Page 11 of Whispers of Redemption

CHAPTER 4

Within five minutes, a patrol car rolled into view, lights flashing. Even though Cassie knew they were coming to help her, she couldn’t deny the feeling of antipathy that she always felt in the presence of cops. The driver parked, and two black-uniformed officers got out.

Cassie groaned inwardly. Seriously? Not again.

Cassie instantly recognized Officer Garcia and ol’ by-the-book Officer Riley.

Officer Garcia smiled wide in recognition. “Well, hello again! We need to stop meeting like this,” he joked.

Officer Riley merely gave her a nod, his penetrating amber eyes sweeping over her and the van.

“Are you guys the only two police officers in Whispering Pines?” Cassie asked. She knew she sounded rude, but couldn’t seem to stop herself.

Officer Garcia laughed. “No, not that Whispering Pines has a huge police force or anything. But Officer Riley and I work the second shift, so we respond to calls that occur between three and eleven o’clock.”

“Let’s get down to business,” Officer Riley said, giving his partner a stern look. “What happened here, Ms. Sherwin?”

Cassie explained about the package pick-up, the breakdown of her van, and gave them details about the black-clothed thief.

Officer Riley scratched notes into a notepad as she spoke. “I noticed that you referred to the thief as ‘he,’” he said, looking up. “How do you know it was a man?”

Cassie frowned. “Well, I guess I just assumed based on his size and how he moved.”

Officer Riley scratched down more notes. “And do you know what was in the package that you were delivering?”

“Not exactly,” Cassie said. “It was a small wooden crate. But it likely held a piece of art.”

“Art, eh?” Officer Garcia said. “So, we’re dealing with an art thief?”

“I guess,” Cassie said.

Officer Riley looked up from his notepad. “What kind of art?”

“You’ll have to ask my client that question,” Cassie said. Then her heart sank at the thought of having to tell Olga what had happened.

“We’ll need her name and address,” Officer Riley said, pen poised over his notepad.

Cassie gave it to him and he wrote while saying, “I find it strange that your van would break down so suddenly and conveniently for the thief.”

Cassie felt heat rise into her face. “Are you accusing me of something, Officer Riley?” she snapped.

He looked up from his notepad, his face registering surprise. “No, Ms. Sherwin, not at all. Simply making an observation.” He moved around to the front of the van to look beneath the hood that was still popped up. “Let me see if I can tell what the trouble is—“

“There’s no need,” Cassie followed him, cutting him off. “I already figured it out.” She led him toward the back of the van and pointed at the road where a pool of oil lay several feet back. “The oil drain plug fell out.”

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