A Deep and Dark December(32)

“I can’t imagine what would possess that boy to do such a foolish thing,” Elmer said, struggling to get his feet under him.

Jessica popped up out of her chair, flashing a mischievous grin. “I’ll walk you over to Main Street, Elmer.”

Erin assisted Elmer to the door where Jessica was already putting her coat on. She ignored Erin, looking through her to Elmer.

“I’ll have my cell phone ready this time, you know in case you need me,” she told Mabel with a wink, closing the door behind her and Elmer.

Erin rolled her shoulders, some of her tension leaving with Jessica. Where was Graham? She checked the time again. She was going to be later than she’d told her boss she’d be. Ramie had informed her on the phone the night before how disappointed he was in her that she hadn’t gotten the check from Greg. He didn’t hide his annoyance when she told him she was going be late to work the next morning so she could give her statement to the police. The last thing Ramie wanted was bad publicity for his company. He was very unhappy about her involvement in Greg and Deidre’s deaths. She’d be lucky if she still had a job at the end of the day.

“The sight of Chris Farnsworth buck naked, running down Main Street is not a sight I want to see,” Mabel said. “I changed that boy’s diapers. I’ve seen all of his privates I ever want to see.” She picked up a headset and put it on. “Pax. Come in.”

While Mabel gave Pax the particulars of Chris Farnsworth’s marathon down Main Street, Erin wondered what in the world was happening in San Rey. Three crimes in twenty-four hours. She couldn’t recall three crimes in a year, let alone a day. Combined with her highjacked ability and the issues her aunt and father were having, there was definitely something strange going on. But what did it mean?

The door opened at the top of the stairs. Graham’s heavy tread announced him before Erin saw him. Man, the first hit of him was the most potent. A new flush crept up her cheeks, a combination of what had happened between them the night before and her vision of him in the shower.

“Hey,” he said without eye contact, making a beeline for the tray of coffees on Jessica’s desk.

“Hey,” Erin answered back in the same effortless tone.

Mabel pulled her headset back on and pressed the button for line two. “Sheriff’s office.”

“What’s going on?” Graham asked.

“It seems as though San Rey’s having a bit of a crime spree.” Erin motioned toward Mabel. “Mabel’s had four calls in the twenty minutes I’ve been here.”

“That phone doesn’t ring four times in a week.” Graham took his coffee to Mabel’s desk. He waited for her to finish the third streaker complaint, his expression growing more and more confused. “Did you just say streaker?” he asked Mabel.

“I’m afraid so. Chris Farnsworth decided to take a stroll down Main Street wearing the suit he was born in. Although I’m pretty sure that boy wasn’t born painted San Rey High’s colors. Seems he’s celebrating the football team’s win last night. In a really big, really illegal way. I sent Pax over to throw a blanket on him or something.”

Shaking his head, Graham chuckled. “Kids.”

“I wish that was all,” Mabel said. “Oh, shoot! Ned Jenkins is still on line one.” She punched the blinking line. “Sorry, Ned. We’re having a busy morning here. I’ll send the sheriff himself on over to take a report. Say howdy to Yvette for me. Okay, will do. Bye.”

“What’s Ned calling about?” Graham asked.

“A break-in,” Mabel said. “Somebody made off with his Cadillac and a bunch of other stuff. He’s really teed off.”

“A break-in? In San Rey? I don’t believe it. You’d better call Yvette and make sure he didn’t take a trip to the pawnshop he doesn’t want her to know about.”

“He insists he wasn’t drinking last night, Graham. And I believe him. He sounded Monday morning sober, not Friday night drunk. And I’d know the difference, having been married to him once upon a time.”

He considered her. “I guess you would. Why don’t you send Pax over there when he’s done? I have to take Erin’s statement.”

“Elmer went down with Jessica to see if he can’t help get Chris under control.”

Graham had started toward his office, then turned back at the mention of Jessica’s name. “That’s another thing. If that girl steps one foot on those stairs again, I’m firing her. I don’t care if she is your niece.”

“Technically she’s not my niece anymore since I divorced her no good, dirty, rotten uncle,” Mabel pointed out. “That was two husbands ago. No, three. I forgot about Stiffless Stan who is truly forgettable. Couldn’t even get it up half mast if you know—”

“Whatever,” Graham cut in, frustration edging the word. “Just keep Jessica out of my apartment.”

“I really need to get to work,” Erin said. “When can we reschedule?”

“We’re not rescheduling,” he told her, then addressed Mabel. “Call Jessica and tell her to get Elmer back down here. And tell her to get her butt in her chair where it belongs. The city’s not paying her to take pictures of naked men on Main Street so she can text them to her friends.”