“F,” Heather said. “10-65-F reports. You don’t deal with the Gs.”
“She’s right,” Wilson said.
“Shut up.” Wolf shook his head like he was getting attacked by a swarm of bees. “Heather. You would be great at this job. And if you need help that’s what we’re here for. That’s why we’re all gathered here now to talk to you about this. You need political knowledge? Margaret has your back. You want procedure help? Wilson knows everything better than I do. You need anything else? I would be down the hall. In the Chief Detective’s office.”
She looked at Scott. “You knew about this?”
He shook his head. “They called me in for the meeting. I had no clue what for.”
“We wanted him to hear this, too,” Wolf said. “Obviously this is a big decision and it involves your whole family. We don’t expect you to have an answer right away.”
“But I suspected it was something like this,” Scott said, ignoring Wolf. “I always knew you were going to be big time, from the moment I met you.”
“O-kay,” White stood up, looking at his watch. “I have a four o’clock. Heather. I’ll support whatever decision you make. You’d be running unopposed so I’m not sure an official endorsement would help you or not. But you know where my office is if you need to talk about it. Everyone. Have a good day.”
White left and shut the door behind him.
“Is he always that much of a prick?” Margaret asked.
“Yes,” Wilson said.
Heather was still looking at Scott. He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m fine with it if you are. But we can talk about it. Like Dave said, you don’t have to make a decision right now.”
But the wheels were already turning. And to use Wolf’s metaphor, they were well-greased, chugging along at high efficiency. And she knew now it wasn’t the thought of becoming undersheriff that had kept her up with excitement these last few nights. It had been the step after.
Sheriff Heather Patterson. She tried on the name and felt a wave of energy pass through her, like seltzer water being poured down her spine.
“I’ll do it,” she said.
Wolf smiled, standing tall. “Good.” He walked to her and gave her a hug.
Scott stood and walked over, and Wolf passed her off to her husband.
Wolf looked at his watch and walked to the door. “I’ll see you guys later.”
“Whoa, whoa,” Margaret said. “What the heck? You have some place better to be?”
“Yes,” he said, leaving out the door.
Chapter 39
“What does she look like?”
Wolf ignored the question as he shaped another buffalo patty and slapped it onto a piece of wax paper.
“Come on.” Cassidy stood with her hands on her hips, a pouty look on her face that reminded Wolf how young his daughter-in-law still was.
“Leave him alone.” Jack entered Wolf’s kitchen and wrapped his wife in his arms.
“Where’s Ryan?” Cassidy asked.
“Out there.”
“Geez, Jack.” She wrestled away and bolted from the kitchen. “There could be a mountain lion out there!”
“I meant out there in the family room!”
“Oh, hey buddy!” she said, her voice receding. “You want to go play some soccer?”
“Yeah!”
Wolf washed his hands at the sink, cleaning off the meat residue but unable to wipe the smile from his face as he watched Ryan run in giggling circles on the front lawn.
“I’m glad you guys could make it,” Wolf said.
Jack ducked into the refrigerator and pulled out a beer. “You want one of these? Or are you still on the wagon? Or off it? Or whatever.”
“No, thanks. Those are all yours.” Wolf dried his hands and leaned up against the counter, appraising his son’s physique. “Geez. You guys do anything besides lift weights in the firehouse?”
“Yeah.” Jack took a sip and smiled. His green eyes twinkled in the late afternoon light streaming into the window. “Pull ups. How about you?” Jack eyed him. “You exercise anymore?”
Wolf smiled. “I plan on getting back into it.”
“I was just kidding. You look good.”
“Don’t patronize me,” Wolf said. “I’m a fat-ass. But I’m going to get back to my fighting weight.”
“You seem determined.” Jack waggled his eyebrows. “It must be this new woman, then.”
“I told you, this woman is nothing like that. Geez, I hope you two are more subtle when she gets here.” Wolf walked out of the kitchen to the front door.
Jack slapped him on the back, walking by his side out to the front deck. “I’m not the one you have to worry about.”
They stood watching Ryan chase a miniature soccer ball while Cassidy chased after him. The sky was still cloudless. The sun hung low above the mountain to the west, almost kissing the tip of the peak. The air was still and dry, filled with the scent of pine mixed with the charcoal briquettes waiting to be lit.
The sound of crackling tires drew their gazes down the drive to the headgate, where a shining windshield crested the hill and drove toward the house.
Wolf and Jack went down the steps to the lawn. Ryan ran over and latched onto Wolf’s leg and he picked him up. Cassidy joined them and they stood still, watching the vehicle approach.
“Remember to keep your mouths shut about everything,” Wolf said, looking at Cassidy, who
made a key-twisting motion at her lips.
Wolf’s stomach danced with nerves. It had been a while since he’d seen her last. That would change once and for all.
The brakes squealed to a stop and the engine shut off.
With Ryan in his arms, he walked over to the passenger door and popped it open.
The woman in the seat looked up with beaming brown eyes that matched his
