wife at his side, gazing at him with adoration, her quotes always starting with, “Martin Alexander, my husband, the mayor.” Said trophy wife worked hard to be visible, doing good work for the citizens of Mapleton. Of course, she was likely to disappear as soon as the press left.
Mrs. Webber’s whine interrupted Gordon’s pity party. “I don’t see why you’re bothering us. It was Joey Shore’s dog that started all the trouble. Why aren’t you questioning them?”
“It wasn’t really trouble. Just something I need to follow up on. I’m going to ask the Shores to meet us,” Gordon said. “Artie might lead us to the spot, and I’d like both boys to show me where they were playing. “
After calling the Shores, who agreed to help, Gordon alerted the Kretzers that they’d be scouting around in the woods near their home. And, of course, had to promise to stop by for a nosh when he was finished. Knowing Rose, it would be a full-blown meal.
“Can I ride with you?” Declan asked. “In your police car?”
His mother frowned, but his father nodded approval. “If it’s okay with Chief Hepler. I’ll follow.”
When Gordon agreed, Declan beamed. “Can we use the sirens?”
Gordon chuckled. “Sorry, those are for emergencies only. But you can listen to the radio.”
“Cool.” Declan raced out the door and waited by Gordon’s SUV.
After stressing the importance of not touching anything, Gordon drove Declan the short distance to the Kretzers’ house. Mr. Webber pulled in behind him. A moment later, a light-colored Subaru stopped at the curb. Joey jumped out and dashed up the driveway.
“Guess what?” Declan said. “I got to ride in the police car.”
“Really?” Joey said. He gazed longingly toward the vehicle, and Gordon figured he’d be giving Joey a ride before long.
A stocky man, dressed in jeans and a Broncos sweatshirt, approached with Artie on a leash. He nodded to Mr. Webber. “Nick. Heard the Marvels won yesterday. Good job.” Then he smiled and extended a hand to Gordon. “Jake Shore. My son, Joey.” He pointed to the dog. “And this is Artie. How can we help, Chief Hepler?”
“I’m counting on Artie to do the work.” Gordon crouched and addressed the boys. “Joey’s dad is going to keep Artie on his leash. I want you to show me where you were playing when Artie ran into the woods. I hope Artie will try to go back to where he found the… stick.”
Gordon rose and the men exchanged a surreptitious There’s more, but not in front of the kids look. He knew they expected—and deserved—an explanation.
The boys exchanged the equivalent in eye rolls. Gordon clearly got the implied Grownups. Always treating us like kids.
He had no clue how to explain what they were doing and figured he’d wait until they asked questions. And hoped their fathers would answer.
“Okay, let’s go,” Joey said.
“One minute while I get my second-best tool,” Gordon said. He reached into his vehicle and retrieved his flashlight.
“A flashlight?” Joey frowned. “It’s daytime.”
“Ah, but it will be darker in the woods. Lots of shadows. A flashlight can show us things in a new way, especially when we shine it at an angle. It lets us see things we might miss.”
The boys nodded. A light shone in Declan’s eyes. “You said that was your second -best tool. What’s your first? Your gun?”
Gordon shook his head. “No. Police officers carry guns, but they hope they never have to use them.”
“So what is it?” Joey asked.
Gordon tapped his temple. “My brain. Most of my job is thinking about things, and trying to figure them out.”
Gordon wasn’t sure the boys were suitably impressed. But they seemed to ponder it for a moment, then looked at each other and nodded, as if they’d agreed he might possibly be right.
“Shall we get going?” Gordon said.
Joey and Declan led the way. “We were playing over there.” Joey pointed toward the edge of the Kretzers’ lawn,
Mrs. Webber’s whine interrupted Gordon’s pity party. “I don’t see why you’re bothering us. It was Joey Shore’s dog that started all the trouble. Why aren’t you questioning them?”
“It wasn’t really trouble. Just something I need to follow up on. I’m going to ask the Shores to meet us,” Gordon said. “Artie might lead us to the spot, and I’d like both boys to show me where they were playing. “
After calling the Shores, who agreed to help, Gordon alerted the Kretzers that they’d be scouting around in the woods near their home. And, of course, had to promise to stop by for a nosh when he was finished. Knowing Rose, it would be a full-blown meal.
“Can I ride with you?” Declan asked. “In your police car?”
His mother frowned, but his father nodded approval. “If it’s okay with Chief Hepler. I’ll follow.”
When Gordon agreed, Declan beamed. “Can we use the sirens?”
Gordon chuckled. “Sorry, those are for emergencies only. But you can listen to the radio.”
“Cool.” Declan raced out the door and waited by Gordon’s SUV.
After stressing the importance of not touching anything, Gordon drove Declan the short distance to the Kretzers’ house. Mr. Webber pulled in behind him. A moment later, a light-colored Subaru stopped at the curb. Joey jumped out and dashed up the driveway.
“Guess what?” Declan said. “I got to ride in the police car.”
“Really?” Joey said. He gazed longingly toward the vehicle, and Gordon figured he’d be giving Joey a ride before long.
A stocky man, dressed in jeans and a Broncos sweatshirt, approached with Artie on a leash. He nodded to Mr. Webber. “Nick. Heard the Marvels won yesterday. Good job.” Then he smiled and extended a hand to Gordon. “Jake Shore. My son, Joey.” He pointed to the dog. “And this is Artie. How can we help, Chief Hepler?”
“I’m counting on Artie to do the work.” Gordon crouched and addressed the boys. “Joey’s dad is going to keep Artie on his leash. I want you to show me where you were playing when Artie ran into the woods. I hope Artie will try to go back to where he found the… stick.”
Gordon rose and the men exchanged a surreptitious There’s more, but not in front of the kids look. He knew they expected—and deserved—an explanation.
The boys exchanged the equivalent in eye rolls. Gordon clearly got the implied Grownups. Always treating us like kids.
He had no clue how to explain what they were doing and figured he’d wait until they asked questions. And hoped their fathers would answer.
“Okay, let’s go,” Joey said.
“One minute while I get my second-best tool,” Gordon said. He reached into his vehicle and retrieved his flashlight.
“A flashlight?” Joey frowned. “It’s daytime.”
“Ah, but it will be darker in the woods. Lots of shadows. A flashlight can show us things in a new way, especially when we shine it at an angle. It lets us see things we might miss.”
The boys nodded. A light shone in Declan’s eyes. “You said that was your second -best tool. What’s your first? Your gun?”
Gordon shook his head. “No. Police officers carry guns, but they hope they never have to use them.”
“So what is it?” Joey asked.
Gordon tapped his temple. “My brain. Most of my job is thinking about things, and trying to figure them out.”
Gordon wasn’t sure the boys were suitably impressed. But they seemed to ponder it for a moment, then looked at each other and nodded, as if they’d agreed he might possibly be right.
“Shall we get going?” Gordon said.
Joey and Declan led the way. “We were playing over there.” Joey pointed toward the edge of the Kretzers’ lawn,
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