“You have to make peace with God, smart aleck.” Dotty leaned forward, both hands around her mug.
A scuffling by the door saved Mia from having to answer. “Morning, Mom.”
Gena hovered by the door, wearing a gray yoga outfit, her hair caught at the nape in a clip. Her hazel eyes widened as she took in the view. “Morning.”
Mia gentled her voice. “Would you like to come outside? Just sit on the deck? It’s a nice fall morning.”
Gena glanced around. The classic bones in her face protruded, emphasizing how pale she still was. The yoga outfit hung on her frame. While she’d always been slender, now she was too thin. “I’m…maybe.”
“Morning!” Pete skirted the edge of the deck.
Gena gasped and scurried back inside.
Pete stopped short. “Ah, shit. I’m sorry.”
Dotty stood, placing her mug on the railing. “No worries. We’re just in a no-fast-movements zone for a while. Good morning, Sheriff.”
“Morning, Ms. Dolores Catherine.”
Mia bit back a smile. If the man had been wearing a hat, he likely would’ve tipped it.
“It’s good to see you again, Pete.” Dotty gave Mia a tremulous smile. “I’ll go make sure your mama eats breakfast. You get to work.”
Mia nodded and cleared her throat. When would things improve? “Let’s go.”
Pete rubbed his clean-cut jaw and shifted his weight. “Ah, yeah. I really am sorry, Mia.” He led the way around the cabin and tall weeds to his Lost Lake patrol car, which was a Mustang.
“Not your fault.” Mia ran her hand along the sleek lines of the car. “This is amazing.”
Pete nodded. “The city believes in its police force. It’s kinda nice.”
Mia slipped inside the vehicle and sank into the plush leather. “I bet this puppy moves.” Too bad the sheriff had to drive it down the dirt road. The car had probably been spotless before.
Gunning the engine, Pete ripped out of the drive to the main lake road.
“Show-off.” Mia secured her seatbelt.
The car easily took the twists and turns along the lake. Pete tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “Is your mother going to be all right?”
“I think so.” Mia stretched her neck. “She was kept hostage in the house while a serial killer I was hunting waited for me to come home. You know she had problems before.”
“I know. But, I mean, she wasn’t…”
“No. She wasn’t raped or beaten. He tied her up and messed with her head.” Bile rose in Mia’s throat. “I got home and I shot him. Dead.”
“Good for you.”
Yeah, except the mental problems that had always plagued Gena came back three-fold. The woman wouldn’t leave the house now. “Where are we going?”
“To the Volk house. I want your take on Ben, Erik, and Seth.” The car ate up the asphalt as Pete continued following the lake until he turned up a long drive.
Pine trees lined the way, their needles falling to the ground in the colder weather. Carefully tended bushes lived between them, extending in every direction. Soon, a large ranch house came into view. Three stories, made of wood, the house sat at the base of a rising mountain. Snow dusted the very top of the peak.
“Wow.” Mia took in the intricate stonework covering the bottom story of the house. “The Volks have serious money.”
“Yeah.” Pete pulled to a stop. “By the way, you’re officially hired as deputy so you can help on this case. We can do the paperwork once we get back to the office.” He jumped from the car.
Mia nodded, her gaze still on the imposing house. “Okay.”
