“Ahh, so you were just slumming. I get it.”
A red flush raced up her neck. “No, that’s not it.”
“I think it is.”
“It’s personal. That’s my job.”
“Understood, Chief.”
The hurt on her face made my chest ache. It was gone so quick, I could almost believe it hadn’t been there.
The door to the permit’s office opened. “Oh, hello Cash.” Stacey had a bright smile on her face. “Hey there Chief Olsen. Can I do something for you?”
She gave Stacey a tight smile. “No, that’s okay. I’m done here.”
My fingers tightened into a fist at my side as Parker strode back down the hall.
“Everything okay, Cash?”
“It will be if you can help me with a permit.”
Her smile was back, wider than ever. “I sure can. I’ve got pictures of Katie’s new baby, want to see?”
I forced myself to give her an easy smile. “Of course I want to see the grandbaby.”
I let Stacey chatter on about her new granddaughter as I inwardly stewed. I must have made the right noises because I walked out of there with a permit, thanks to a zoning error that was easily corrected. When I got outside, Mayor Finley was waiting by her car.
I paused on the stairs. “Something I can do for you, Mayor?”
“There could be. You still have a number of hours to do for your community service.”
I nodded. “I’ve put quite a few in at the police station, but I’ll be done with that soon.”
“Good, good. Glad to hear it. I’ve talked it over with Chief Olsen and we’ll be gathering forces to clear the debris and hazards from the old factory buildings. Since the budget is so tight, there’s no money other than volunteers. Can I count on you for your hours?”
I nodded again. “As if I have a choice?”
She patted my chest. “No, you don’t. Maybe you could get all those big, strapping brothers to help out? Perhaps even your heathen of an older brother?”
I choked back a laugh. “Mayor Finley if you stop parking in no parking zones, Ripley will stop towing your car.”
“I’m the mayor of this town.”
“So, you don’t have to follow the laws?”
“That’s not what I meant, Mr. Murdock and you know it.”
I held up my hands in surrender. “Of course you didn’t.”
“Anyway, please ask your brothers to help us out.”
“I will.”
She pushed off her car and rounded the hood to the driver side. “Thank you.” She pulled out of the fire zone and I shook my head before climbing into my truck.
A cruiser slid out of the parking lot with Parker behind the wheel, her face resolute as she passed without looking my way.
Annoyed, I drove across town to the job site where most of the crew were guzzling water and eating sandwiches from Bite Me. If we were caught working without a permit the fines could kill a day’s pay.
