Dark Waters by Susan Rogers Cooper Page B

French doors separating it from the living room, and big windows on two sides. It wasn’t a big room, but it would be perfect as an office, Dalton thought. Although he had no idea what he would do with an office.
    Beyond the living room was a large dining room, and Dalton couldn’t help thinking about the Thanksgiving dinners he and Holly could host in that room with his mama, his best friend Milt and his family, and anybody else they wanted to invite. He smiled big just imagining it.
    â€˜And here’s the kitchen,’ June the realtor said, opening a swinging door.
    It was just like his mama’s kitchen. Real big with lots of cabinets and drawers. Some of these cabinets, however, had glass doors and he thought that would be a good place to put their wedding china and stuff like that. There was a closet by the back door that, when opened, revealed a space for a washer and dryer.
    â€˜Where are the bedrooms?’ Dalton asked.
    June the realtor led him back to the dining room where there was a doorway into a hall. There was a small bedroom straight across, with one window – perfect for a nursery, he thought – a bathroom in the middle, then the master bedroom at the back. Huge windows on two walls looked out on the backyard.
    â€˜This house sits on a half-acre, most of which you’re looking at,’ she said, indicating the backyard, which seemed to go on forever. The houses on either side were fairly close, but the back yard was at least half a football field long. ‘It backs up to Mason Creek,’ June said. ‘But they fixed it up two summers ago so there’s not supposed to be any more flooding.’
    Flooding? Dalton’s face fell.
    Again, June put her manicured hand on his arm. ‘Now, honey, they fixed it!’ she said. ‘It’s not going to flood anymore. Stop with that hangdog expression!’ And she laughed and squeezed his arm.
    â€˜This place is a real steal,’ she said, and named a figure that made Dalton’s head swim.
    He nodded his head for a while, then said, ‘I’m gonna have to think on it.’
    â€˜Well, of course, but don’t take too long! At this price, this little beauty’s gonna be snapped up in a New York minute!’
    They heard the sound of breaking glass, and Dalton ran for the front door. Having been in the back bedroom, it took him more than a minute to get to the front porch. He couldn’t see anyone, but he did see what was broken: the side window on his patrol car. Inside, the glove box had been prized open and his service revolver was gone.
    â€˜Oh no,’ he said.
    â€˜What was it?’ June the realtor asked as she came out of the house and down the porch steps.
    â€˜Somebody broke my window and stole my service revolver,’ he said.
    â€˜Oh my God!’ June the realtor said, looking around her in fear of being shot.
    Dalton looked around with her. ‘Wonder who did it?’ he said to the world in general.
    â€˜Well, I had nothing to do with this, Deputy!’ June the realtor said in huff. ‘If you’re accusing me—’
    Dalton’s face showed his complete and utter bewilderment and surprise. ‘Oh, no, ma’am, I’m not doing that! I just wonder who did it, that’s all.’
    â€˜Well, I didn’t!’ she said, emphasizing the point.
    â€˜Yes, ma’am, I know,’ he said and moved around the car to the driver’s side, as June the realtor headed quickly to her Lexus.
    Dalton swept the broken glass off the driver’s-side seat, got in his squad car and sighed heavily. He didn’t dwell on it, but things like this seemed to happen a lot to Dalton Pettigrew. But he did worry about how he’d tell Milt. Well, not Milt. He was on vacation. Emmett, then. He’d have to tell Emmett. Dalton sighed again. He and Emmett weren’t real good friends like him and Milt. Or even him and Anthony. Maybe it was because of