Murder on the Horizon by M.L. Rowland

great shape. Really knows his stuff.”
    When Baxter looked up at Gracie, she winked back at him and was pleased to again see sunshine peeking through a crack in the shutters in the form of a lifting of the frown.
    â€œCopy,” Ralph said, then, “All teams, return to base. All teams return to base. Subject has been located. Repeat. Subject has been located. Call in to confirm.”
    Gracie waited while the other teams called in, then keyed the microphone button and said, “Command Post, we’re only two blocks from the grandmother’s house. If you’d like, I can drive him there for debrief.”
    â€œStandby one.”
    â€œLet’s sit down while we wait,” Gracie said. They set Baxter’s backpack on the ground in front of them and sat down side by side on the porch steps. Gracie ripped open the Velcro of her radio pack and pulled out an almost-empty pack of grape bubble gum. “Two left. Want one?” She held a piece out to the boy, stuffing the wrapper in a side pocket.
    Baxter stared at the gum intently. Then he reached out and took it, unwrapping the little purple square as if it were a bomb.
    In slow motion he put it in his mouth and began chewing. Then he looked up at Gracie and smiled.
    He’s never had gum before
, she realized with amazement as she put her own piece into her mouth. “So what books do you have in your pack?” she asked.
    â€œ
The Sorcerer’s Stone
.”
    â€œThat’s a great book.”
    â€œYeah. I know.” The brown eyes sparkled with excitement. “I have
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
, too.”
    â€œWow. You must be a really good reader.”
    â€œGran says I’m an excellent reader. What’s your name again?”
    â€œGracie Kinkaid.”
    â€œGracie Kinkaid,” he said to himself as if cementing the name to memory.
    â€œWhich one are you reading now?” she asked.
    â€œ
The Call of the Wild
. But I’m only on chapter two. I have a little dictionary, too, so I can look up the words I don’t know.”
    â€œThose are all really great books.”
    â€œYeah, my gran gets ’em for me from the library. I’m not supposed to be—”
    â€œGround Three, Command Post,” came Ralph’s voice over the radio.
    â€œGo ahead, Command Post.”
    â€œWatch Commander wants to talk to him at the SO.”
    Something close to panic flooded Baxter’s face. “The SO?” he asked, voice rising even higher. “Isn’t that the Sheriff’s?”
    â€œHold on a sec,” Gracie said, edging closer to the boy on the step. “We’re only two blocks from the grandmother’s house,” she repeated into the radio, hoping Ralph would get the hint.
    â€œBring him back to the ICP. Per Watch Commander, he’ll be transported from there to the SO for debrief. A deputy is already on the way to pick him up.”
    â€œI can drive him in. That’s no problem.”
    â€œA deputy is already on his way,” Ralph said in a tone that told her the issue was settled.
    Why are they treating him like a criminal? He’s going to clam up like a . . . clam.
“Copy,” Gracie said into the radio.
    She looked down at Baxter. Beneath the freckles, his face had gone pale, and his eyes were round.
    â€œYou heard that, right?” she asked.
    He nodded.
    â€œWe’re going to drive in my truck to the Search and Rescue Command Post a few blocks from here. Then adeputy is going to give you a ride down to the Sheriff’s Office. That’s routine,” she lied. “They just want to ask you some questions.”
    The boy’s lower lip quivered.
    â€œWould you like me to meet you there?” she asked. “Give you a ride back? Maybe to your gran’s?”
    â€œYes!” Baxter said with such apparent relief that Gracie decided that’s what she was going to do even if she had to slug it out with