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Transport had been arranged between the Seattle PD and our department for him to be picked up tomorrow. That would’ve given me plenty of time to get the appropriate paperwork together. So, of course, the transport shuttle service showed up today instead of tomorrow. They had to wait for me to get the papers in order, so they’re eager to get on their way, and I’ll be glad to see the last of Mr. Chastain.

Except now, I have the mayor throwing a fit in the parking lot.

“Actually, Mr. Chastain is being transferred to the custody of the Seattle Police Department, where he is facing more serious charges than a minor break-in,” I relay, doing my best not to let my irritation show.

It doesn’t help.

“Minor? It is far from minor when this man stole something that contains extremely important information!”

Merrick gestures wildly, turning toward the prisoner, who is standing beside the van he is about to get loaded into. Chastain’s wearing a calculating smirk on his face.

“Where did you leave it? Huh?” the agitated mayor addresses the man directly, as I step in between.

“Let’s go,” the transport officer orders Chastain, hustling him into the back of the van while I block Merrick’s way.

When the back door of the van slams shut, the mayor shoots me a dirty look and brushes past me, heading into the station. I turn to watch the van drive off before following him inside. He must’ve made a beeline for Savvy’s office because I can already hear him conveying his displeasure loud enough for the entire station to witness. I duck into the bullpen and head for my desk.

“What is that all about?”

Tessa, whose desk is right across from mine, shoots me a curious glance.

“He’s upset the perp is gone while his property is still missing. I’d really like to know what is on that recorder because our mayor is having a serious meltdown over it.”

“Still no sign of it?”

I shake my head. “Walked down the alley again this morning, but couldn’t find it.”

“Maybe he tossed it up and it’s stuck on a roof or in a gutter somewhere,” Tessa offers.

I guess it’s possible, but I’m not about to climb up to find out. Maybe if it was something you couldn’t simply replace for fifty bucks or so, or if it was evidence in a more serious crime, but not for a petty theft case that likely won’t be going anywhere anyway. The guy has more serious crimes to atone for.

“Could be. Hey, how far are we with the report on that drug bust this morning?” I ask, changing the subject.

During a traffic stop this morning just outside town, one of the deputies discovered an unregistered firearm on the driver, took him into custody and called us in. Tessa and I both went to the scene and searched the vehicle, finding a large amount of prescription opioids dosed out in dime-sized baggies in the center console of the Pathfinder Deputy Warren Burns had pulled over for speeding.

The driver was a night guard at a pharmaceutical distribution depot in Spokane, helping himself to some of the goods during his shifts. We’ll be working together with the Spokane Police Department on this case, and there is pressure to get the report off to them before we call it a day.

“Done. I just need you to read it over.”

It takes me five minutes to read through Tessa’s much superior reporting—this part of the job has never been my strong suit, I prefer being out there instead of doing paperwork—and declare it good to go.

I bump into the boss in the hallway just as I’m about to head out.

Savvy has one eyebrow raised. “I hear you had a little run-in with Merrick?”

“Sure did, and I heard you getting an earful as well.”

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, but as I explained to him, there is nothing we can do other than keep an eye out for his missing property. I’ve already notified Seattle PD to let us know if Chastain happens to mention anything, and made it clear to the mayor I don’t have the manpower or the budget to tie my officers up indefinitely searching for his damn recorder.”

“Bet that went over like a lead balloon,” I offer.

“Pretty much. You on your way out?” she wants to know.

“Yep.”

“Report on that drug bust go out to Spokane PD?”

“Just now.”