last performance, around midnight. In the meantime, the workshop participants are sticking together for meals at night, then going to their hotel rooms or wherever they’re staying. They do have one big outing together Thursday afternoon, up into the national park, which we’ll be covering. Any questions?”
Everyone shuffled their feet, eager to be out of the hot room.
“All right,” Kyle said. “Class dismissed. Brock, a word?”
Well, shit.
Brock and Kyle waited until the rest of the team had left. The Brock asked, “What do you need, boss?”
“Two fiddle players, huh?” Kyle crossed his arms and leaned against the desk behind him.
“Yeah. And yeah, one was Brianna, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“That’s what I was wondering. So tell me what really happened.”
Brock described the incident, careful to watch Kyle’s reaction.
“Okay, yeah, the guy sounds like a complete dick. Do you think he’s going to be a problem?”
“Well, I’ll ask Brianna at dinner tonight.”
