Scratchgravel Road (Josie Gray Mysteries #2)(57)
Dell dragged two bales of straw over to the fire and they both sat watching the smoke drift out of the barn into the rain.
“Dig into that cooler, there against the stable. I kept Chester some scraps from breakfast.”
Josie smiled when she found a half pound of fried bacon wrapped in tinfoil. “You have better dog scraps than what I keep in my refrigerator for people.”
Chester smelled the bacon and came back to sit patiently in front of her, accepting each piece as if it were a delicate morsel, chewing carefully before swallowing. He always appeared to sincerely enjoy the taste of a good snack, and Dell couldn’t resist spoiling him.
Dell stood, arms crossed over his chest, and watched the interaction. “That dog’s got better manners than most kids.”
Josie and Dell watched the coffee percolate as she caught him up on the dead body and the connection to the old Feed Plant.
“What do you know about that place?” she asked.
“Nothing. Don’t want to either. Go talk to Sauly. He worked there for years before they fired him. Sons a bitches.”
She grinned.
“Why on God’s green earth would a man make something that can’t be touched for ten thousand years just so he can heat his house? They call that clean energy?” Dell stood and jammed his poker stick into the coals and then placed a small chunk of wood into the fire. “We’re so smart we’re stupid. I can’t even talk about it. Pisses me off too much.”
Dell walked to a storage room in the back of the barn to retrieve two coffee cups. By the time he came back to the fire and poured the coffee he’d calmed down and moved on to a topic that didn’t raise his ire.
“How about the pencil pusher?” Dell asked.
She sipped her coffee and took her time answering. “His name is Dillon.”
“I know his name. Where’s he been? Haven’t seen his car much.”
She shrugged and tried to figure Dell’s angle. “He’s been at a conference. I just saw him a couple days ago.”
“Seems like I haven’t seen him all that much,” Dell said.
“What is this?”
“Conversation. I thought that’s what you females liked.”
“Well, I’m not your typical female.” She fell quiet, assuming the conversation would turn.
“So, how is he?”
Josie sighed. “He’s okay. He’s good. Why do you care how he is?”
Dell held a hand up. “I’ll restate the question. How are you and Dillon together? As a pair?”
“Dell! Why are you asking me this? It’s too early in the morning.” She blew air out in frustration. “I don’t know. What does that mean, how are we as a pair? Am I one way on my own, and another with him?”
“Sure. Lots of people like that.”
“We’re fine.” She patted her leg to get Chester to wander over and lie down at her feet. She stroked his head and hoped Dell would let it go.
He was quiet a minute as he stared at the fire. “Here’s why I ask. You went through hell and back a few months ago. Had gunmen shoot up your bedroom with you laying there. That’s enough to fry anybody’s brain. But, it should also make you think. You’re not getting any younger. If you like this fella then maybe it’s time to do something about it. If you don’t, or if you’re happy the way you are, then leave it be. Nothing wrong with that. Just don’t let fear hold you back.”
“Who says I’m afraid?”
“You’re a cop. What happens if you let fear influence your decisions as a cop? You get your ass blown to kingdom come. Same thing happens in your relationships. You let fear influence your relationships and you end up living alone on a beach.”
“That what happened to you?” she asked.
“I don’t have fear. I just don’t want what other people seem to want. But I think you do.”
*
After four hours of sleep that left her body feeling heavy and her mind sluggish, Josie dragged herself out of bed and into the shower. She drove to work on autopilot and walked into the Artemis Police Department at noon, ready for a second shift. She had a quick conversation with Lou and then found Otto upstairs glaring at his computer, and Marta brewing a fresh pot of coffee.
Otto heard Josie enter the office and turned toward her, his lips pursed in anger. “This blasted thing won’t let me in. Something’s timed out.”
She approached his desk and leaned over him to examine his screen. “You need to learn a little patience.”
“Weren’t these things supposed to save us time? We were supposed to get rid of all our paperwork. We were sold a big fat lie.” He picked up his mouse and pitched it across his desk. “How many heart attacks you think are caused each year because of these damned things?”
“Otto. Calm down. And don’t throw your mouse.” Josie sat down and discovered he was entering the wrong username and password for the new department e-mail system. While she logged him in he poured her a fresh cup of coffee.
Marta sat down at the conference table, her eyes bleary, looking slightly better than the day before.
“How’s Teresa?” Otto asked, sitting down beside her with a handful of paperwork, notes, and his steno pad.
Marta wore a silver cross necklace that she pulled from underneath her uniform shirt. She rubbed absently at the back of the cross with her thumb. “‘Repentant’ is I think a good description. She’s not one to apologize, but she is truly sorry this time. As she should be. She knows that she risked not only her life, but Josie’s too. And she realizes the pain and anguish she caused me.” Marta turned and watched Josie approach the table with her coffee and notes. “You must have said something that clicked with her. She’s awful impressed with you.”