"All right. Whatever you need." The resignation was clear in Jack's tone and expression. I felt bad that he kept telling people he didn't want to be in law enforcement ever again, and yet he kept getting dragged into it.
"Anytime you want a job, Shepherd, just let me know."
"People keepsayingthat," Jack said. "Still no."
As if in response, my phone loudly rang with the theme music fromCops, making me jump.
"Dang it, Shelley," I muttered. "Also, it's uncanny how he does that."
"The theme fromCops?" Andy asked, brows raised.
"He, who?" Jack asked.
"It's the feds. And Shelley messes with my ringtones," I said, answering both at once, and then I answered my phone.
"Alejandro! How are you? Also, are you psychic? We just had a murder here!"
Silence.
"Again?" he finally said in his lovely, lyrically accented, melted-chocolate voice.
"I know. It's been a long year," I said again. "I'm putting you on speaker. Jack and Andy are here. I'm actually at the sheriff's office."
"Hello to all. I wish I could help, but of course, P-Ops can't interfere in a local murder investigation."
Special Agent Alejandro Vasquez worked for the Paranormal Operations division of the FBI. He had a magical gift of his own, and his wife was a powerful witch. He'd been part of several events in Dead End in the past year, even if only skating around the edges, and I'd come to think of him as a friend.
Except for the part where he kept trying to recruit Jack to be his partner, which would take Jack out of town all the time and put him in almost constant danger.
I didn't like that one bit.
"Anyway, I'm calling with good news and a request from my lovely wife. I've talked about you all enough that she's dying to meet you."
Andy pointed at the door and gestured to Deputy Underhill to follow him, then raised an eyebrow at Jack.
Jack nodded.
Alejandro paused. "Okay, maybedyingwas a bad word choice under the circumstances."
He wasn't wrong, but it wasn't his fault.
"Can you visit? I'd love that!" I caught myself smiling and then felt guilty. Under the circumstances, indeed.
"We'd love to make the trip, but it's going to have to be soon. We just found out that Rose is pregnant!"
He sounded ecstatic.
"That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you! Two kids, Alejandro. How wonderful!"
"Not exactly," he said, dragging out the words.
"No?"
"We're going to havethreekids. It's twins!" This time, he sounded dazed.
"Oh, wow! Congrats times two!"
"Congrats, my man," Jack said, grinning. "That's wonderful news. Can't wait to meet Rose and tell her she's too good for you."
