“It doesn’t seem bananas to me. You kept your head during a terrifying ordeal and helped investigators recover the money.”
“I was unconscious when the money was found. I didn’t do anything. You, Eric, and Jesse found the money. You should get the medals—and the reward.”
“Reward?”
“The company of the armored vehicle that was robbed is giving me a reward of thirty-five grand. That’s bananas.”
Conrad was so surprised by this that he almost missed their turn. “Thirty-five large. That’s sweet.”
“I only did what the man with the gun told me to do.”
“You trained Gizmo, and Gizmo found the robber’s hideout. That seems like something to me.”
“Well, Gizmo deserves the medal, not I.”
“I guess you’ll have to take that up with the sheriff and Town Council.”
* * *
Kenzie stoodat the front of the Town Council meeting room in Town Hall holding Gizmo’s leash, her gaze moving over the audience. Everyone was there—or almost everyone. Her friends on the Team. Rain and Joe. Ellie and the twins. The Belcourts—Winona, Chaska, and Naomi. Dr. Warren. Cheyenne and her parents. Conrad’s former neighbor wearing a fine little hat. Even Bear, who had found the table with the cupcakes and had pink frosting on his beard.
She drew a breath, tried not to be nervous.
“For bravery in the face of danger, for unfailing loyalty, and for countless hours of selfless service to this community, I am pleased to present you, Gizmo, with the Sheriff’s Distinguished Service Medal.”
Sheriff Pella bent down and slipped the medal around Gizmo’s neck.
The room exploded with cheers and applause.
Kenzie knelt down, petted Gizmo’s chest. “Shake the sheriff’s hand, Gizmo.”
Gizmo shook.
“Good boy!”
Laughter.
Sheriff Pella reached for another medal and came to stand before Kenzie. “For unshakable courage in the face of terrible danger and for years of service to your community, I am pleased to present you, Kenzie Morgan, with the Sheriff’s Distinguished Service Medal. Congratulations.”
The room burst into cheers and applause again as Sheriff Pella slipped the medal over her head and then shook her hand.
“Thank you, sir.” Kenzie met Harrison’s gaze.
His smile almost took her breath away.
Then Mr. Winslow, the district manager of the armored car company, stepped forward in his suit and tie, a piece of paper in his hands. He introduced himself, talked about the important role armored vehicles played in society, then shared the history of the company until even Kenzie had forgotten why they were all here.
Megs, who was a member of the Town Council, cleared her throat. “Maybe it’s time to move on.”
Mr. Winslow seemed to catch himself. “We are so grateful to Ms. Morgan and to Gizmo for enabling the authorities to recover the money stolen from us in September. As a sign of our gratitude, here is a check for thirty-five-thousand dollars.”
More cheers and applause.
Kenzie took the check, shook his hand.
She’d thought long and hard about this and knew what she had to do. “Thank you, sir, but I don’t deserve this. Yes, Gizmo and I tracked one of the men who stole your money, but only because the other one pointed a gun at me. It was the Team that recovered your money. They risked their lives in a blizzard to save mine. Without them, neither Gizmo nor I would be here tonight.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thank you for this, but I am signing the check over to the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Team.”
