rookie cop of six months, complained from the back seat. He’d been the only other sucker Reece could find to help out for the day. And if he’d had another few months of experience, Reece doubted he’d have been game. But lucky for Reece, the kid was still in that eager-to-please phase of his career.
Joe filled a disposable cup with the coffee and tossed the thermos back to Sean. “Here, this garbage Reece calls coffee is thick enough to wake you up and put hair on your chest.”
Sean mumbled his thanks and turned back to Reece. “So what is it with this woman that you’re giving up all your free time—and ours—to help her out? Is cracking this case really that important to you? Or is it the girl?”
Reece could feel his partner’s eyes upon him, those scrutinizing baby blues that had forced a testimony from more than one reluctant witness in his seven years in the Rolla PD.
“Hey, maybe I’m just a nice guy.”
Joe chortled. “Since when?”
A black figure darted out in front of the truck, breaking off all conversation.
Reece jumped on the brake and the Avalanche came to a screeching halt.
“What the…” Joe sputtered as hot coffee spilled down his front.
“Buffy!”
Reece recognized the name of the Doberman and slammed the gear shift into Park right in the middle of the street. He got out and strode toward the old lady. The woman trembled, her face red and her lips pushed out in indignation. “You almost killed my dog! Are you all right, my little sweet ’ums?” The dog had initially cowered in front of the truck as though realizing its mortality. But now, secure in the presence of her mistress,Buffy bared her teeth and growled as Reece and the other two guys approached.
“Why is Buffy running around without a leash?” He fixed the woman with a stern, albeit respectful tone.
“I was just coming to get her with this.” The old lady shook a pink leash at him.
“I thought I told you last time we met that she has to be restrained at all times.”
The woman gaped. “Even when she’s just going out to do her business?”
“Yes, ma’am. At all times.”
“I put her out the back door and she keeps getting over her fence. I don’t see what I’m supposed to do about that.”
“That’s for you to figure out, ma’am. It’s against the law and punishable by a fine for Buffy to roam free.”
She pulled herself to her full height, which couldn’t have been more than four-nine. “I don’t believe you’re really a police officer. I’ve never seen you in a police car or uniform. What are you trying to pull?”
Reece rolled his eyes and showed her his badge…for the second time.
She sniffed. “Anyone can get one of those fake things. I saw it on America’s Most Wanted .”
Sean’s low whistle prevented a reply as Leigh Sommers jogged toward them.
“Hey, Corrigan. Harassing the local elderly, now? Watch it, Mrs. James. The detective’s a real crackerjack. Better not be hiding anything.”
“You just watch yourself, missy, and don’t worry about me,” the woman shot back. “I can take care of myself.”
As she passed, Leigh gave the old lady a salute. “Yougot it. See you in a few, Corrigan. If you can find your way out of the middle of the street.”
Reece scowled after her, then wheeled back around at the sound of Mrs. James’s outraged voice.
“I’m calling the police and checking on your credentials. For all I know you’re a drug dealer. Or a pimp!”
Joe and Sean let out simultaneous hoots of laughter.
“That’s enough, guys,” Reece muttered, before turning his attention back to the elderly woman. “Mrs. James, was it?”
“I’m not telling you a thing until I verify your identity.”
With a sigh, he pulled a notepad from his pocket and jotted down his name and badge number. “Here, this should make it easier for you.”
She harrumphed and tugged on the Doberman’s leash. “Come along, Buffy.”
The dog gave one more warning growl and followed
Joe filled a disposable cup with the coffee and tossed the thermos back to Sean. “Here, this garbage Reece calls coffee is thick enough to wake you up and put hair on your chest.”
Sean mumbled his thanks and turned back to Reece. “So what is it with this woman that you’re giving up all your free time—and ours—to help her out? Is cracking this case really that important to you? Or is it the girl?”
Reece could feel his partner’s eyes upon him, those scrutinizing baby blues that had forced a testimony from more than one reluctant witness in his seven years in the Rolla PD.
“Hey, maybe I’m just a nice guy.”
Joe chortled. “Since when?”
A black figure darted out in front of the truck, breaking off all conversation.
Reece jumped on the brake and the Avalanche came to a screeching halt.
“What the…” Joe sputtered as hot coffee spilled down his front.
“Buffy!”
Reece recognized the name of the Doberman and slammed the gear shift into Park right in the middle of the street. He got out and strode toward the old lady. The woman trembled, her face red and her lips pushed out in indignation. “You almost killed my dog! Are you all right, my little sweet ’ums?” The dog had initially cowered in front of the truck as though realizing its mortality. But now, secure in the presence of her mistress,Buffy bared her teeth and growled as Reece and the other two guys approached.
“Why is Buffy running around without a leash?” He fixed the woman with a stern, albeit respectful tone.
“I was just coming to get her with this.” The old lady shook a pink leash at him.
“I thought I told you last time we met that she has to be restrained at all times.”
The woman gaped. “Even when she’s just going out to do her business?”
“Yes, ma’am. At all times.”
“I put her out the back door and she keeps getting over her fence. I don’t see what I’m supposed to do about that.”
“That’s for you to figure out, ma’am. It’s against the law and punishable by a fine for Buffy to roam free.”
She pulled herself to her full height, which couldn’t have been more than four-nine. “I don’t believe you’re really a police officer. I’ve never seen you in a police car or uniform. What are you trying to pull?”
Reece rolled his eyes and showed her his badge…for the second time.
She sniffed. “Anyone can get one of those fake things. I saw it on America’s Most Wanted .”
Sean’s low whistle prevented a reply as Leigh Sommers jogged toward them.
“Hey, Corrigan. Harassing the local elderly, now? Watch it, Mrs. James. The detective’s a real crackerjack. Better not be hiding anything.”
“You just watch yourself, missy, and don’t worry about me,” the woman shot back. “I can take care of myself.”
As she passed, Leigh gave the old lady a salute. “Yougot it. See you in a few, Corrigan. If you can find your way out of the middle of the street.”
Reece scowled after her, then wheeled back around at the sound of Mrs. James’s outraged voice.
“I’m calling the police and checking on your credentials. For all I know you’re a drug dealer. Or a pimp!”
Joe and Sean let out simultaneous hoots of laughter.
“That’s enough, guys,” Reece muttered, before turning his attention back to the elderly woman. “Mrs. James, was it?”
“I’m not telling you a thing until I verify your identity.”
With a sigh, he pulled a notepad from his pocket and jotted down his name and badge number. “Here, this should make it easier for you.”
She harrumphed and tugged on the Doberman’s leash. “Come along, Buffy.”
The dog gave one more warning growl and followed
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