“It made it hard to go to work everyday and see things the same but not, if you know what I mean. His partner was there but he wasn’t. His desk was where it always was but someone new sat there.”
The sound of laughter came from outside and Ryder looked out the window. Ebony had her arms around Milo’s neck and he licked her hair, eliciting squeals of delight. A bath was on the cards before bed. She supposed there were worse things in life than dog slobber.
“So, how is it working out for you here, apart from the incident yesterday that is?” He watched her with calm blue eyes and Ryder wondered how long it took crooks to give in and tell him whatever he wanted to know. There was something about the cool quality of his stare—neither threatening or condescending—that gave off a soothing vibe.
“So far so good. Eb loves day care and I’m pretty content with my job. This is a nice place to live. We can and we will be happy here.”
“You need to give yourself time. Once the community get to know you better and you settle into the job, which you’re doing great at by the way, you’ll make more friends and feel at home again. You have plenty of family anyway. You just need to get to know them a bit better.”
“Yeah, I don’t remember them at all.” She took a breath. “Tell me about why my grandfather got the blame for those kids going missing?”
Jake looked at her, his gaze thoughtful for a moment. “According to my father, even as a child your grandfather was a loner. The quiet geeky kid that everyone liked to pick on who never did anything wrong. When he grew up that never changed. I like the old guy, even if he is a bit weird.”
“And Eric?”
“My dad went to school with him. Bit of a stuffed shirt being the spoilt child of eccentric parents, but a damned good lawyer regardless. It annoys him more than anything when his father is in the spotlight and he never fails to throw his weight around about it. He’s not too happy you’re working on those cold cases for me. Told him to back off and get over it.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I just hope I can give those parents something to hope for. It’s a horrible business, Jake. The part I hate the most about police work.”
“I understand and I appreciate you having a go. You won’t get any trouble from Eric. Told him if the talk gets too much to write them a lawyerly letter threatening to sue, which he’ll no doubt have already done.”
The timer on the stove pinged and Ryder put down her glass and pulled out the pizza before poking her head out the door and calling Ebony in for dinner.
Chapter 12
When Ryder woke on Saturday morning, a black nose sat on her pillow, two dark eyes blinked, and doggy breath washed over her face She blinked, fighting to bring herself awake after a restless night, tempted to squeal until she recognised the big brown eyes latched onto her face. She reached out a hand and stroked from his head down to the tip of his nose. “Morning, Milo. What are you doing in here instead of the other room? Something on your mind, big fella?”
A shadow moved in the doorway. “He wants to come to the fair. I don’t want to leave him at home, Mummy. Please let him come with us.”
Ryder closed her eyes and counted to ten. They’d had the same argument yesterday before work and again on the way home. “I know you’re worried about him being here alone but look at him. Nobody will hurt Milo.”
“But, Muuum…”
“If you ask me one more time, so help me, Eb we will all stay home.”
The stamp of feet hurried down the hallway to her room and the door slammed with a jaw-tightening bang. Milo lifted his head off the bed and looked around, then rested it back watching Ryder again. “It won’t work, Milo, you’re not coming with us. End of discussion.”
He blinked and slid his head away, only to curl up beside her bed with a thump and what she suspected was a dissatisfied sigh of rejection. Great, now Milo understands what I say and is annoyed with me.
Kicking back the blankets, Ryder crawled out of bed wishing she could go back to sleep for another hour. She’d made plans to meet up with Amy and have a look at her show entries and be supportive. Since Amy had gone out of her way to help Ryder and Ebony when they arrived in town, it was only fair to repay the kindness. She had time for coffee on the back step, breakfast, and a round of animal feeding before they had to leave the house.
“Better hurry up and get breakfast or you’ll be going out hungry.” The was a humph in reply as she walked past Ebony’s bedroom. She put a breakfast bowl out with cereal and a spoon and made herself coffee, leaning on the counter and watching her wayward rooster scratching around in what used to be a vegetable garden as the kitchen filled with the smell of her morning java brewing. The squeak of a door and the patter of small feet gave her a sense of relief as Ebony climbed up into her chair and filled her bowl with cereal. One battle they wouldn’t have to fight today.
Ryder passed the milk carton from the fridge and dropped a kiss on her little girl’s hair. “Once you’ve had your breakfast, can you feed the kittens please, and we can get ready. I’ve got a bone for Milo in the freezer.”
“Yes. I’m sorry, Mummy.”
“I know, honey.” With a cup of coffee in her hand, Ryder walked out the back door and sat down on the steps, soaking up the
