The Soldier's Promise. Patricia Potter

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      Al Monroe, council president, called an emergency meeting about the second burglary. He wanted something done. And he wanted a new police chief.

      “Tom said he would stay with us until we find the right person,” she said.

      “He’s turned in his retirement papers,” Councilwoman Callaway said.

      “I haven’t accepted them,” Eve replied. “He’s willing to stay during this investigation.”

      “We have a perfectly qualified candidate now,” Al insisted.

      “You mean your nephew?” she said tartly. She was out of patience with Sam’s maneuvering for the job.

      “He’s been with the department five years.”

      “And there’ve been complaints,” she said.

      Al frowned. “They were unjustified. You know they were all dropped.”

      “Tom didn’t agree.” Then, unfortunately, Eve’s temper got the best of her. Al had pushed Sam on her father and had pressured Tom to keep him. She believed Al had intimidated—or bribed—complainants. “And if he’s so bright,” she continued, “why didn’t you keep him in your business?”

      Al Monroe stiffened. “You know business has been slow. And Sam’s always wanted to be a police officer. He’s got a degree in criminal justice.”

      “That’s very admirable, but we need someone with proved leadership skills to be chief.”

      “Young lady, you work for us.”

      Eve looked around the table. “I beg to differ. I was elected by the people in this town. I work for them. I will not support your nephew for chief. He’s not ready.” Then she reiterated her position to make it very clear. “We need a seasoned chief, someone with supervisory experience.”

      Al looked as if he was going to have a stroke.

      “Now, Al, she’s right,” another councilman said. “Sam is young and, I must admit, a little hotheaded at times.”

      “Well, our current chief isn’t all that good, or we would have the culprit by now. Sam thinks it’s that new fellow out at the lake.”

      “Tom’s already ran a check,” she said quickly, “not that we had any reason to do so. Mr. Manning has full title to the cabin, having inherited it from David Hannity. He’s rehabbing it, which should make all of us happy. He has an honorable discharge from the army, where he was a staff sergeant. There’s no reason to suspect him.”

      “Nothing happened until he got here,” Al grumbled. “Did Tom check his alibi?”

      “He doesn’t need an alibi. There’s absolutely no evidence,” Eve replied. “Anything else you want to discuss?”

      “That’s all anyone cares about,” Al retorted. “Our business owners are scared.”

      Eve bit her tongue and shifted the subject. “Are you all planning to be at the fund-raiser a week from Saturday?”

      Five of the six members nodded.

      “Good. We need support. It would be great if you could donate some baked goods. We also need any books you can spare for the library and items for the garage sale. Crafts and services are welcome. For instance, Stephanie will conduct a dog-training session and donate free training services to the highest bidder. Cash would be good, too. We’re going to list the donors in the newspaper.”

      A bit of blackmail proposed by Stephanie, but Eve wasn’t going to mention who suggested it. Stephanie had a way of antagonizing the powers that be. Being the only vet for forty miles, she didn’t have to worry about a boycott by clients.

      She looked down at her watch. “I have to pick up my son. Anything else?”

      Al glared at her as he left. The others followed without comment. So far, the council had skittishly refused to go along with him on promoting his nephew, relying on the fact that Tom had not officially left. They all knew Tom had more friends than any of them had.

      She looked at her watch. Just enough time to go by the Hannity cabin if she stopped on her way from school to the baseball field. Nick would be with her then.

      Maybe that would be a good thing. She would make a quick apology, drop off the copy of the deed and tell him the work to enlarge the porch could go ahead.

      That way she would be safe from those feelings that had been so persistent. Safe. She was beginning to hate that word.

      Nick was waiting for her at the school. He jumped in the car. “You’re late,” he said.

      “I know. City business. And I have a quick call to make on the way. That okay with you?”

      “Where?”

      “The last cabin on Lake Road.”

      “You mean the guy with a dog. Awesome.”

      “What do you know about that?”

      He shrugged. “All the kids are talking about it.”

      “What are they saying?”

      “Maybe he robbed Maude’s and the gas station.”

      “And you think going there is awesome?”

      “You always tell me never to believe everything I hear. And you’ve been there. You wouldn’t let me go if you thought he was bad.”

      Her son was ten going on forty. Not only that, but he would also make a good lawyer.

      “You’re right. I don’t think he had anything to do with those robberies. But I’m just going to drop something off with him, and then we’ll leave. I want you to stay in the car.”

      “Aw, Mom. I want to see the dog.”

      He always wanted to see the dog. Any dog.

      She turned onto Lake Road toward the cabin. Mr. Manning was replacing some of the slats holding up the porch railing. She wondered why he bothered doing the work. Did he plan to stay? Fix the cabin and sell it?

      Biggest question of all: Why did she care?

      She didn’t, she told herself. She grabbed her briefcase and looked at Nick, who was peering at Mr. Manning with great interest. “You stay here. You can get started on your homework.”

      “You said you wouldn’t be long.”

      “I promise.” She leaned over and kissed his tousled hair.

      She took a deep breath. Maybe she’d been magnifying that attraction.

      Maybe he would be even ruder than before. Maybe...

      But Stephanie liked him. She was a good judge of character. Except, apparently, for husbands.

      She СКАЧАТЬ