“Why are you always half-dressed when I turn up?” Jake asked and headed toward the kitchen with Theo following behind.
“Why do you insist on turning up so early?” Theo countered.
“Because I’ve just finished the graveyard shift.” Jake turned to face his friend. “Where’s Olive?”
“In town. She’s gone to see Erica.” Theo yawned.
“And you let her go on her own?”
Theo frowned. “I was unaware of her plans.”
“Snuck out while you were sleeping, did she?”
“Yes,” Theo grumbled.
“She’s a stubborn one.” Jake sighed. “Was that her on the phone?”
“Yes.” Theo stared at the package Jake set down on the counter. “What’s that?”
“Your first gun,” he replied. “But please try not to kill anyone with it since it’s registered in my name.”
“Why is it in your name?”
“Because there’s no way you’d pass a background check considering you were born three hundred years ago,” Jake told him. “And I would feel marginally better knowing that you are at least armed out here in the middle of nowhere with a murderer on the loose.”
“Okay.” Theo shrugged.
“Now, go get showered and dressed. We’ll start with basic gun maintenance, then move on to target practice.”
Nodding in agreement, Theo turned and headed out of the room.
Olivia sat in the rather elegant but comfortable waiting room of Erica’s law office, idly leafing through a magazine while the stern-looking secretary blatantly stared at her. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She was well aware of what the town was saying about her, but she didn’t need to be reminded of it with every suspicious glare.
Olivia looked up as the door opened and Erica wandered out with a young man of about nineteen. Shaking his hand and nodding, he left, and she caught sight of Olivia.
“Hi.” She held open her door.
“Hey.” Olivia dropped the magazine down on the table and stood. “Thanks for seeing me at short notice.”
“I’ve always got time for you, Olivia,” she replied as they walked into the office. “What can I do for you?” Erica moved around the desk and sat down.
“I want to make a formal complaint about Chief Walcott.”
Erica sighed.
“What has he done now?”
“Has Jake said anything to you?”
Erica’s mouth tightened in annoyance. “We haven’t been able to see much of each other since the chief has him on the night shift.”
“Sorry,” Olivia murmured.
“Trust me, it’s not your fault.” Erica shook her head. “Don’t start feeling guilty, the guy’s an asshole.”
Olivia smiled. “I have some stuff I need to tell you, but it has to be kept confidential.”
“Olivia, whatever you tell me is protected by attorney-client privilege.”
