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Gabriel didn’t say anything for a long moment, wondering if he had cops like her on the county payroll. Being averse to the smell of gunpowder was probably a bit unusual. He had his share of those who’d pulled their guns on the job and bore the scar of that memory, often no longer enjoying shooting deer or wild pheasant. “You’re not into hunting, I take it.”

“Never have been. And after hitting that deer, I can’t say I would ever be. Taking a huge animal’s life just for the sake of sport or meat you probably don’t need seems like an overall loss. Such beautiful animals-majestic and powerful and free. I’d be in the camp that says take a picture, don’t kill them.”

Evie half turned to consider him as they walked. “You’re a dozen questions ahead. Fill in some blanks of your own.”

The fascinating thing about an interesting woman was the journey to discover those unique items that made her… well, interesting. Only this one had another guy in her life, which put a rather tight box around the moment.

As far as understanding him, she mostly had to know his family, and that seemed an innocuous direction for this conversation.

“The dam that made Carin Lake was built in 1962. My parents own what is now called the Southern Woods-basically the south end of Carin Lake, land given to them by the state to compensate for what the lake had put underwater. They’ve added on to it over the years with purchased pieces. I mention it because I spent the first eighteen years of my life either in those woods, on the water, or trailing my father around on his job. Came to love nature, that water, and always admired my dad.

“I never thought of becoming anything but a cop,” he continued. “I like people, I like when things are peaceful in a community, between neighbors. I like being the one called when a crisis hits, able to respond and help them out. I’d have probably become an EMT if Dad hadn’t been the sheriff. He insisted on college, and that was fine with me. I enjoy school and I used it to broaden what I knew about the law and this job. Because Thanes have been here so long, we know the people of this county. It was a natural step to run for sheriff after Dad’s retirement.

“It’s interesting being the oldest son. Josh, the youngest, put his roots down in a place beside the lake. A bait shop, boats for rent, part interest in a campground. His business thrives and grows as large as he wants it to. He spends time on the water most days.

“Will went overseas as a combat medic, came back and settled on the opposite side of the lake from Josh, but more in the country. He’s a mechanic now, small-engine repair. If it’s got a motor, call Will. He’s very good at putting things back together, whether people, animals, or machines.

“Like I said, being a small-town, small-county sheriff fits who I am. I do the state conferences, spend more time taking classes on law enforcement and forensics than I would care to add up. But the degrees aren’t the goal. I’m not looking to make a name for myself elsewhere. I have a place here, a job that needs doing with excellence. I care about the people of Carin County who voted for me. I’m not a particularly ambitious man.”

“Hmm…” Evie cocked her head. “Sure you are, Gabriel. Your ambitions are focused here, in this place, in this role. You’ve spent your whole life dreaming and planning and working to get right where you are today. You want to live up to your expectations of yourself, deliver on what you know being a good sheriff means. Your ambitions have brought you to your goal. You want to live it now, so enjoy the moment.”

He was impressed with how much she’d captured from his brief description. “True enough. This job is a big piece of my day-to-day life, and I like it that way.”

He slowed their pace a bit, shifted to lighter subjects. “I like watching baseball, soccer, football, but prefer to watch them live at the high school or the park sports diamonds. I like being around the families who come out for the games. I like the hot dogs and popcorn and sitting on a folded blanket to cushion the hard bleachers.” They both laughed at his description.

“I’m a theater movie fan and enjoy the big-screen experience, those few hours when I don’t think about police matters. I don’t usually go to see police procedurals-they get so much so wrong.” More laughter. “I enjoy fishing, the peacefulness of it, but mostly the time with whichever family member or friend I talked into going out with me for the hour.”

“You focus on people in both your work and play.”

He nodded. “I like talking with others. And I like to think I’m on good terms even with those I have to occasionally arrest.”

They had arrived. She looked in the bakery window. “Do they have sourdough bread? I’m hoping for something fresh from the oven I can take back sliced and have for sandwiches.”

Gabriel held open the door for her. “You’ll find that and more here.”

They made their selections and started back, Evie eating a soft pretzel she’d bought along with a loaf of bread. As they approached the post office, she said, “I’m ready to call it a day.”

Gabriel, eating a bagel loaded with cream cheese, nodded. “Good. If you want to work until midnight, you should wait till after your body has another day or two to recover.”

“I’m getting there. It’s mostly sore muscles now. I’m going to soak in a hot tub for an hour and enjoy some music, then find a movie to watch on TV.”

“A nice plan. I’ll lock up for the night. I’ll be tied up most of tomorrow morning, but I’ll be by in the afternoon or maybe I’ll run into you around town.”

“That works.” Evie took out the car keys and moved to the convertible. She slid inside and shifted the seat to her preference, turned the key in the ignition, and grinned at the engine’s powerful hum. “I’m glad it isn’t so cool tonight I have to put the top up,” she told him.

He stood back, considering her. “You and the car look happy together. Good to drive?”

“I’m fine. I appreciate the selection.”

“See you tomorrow, Evie.” His phone rang, and he got it out as she drove off. A nice first day with her, he thought. She was a woman with some good ideas on how to work a case. And nice to have around, he added as he said “Sheriff Thane” into the phone and mentally shifted gears back to the car-vandalism problem.

SIX

Evie Blackwell

Evie knew she was ambitious, had given up trying not to be. She was unlocking the post office before five the next morning. There was somebody out there, living free and thinking he… or she… had gotten away with murdering a whole family. She was in competition with that person, looking for the truth, looking for the culprit. She wanted justice-for the Florists, for their extended family, for the law. And she wanted to win.

She put down the loaf of sourdough and package of cheese she’d brought with her from the house, along with a thermos of coffee. She walked over to the dozen photos of the family now on the wall and moved them around in a different order, a habit that let her see them in other contexts, look again at the details, see the people afresh at the center of the puzzle.

She stepped back, studying the photos, the timeline, the facts on the crime wall, pulling it back into her memory. By doing so many cases, she had learned how to work them, to pack the details down into her subconscious, then wait for that eureka moment, the one pivot that would connect things together, point to a question, a fact, and she’d have it. Like seeing the end of a chess match when there were still a dozen moves to be played. She could solve this case. Twelve years of collected evidence and interviews was a gold mine, and all she needed was to put her finger on the one thing. She was convinced it was here. She could find it. God had created her with the skill set uniquely suited for such work. She solved crime puzzles, and this one desperately needed solving.