In Your Dreams (Blue Heron #4)(65)

“I can’t risk that,” Shirley said. “There are zombies everywhere.” The rest of the class snorted.

“That’s okay,” Em said. “I’m really fast. And I don’t want you to go without Twinkies.”

“Fantastic, kids,” Jamie said. “We have to call it a day, but good job, everyone! Your homework is to read chapters four through six and deal with your in-laws without losing your cool. Think you can handle that?”

“If ever there was a time to barricade myself in a room with a gun,” muttered Ingrid, a cop from Ithaca.

Jamie came over and leaned against Em’s desk. “You’re doing great in this class,” she said. “You ever think about working for us?”

“I’ve only been a cop for nine months,” she said.

“So? Think about it,” she said. “There’d be more chances to climb the ladder than in your department.”

That was true. Levi wasn’t going anywhere.

The state police handled the big stuff for a town like Manningsport—if there was an actual hostage situation, for example, it’d be the job of the local police force to keep everyone calm until the staties got there and took over. Homicides, kidnappings, bank robberies—not that they were commonplace occurrences—were handed over to the big kids.

It was a thought. She wouldn’t leave the Manningsport Police Department anytime soon, but maybe someday.

She radioed in when she was ten minutes from town, got a request from Everett to pick up donuts. Before the station had moved to the new emergency services building, it had been right on the town green, spitting distance from Lorelei’s Sunrise Bakery. Everett had dropped ten pounds since the summer and much mourned the move.

Faith Cooper was inside, hands on her pregnant belly. “Hey, Faith,” Emmaline said.

“Hi! How are you, Em? How was the wedding?”

“It was great. I, uh, I owe your brother something nice. He was a champ.”

“Well, if you’re giving out presents, don’t forget me,” Faith said with a smile. “It was my idea, after all. So he was a good date?”

“Very good.” So, so good. The memory of Jack on top of her, kissing her, made her left knee buckle. But then it was Faith’s turn at the counter, and so Emmaline was spared further conversation.

Didn’t stop the thoughts from coming, though.

* * *

“WIPE YOUR FEET,” Carol Robinson ordered Jack as he walked into the police station. She looked up. “Oh, it’s you, Jack. How are you, sweetheart? Still feeling famous? How’s the Deiner boy?”

“Hey, Mrs. Robinson,” Jack said. He’d gone to school with one of her sons and had fond memories of her chocolate chip cookies. “You look beautiful in that color.”

Carol beamed, her questions forgotten. “Call me Carol,” she said. “Why are you still single, Jack? Oh, wait, I forgot. You got divorced. Do you want to marry my daughter?”

Levi emerged from his office and handed Carol some papers. “Stop matchmaking,” he said to her. “Come on in, Jack.”

Levi’s office was tidy and bureaucratic-looking, except for rather a lot of pictures of Faith. And an ultrasound of the mini Cooper. “How’s my sister?” Jack asked, always a little uncomfortable talking to the guy who slept with her. Curse of the brother.

“She’s good. Another few weeks to go.”

“You nervous?”

“Terrified.” Levi smiled. He’d make a great father. Levi was one of those guys who was born to be a family man.

Jack sat down. “You heard anything about Josh?”

Levi’s gaze dropped to his desk, then went back to Jack. “No change. I check in with his parents every night.”

“That’s good of you.”

“Sorry to hear about the lawsuit against you.”

Jack shrugged. “I understand.” Couldn’t blame them, either. You left him for last. The one who needed you most...

“So what can I do for you?” Levi asked.

“I’m here to see Emmaline, actually. Is she around?”

Levi started to answer, then stopped. His eyes narrowed. “Did you sleep with her?”

Guess he was a cop for good reason. Jack didn’t answer.

“Be careful,” Levi said. “She’s like a sister to me.”

“And my sister’s like a sister to me.”

Levi gave a begrudging nod. “Point taken. Em should be here soon. She was at a class in Penn Yan and has a thing tonight with her at-risk kids, but she said she’d stop by.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to her about. The kids. Heard they need a chemistry tutor.”

At that moment, Emmaline came in, tossed a box of donuts on Everett’s desk and said something that made him laugh.

A jolt went through Jack. Emmaline was in her uniform and wore a bulky jacket, a gun, a radio and a few other things on her belt. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and her cheeks were pink from the cold.

And she was smiling.

Until she saw him, that was, and the smile dropped. “Hey, Chief.”

“Deputy,” Levi said. “How was the class?”

“It was fantastic. I get to taze someone next week.”