It took about ten minutes to reach the area. Once there she found a gravel path that led around a small pond. The pond was filled with ducks as well as other animals. Fish jumped on their tails when children threw pellets into the water. One child skipped a pellet almost across the entire pond before a catfish jumped into the air and caught it.

  Instead of getting in the way of those enjoying the pond she took the wooded trail. Trees overshadowed her and gave shade and cooler temperatures. Still, it didn’t take long for the sweat to bead on her forehead or to run down her back.

  As she rounded a corner, the sounds of sirens reached her ears. A part in the foliage showed a gravel road. A red sports car sped past followed by a cruiser with lights blazing. If she didn’t know better, she’d say she saw Greg and Quinn in the car.

  She moved back onto the path and increased the pace of her run. Getting back to the office seemed like it might be important.

  ****

  Greg squeezed the headrest in front of him as Bagger took the curve on two wheels. They were in a residential neighborhood. A kid or an adult could walk out on the street at any time, and they would be crushed. The speed limit said thirty and he knew they were doing sixty easy.

  “Don’t you think we should slow down through here?”

  “Can’t.” Bagger turned the wheel, his arms trembled with the strain of keeping it from coming back on him.

  “Why not? People live down here. And I think I just saw a face peep out of those trees.”

  “You might have. That’s the other side of the park.”

  “The other side of the park…” Greg drew in a shaky breath. They couldn’t be racing like this around kids at a park! What could be so important that Bagger wouldn’t slow down?

  “I think you need to explain before I have you pull this vehicle over.”

  “All right, I’ll explain. That car right there belongs to Horace and Von Tremell.”

  “And?”

  Finally, Quinn spoke. He was being shifted from side to side in the front seat. He had a grip so tight on the console, Greg feared he might set off the air bag.

  “Well, they just robbed the convenience store on Market Street. They got away with a good chunk of change.”

  Greg understood the need to chase them down, but he thought they could have easily found them since they knew who had done the deed.

  They rounded a corner and Bagger slammed on the brakes. A tractor trailer was going through a four-way stop and blocked the entire road. They came within inches of hitting the vehicle.

  Bagger slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “That makes the second time this month.”

  “Excuse me? Why don’t you go after them at their home? Do you have to wait until they rob a place to pick them up?”

  “It ain’t exactly that. Now that we’ve left the store, the store owner will delete the footage of the robbery.”

  “What?”

  “The entire town is afraid of those two boys. If I don’t catch them after they do it, then I generally have zero proof to hold them.”

  Greg didn’t care for small-town police life if this was how it was run. They seemed to accomplish very little other than going after the same people over and over for the same things.

  When Bagger pulled back out on the road he did so at a much slower pace. “I guess we’re back on patrol.”

  Quinn’s mouth had dropped open. “Why don’t you let me hack into the cameras and download the proof?”

  “Nah, couldn’t use it in court. We’ll get them on something. May be a while, but we’ll get ’em.”

  Greg had his doubts. The court system in Clifton didn’t work like normal places.

  “So, where do we go now?”

  Bagger drove back into the downtown area, which was filled with old brick buildings and one-way streets. It was easy to get turned around.

  “We just drive and wait for trouble to be called in.”

  So, they could do absolutely nothing to stop it. Greg didn’t say it out loud.

  A call came over the radio. “Bagger, domestic disturbance out at the old Holden place.”

  Bagger sighed. “All right, Thomas. We’re headed over.”

  “This sounds like repeat offenders.”

  “You could say that.”

  Quinn shifted in his seat. His legs were a tad too long for the vehicle. “Can we have some background?”

  “Background? How about this? Mr. and Mrs. Holden get riled up about every couple of months. He wants more children, she doesn’t. That kind of thing.”

  “Oh, yeah. That kind of thing.” Quinn rolled his eyes.

  Greg understood. The entire situation was foreign. Not that he hadn’t been part of a domestic disturbance or two, but over having a baby? That was a new one.

  They pulled in front of the two-story farmhouse. Quinn’s eyebrow rose. Like he was expecting something completely different. Truthfully, Greg hadn’t expected such a nice place either.

  Raised voices reached them before they touched the grassy lawn.

  “Look Hazel, we need more kids for the farm.”

  “More kids! That’s what you said last time. Now we have toddlers running wild everywhere. When Jessup do you think they’ll be taking care of the farm? Hmm?”

  “Well, now look, we don’t have to have kids. I’d just like a little bit of…” Jessup’s voice lowered until Greg couldn’t hear.

  Hazel fisted her hands to her sides and stomped toward Bagger. “You do something with him, ya hear? I want him gone at least overnight. There ain’t going to be no lovey-dovey going on here!” She turned around, lifted her nose to the air, and stomped toward the house. Once inside she slammed the door. The bolt sliding into place could be heard at the car.

  Jessup faced Bagger. “Why does she get like this? Every time I asked for a little of her time, she goes and does the same thing.”

  Greg asked, “How many kids do you have?”

  “Last count…” Jessup held up his fingers and ticked off one by one. “I think it was seven or eight. But that’s not the point.”

  Quinn nodded his head toward the house. “She’s thinks it’s the point.”

  “Bagger, who are these two inconsiderates you brought to my house?”

  “They were on a ride along with me. Had to bring them.”

  “Well, you can tell them this is none of their business.”

  Greg cocked his brow and put his lips together. He wouldn’t be giving any more of his opinions, but he had one.

  “Do you want to come to the station and sleep until Hazel cools off?”

  “Nah. I’ll just go to the barn. I’ll have the cats and the mice to keep me warm, I guess.”

  Jessup stomped off muttering obscenities all the way.

  Greg and Quinn climbed back in the car. Bagger jogged to the front door and knocked. It cracked a hair. Greg assumed he was telling Mrs. Holden the situation.

  When he returned to the car, he strapped in and put the car in gear without many words.

  “How old are the children?”

  “I think the oldest is about ten.”

  “Ten?” Quinn’s shock was a little over the top, but Greg didn’t point it out.

  “Yeah. They’ve only been married about eleven years.”

  Greg bit his own tongue. If a person wanted a big family and they could care for them, more power to them. But it didn’t seem like Hazel was hungry for any more kids or the activity that produced them. Maybe she needed a break.

  Quinn opened his mouth and Greg quickly reached up and squeezed his shoulder. He knew something was about to come out that was better left unsaid.

  “Um, yeah, um, what next?”

  Greg nodded, just in case Quinn could see him.

  “We just drive around and wait.”

  Greg had leaned back against the leather seat in the back. If they had a prisoner, they would have to call another car. This one was fitted to haul people, but not with him inside. And he hadn’t seen many patrol cars at the station either.

  “Is this a typical afternoon or do you normally have more activity?”

  “Normally less.”

  “Oh.”

  Greg should have known. A highspeed car chase and a domestic disturbance couldn’t happen every day. It might ruin the town’s reputation.

  The people couldn’t have that.

  ****

  “He loves me, he loves me not. He loves me, he loves me not.”

  Each white petal she pulled off the daisy got caught by the wind and drifted away. Every time her question ended the same… not.

  The grass on the hillside tickled her bare legs. She’d worn the denim skirt and the cowgirl boots to get his attention. It was like after the first time, he’d moved on. She shouldn’t be surprised.

  She’d given in too easily. All the other girls had said to play hard to get or that he was just a player and to avoid him all together. They had been so right.

  Below her the lit-up barn seemed to rock with the loud music. Through the barn doors she could see the inebriated bodies swaying to the sound.

  She’d been in there not that long before. The rough wood had rubbed her back as she put herself there to hide and wait. Her neck hurt from the times she looked at the door trying to deciding whether to go or stay put.

  Here she was in a crowded room full of people, but she felt so alone. People smiled. People offered tiny waves. They knew her, but they weren’t her friends. At least not anymore.

  She opened her phone a few times. She thought about calling people she considered friends to come to the party, but then she put it back in her pocket.

  In the end, she left. She walked to the hillside and sat down in the field of flowers.

  “Ann Marie? What are you doing out here?”

  She looked over her shoulder. A smile teased her lips. Maybe her mind had conjured him. She didn’t know, she didn’t care.

  He was here.

  Now she could tell him what she’d been needing to tell him…

  Chapter Seven

  Ericka and the team had a late supper and went to bed early. There wasn’t a lot of talking, at least as a group. Quinn and Fanny separated into a twosome. Maggie and Tristan went in another direction. Ericka and Greg gave each other a peck on the cheek and went to their separate rooms.

  He'd expressed that the afternoon of driving around with Bagger had been an exhausting and depressing experience. He wanted to go to his room and maybe compose an email. It might be his resignation or a request to leave and go back home.

  She’d just let him talk.

  When he finished, she expressed how she understood. And how they probably both needed rest. The next day was going to be full. She had a poker game. He had the dry cleaners. Even thinking the words made her feel silly.

  The night flew by. Sunlight streamed through the windows and struck her face. She rolled onto her back and stretched her arms over her head. She stretched her legs as far as they would go. The ancient alarm clock beside the bed began to play, “At Last” by Ella James.

  Ericka hummed it under her breath. A smile teased her lips. The words were finally true. She rose, held out her arms like she was gripping Greg, and danced around the room. Eyes closed, she swayed back and forth to the music.

  The knock on the door caused her to stumble. She caught herself on the headboard with her thigh. She gasped.

  “You all right in there?”

  Why was Tristan knocking on her door?

  “Yes.”

  “Greg said that the bathroom is empty. He suggested you go or you’re going to be late for getting downstairs. I’m not sure if he was making a joke or not.”

  “Thank you.”

  What else could she say?

  She heard him walk away and she went to her drawers and her closet and dragged out her outfit for the day. First would be her white shirt, blue jacket, and dressy slacks, combined with her loafers. Later she would wear the fancy dress she’d chosen for the poker game.

  The hallway was empty when she entered. She made a beeline for the bathroom. Fortunately, it was still free. Inside the tiny room, she undressed and climbed beneath the hot spray. Now that was a blessing.

  She tried not to be too long in case someone else needed in. She cleaned and got out, drying while standing on a towel. Once dry, she dressed and opened the door gasping for air.

  The bathroom needed a window, or at least an exhaust fan. The moisture that built in that tiny room with a hot shower was overwhelming. Maybe lukewarm would be for next time.

  From down the hall in the area off the kitchenette, sounds similar to yesterday’s came. She moved closer and entered the room. Today was eggs and bacon. As she scooted into a chair at the table, a plate was placed before her. She could get used to this kind of treatment.

  “What’s on today’s agenda? You guys going to run around town and leave us here all day again.” Tristan forked eggs into his mouth.

  Bitter.

  He sounded very bitter.

  Maggie patted his hand and whispered something.

  Greg stood poised above the skillet holding the spatula. She saw that look that said he was about to say something he’d later regret.

  The sound of an ambulance rushing past the window had them all jumping out of their seats. Following the ambulance were two cop cars. They sped down Main Street. Pedestrians and cars barely had time to ease off to the side of the road.

  Quinn opened his mouth right as all of their phones went off.

  En masse, they rushed downstairs. No one spoke as they grabbed their weapons from a secure locker and ran to Greg’s car. The text gave them a location and told them to come immediately.

  Ericka sat in the passenger seat. Greg had programed in the address. He took the curves like a manic and she held to the dash for support. Maggie and Quinn slid across the slick leather of the backseat, smashing into each other with every twist.

  “We can go a little slower.”

  “Not sure if we can. The text wasn’t clear, and the ambulance and the other cars were flying. Kind of seems like we need to get there quick.”

  Ericka didn’t argue, but she didn’t necessarily agree. The town didn’t have real emergencies that she could tell. Probably when they did have one, they might go overboard, but she’d been wrong before.

  The road dead ended at a farm.

  Ericka was about to ask about the farm from yesterday, but Greg said, “Nope, not the same place.”

  Ericka nodded. He’d read her mind. A little scary actually.

  Greg parked with the other cars in front of a large farmhouse. The paint flaked off in multiple places. Parts of the roof were lifted and bent, or just missing altogether. Men in uniforms and suits stood on the slanted hillside overlooking the property. They appeared to be looking at their feet.

  From Ericka’s vantage point all she saw was a hillside covered in white daisies. She remembered when she found the cross on the side of the road. Daisies had lain behind it. That entire situation had turned out to have a happy ending. For some reason she didn’t think this scenario was going to work out quite the same.

  They walked two-by-two with their hands in their pockets and their heads down. Once they drew close enough Bagger stepped away from the others. It was more than just him and Thomas. Where the other officers had come from Ericka didn’t know. She hadn’t realized there might be more people in uniform in the town, but in this case, she was sure it was going to work out to their advantage.

  Bagger pushed his cap back and massaged his forehead. He drew in a shaky breath.

  “What do you got?” Greg had one leg bent at the knee and the other straight steadying himself on the hillside.

  Ericka saw the tip of a shoe pointing straight up from the flowers. She leaned to the side and peered through a crack in the wall of men. She closed her eyes but didn’t squeeze. Then she opened them. There in the grass was a young girl. Her straight blond hair was fanned out around her. Her hands were folded over her chest. She looked like she was asleep, only Ericka knew she wasn’t.

  Ericka looked down the hill at the nice house and the barn before she turned back to the girl in the flowers. The sleepy little town just woke up.

  ****

  Greg forced himself not to wrap his arms around Ericka. She was a police officer, but she was also the woman he loved. He didn’t want her to see such things as what lay in the grass.

  Thomas stepped to his elbow. “The medical examiner will be here soon. There’s a barn full of teenagers that need to be interviewed. You think your group can handle that?”

  Greg would have said they could handle much more, but he remembered they were guests. And not everyone wanted them there.

  “We can absolutely do that.” He started walking and the team followed.

  “Boss, we should have—”

  “Agent Hart, we’ve been asked to interview the teenagers in the barn and we’re going to interview the teenagers in the barn.” He kept as even a tone as possible. It wouldn’t do for his team to know how aggravated he was as well.

  They approached the barn. Kids stood at the double doors trying to push past officers. Where did these people keep coming from? Where had they been hiding? Officers were everywhere. Greg didn’t understand it.

  In the background, “Cry to Me” was playing. Greg could feel his foot start to bounce. There were some kids feeling it as well. They had moved to the dance floor, and they were moving in a fluid movement against each other. If he’d been alone, he would have grabbed Ericka and shown her a slow dance like she’d never seen before.

  “Greg?” She was elbowing him in the side.

  “Yeah, sorry.” He cleared his throat in hopes it would clear his mind. “How many of these kids have been interviewed?”

  The guard at the door scrunched up his face and pointed to his chest. “Are you asking me?”

  “Yes, I’m asking you.”

  “Well, thank you. The answer is none.”

  “None?”

  “None.”

  “All right then. Team, let’s divide and conquer.” Greg pointed left, right, and to the back. He gave each of them a section. He took the kids at the door trying to get out.

  “Back up. Back up.”