“Get it done. From what I’ve heard, she was a damn good detective before this happened.”
“One more thing, sir. Well, actually two.”
The sir brought a frown to Don’s face. “Spit it out.”
“There’s another girl missing in Candler County. Once we wrap up Day, I’d like to head over there to check it out. A call from you might get me in a few places easier.”
“You mean without trespassing or breaking in.” Don chuckled. “I’ll make the call when you’re ready to go. What’s the second?”
“Angelina Clark’s death pushed up the timeline on my plans but may have actually been a blessing for me. I’m dying. Lung cancer.”
Gabriel watched as his oldest and best friend processed what he’d just said. The two of them had started in the academy together. Don had wanted stability, marriage, and kids. He’d worked his way up from a beat cop to chief. Being a detective on the beat, solving crimes, and locking up murderers was all Gabriel had ever wanted. Until now.
Don finished his processing and sank slowly back into the chair behind his desk. His eyes were cloudy, and Gabriel rose, not wanting a tearful episode.
“You need anything, Gabe, anything at all, let me know.”
He made it as far as the door, something niggling at the back of his mind. He needed to take care of something else, and he might not get another chance. “One more thing, Don. Calvin Young is a good kid. You could do a lot worse than having someone like him on the streets, fighting crime.”
“Tell him to stop by and see me. A recommendation from you puts him at the top of my list for new hires. Has he been through the academy?”
“He’s still working on it, taking night classes while he works records here. I think he’s got another month or so to go, but he’s been waiting until his vacation. A few of those classes are only offered during the day.”
Don jotted down a note. “Have him come see me. I’ll make a few calls. There should be a way we can speed that up. Give him some time off to do the classes that he needs to do during the day. If he needs the money, he can do some night hours here.”
Gabriel waved a hand and left the office.
Calvin was waiting for him at the end of the hall. “Got those records you wanted. How’d it go with the chief?”
“He wants to see you.” Gabriel took the envelope from Calvin, who had paled as if he’d just seen a ghost. “You still want to be an officer?”
Calvin frowned. “Yeah, but…”
Gabriel grinned. “The only butts are the ones at the end of my cigarettes and your spine. Go on. He’s waiting for you.”
Blue eyes twinkled, and a huge grin stretched the freckles across his nose and cheeks. “I’m gonna be a real honest-to-god police officer?”
“Once you finish the academy. Don’t go getting yourself killed. I’ve got enough guilt on my shoulders.”
“Yes, sir.”
Calvin hurried down the hall at a fast clip. Gabriel watched him go, remembering the excitement of his first real job. It was the same excitement he still felt every time he walked onto a crime scene or placed a murderer under arrest.
His thoughts turned to Dakota Dale. What would life be like without that excitement? Without any emotion at all? It wouldn’t be worth living.
An image of a bathroom mirror with the word Broken written in blood flashed through his mind. “Letting me live was Salyer’s final punishment.” The psychiatrist had spent six months trying to figure out why she’d tried to kill herself. Gabriel had spent one day with her, and he knew.
He headed for the front. “Okay, Gabriel Browne, now you’ve got two missions before you die. Let’s see if you can put back together what Christian Salyer tore apart.”
7
“How’s that pride thing going for you, Dakota?” He opened a can of dog food and poured it into a bowl then raised it to his nose and sniffed. “Smells like someone vomited it up to me.” He poured a box of salt on top of it. “I’ll be having steak, a baked potato, and salad along with a glass of champagne.”
He slid the bowl through the bottom of the bars. “You could be sitting across from me, enjoying a nice meal. All you have to do is say, ‘I love you, Christian.’”
I reached for the bowl and pulled it to me.
He laughed. “I can wait, sweetheart. We’ve got all the time in the world. I wouldn’t eat too much of that if I were you. Heavy salt content. I ran out of water this morning. Could take at least three days to get a new supply in.”
“Sure you don’t want a steak? I fixed an extra one.” Max rolled into the kitchen as I dropped the remaining vegetables in the colander and rinsed them.
“No, thanks. The salad will fill me up.”
Max shook his head. “You don’t eat enough to keep a fly alive.”
We’d had the conversation before. It wasn’t really Max’s fault. I’d never told him what Christian had done to me—the luscious meals he’d eaten in front of me while I slowly starved. Sometimes, he would toss the scraps onto the floor and laugh as I scurried to pick them up before he changed his mind. My stomach churned. Stop thinking about it, Dakota. There were worse things than eating off the floor.
The doorbell rang as I carried the food to the table. “I’ll get it. It’s probably someone from the police department with the information Gabriel said he was sending over.”
“Ask who it is first,” Max called. “And take your gun with you.”
“We’re in a gated community, Max.” I unlocked and opened the door, stunned to see Browne standing there.
“He has a point. I’ll install a chain on the door before I leave.” Browne held out the envelope. “Can I come in? We need to talk.”
“We were just getting ready to eat. You’re welcome to join us. There’s an extra steak and plenty of salad.”
Surprise flickered in his eyes. “Sounds great.”
“Who is it?” Max asked.
“It’s Browne. Set another plate. He’s joining us for dinner.”
The silence that followed my statement was broken by a plate being slammed on the table, followed by silverware.
Browne smiled. “I guess you know already. I’ll go if you want me to.”
“There are things we know and things we don’t.” I took his arm and pulled him in before closing the door. “You gave me a chance to explain the pictures. I owe you at least that much.”
Max glared at Browne as we entered the dining room. “I just want you to know, buddy, if I wasn’t in this wheelchair, I’d put you in one.”
“I deserve that, Max. I carry a baseball bat in the back of the car if you’d like me to go get it for you.”
Browne had a way of taking the wind out of your sails. Max opened his mouth, closed it, and shook his head before rolling up to the table. “I’m hungry. Out of respect for Dakota, I’ll hear you out.”
“Let’s eat then.” Browne held my chair for me before taking his seat. “Smells great, and I’m starved.”
I toyed with the salad as the three of us ate in silence. “I think I’ll make some coffee.”
Max stared at my plate. “You haven’t eaten anything at all.”
“Blame it on the bourbon.” I left the two of them alone. Max wouldn’t stay angry for long. I actually thought he was more hurt than angry. He’d liked Browne and trusted him. So did I, but my judgment isn’t what it used to be.