Page 3 of The Crime of Intensity

I grit my teeth to keep myself from snarling, “And what am I doing? Twiddling my fucking thumbs ’cause I’m a girl and can’t do shit?”

“Uh huh, you have a great day now, Rourke,” I grit and give a short whistle to make Wrench follow me.

In the distance I see a motorcycle approaching. Rourke is calling my name and I continue to ignore him as I open my patrol car and let Wrench jump inside before I get behind the wheel. I steer my car onto the road and keep my gaze straight forward as I pass Marvin, even if I notice he’s signaling me to stop.

I call my father through the hands-free system in my car, and when he picks up I tell him, “If Marvin or his father calls you again, tell them you don’t have any contact with me.”

My father’s chuckle flows through the car. “The kid’s in town?”

“The kid is an asshole who thinks I can’t do my damn job,” I grumble.

“If that were the case he would have taken the job from you the day he walked into town, Kat,” my father states. “He’s concerned. I know Marvin can be a little overbearing, believe me, I know the type ’cause I’ve been in his shoes, but hear him out this time.”

I fall silent and let my father’s words wash over me. It’s then I realize, “He already called you, didn’t he?”

“He didn’t, his father did,” my dad confesses.

I groan. “Atticus? Seriously? Why does he have you on speed dial? Makes me wonder if Marvin can do his damn job if his father is meddling in his business.”

“Atticus is merely concerned since the last time Marvin came to town, he disappeared for a few days because you locked him up in jail.” My father’s tone holds disapproval.

I flip my blinker and park in front of the station. “He should have learned his lesson and stayed out of my town.”

“Catching a serial killer has priority, it overrules any grudge you two have toward one another.”

Turning off the car, I remain seated to finish my talk with my father first.

“I don’t hold a grudge, I just don’t like people who kick worthy officers to the side just because their ego needs the extra room.” Reaching out, I scratch Wrench behind his ear and add, “You taught me how to do my damn job long before I ever set foot inside the academy.”

“You’re too good to be a sheriff in this town, kid. Any agency would hire you in the blink of an eye.”

My father doesn’t say this to give me a mood boost. I have been approached by the FBI and turned them down more than once. My father and I even founded a research facility here, a body farm. The research is valuable, and it also allows for training programs like when I trained Wrench as a cadaver dog.

“I’m needed here,” I simply say, not willing to leave my hometown.

Though, a certain annoying Cowboy Biker Lawmen does make it difficult not to say “fuck it” and move to a different state, country, continent…whatever, just as long as I get to do my damn job without his interference.

“You’re irreplaceable, Kat,” my father states with affection.

The corner of my mouth twitches. “You’re just saying that because you would need to step up as sheriff if I ran off.”

A laugh rumbles through the line. “I retired completely and won’t even do any FBI favors anymore. But you’re probably right. Your mother wouldn’t like it, though. So, keep your ass where it is.”

I’m getting ready to start a long shift so I switch topics and ask, “Can you look after Ten for me tomorrow? I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to go for my morning ride.”

“Call me when your shift ends, I’ll handle everything else.”

I open the car door and rumble, “Thanks, Dad.”

“Anytime, Tough Leen, anytime.” My father ends the call while I stare in the eyes of my nemesis.

The way he’s smirking makes me aware he just heard the nickname my father gives me on special occasions. It’s a slight twist of my name if you say it quick enough. Though, those two words are more of a contradiction. Tough; strong. Leen; delicate. I was a delicate girl growing up but tough as nails when it came to solving puzzles, mysteries, and whatever assignment or task my father gave me.

“Save it,” I snap and let Wrench jump out of the car before I close the door and stomp toward the station.

This is going to be a long day and I’m only functioning on one cup of coffee. I wonder if Marvin will fall for the trick I used last time to get him into a cell. It would give me two days of rest to lock him up. With the warnings I just received, I guess that’s out of the question.

“Kat,” Marvin starts as he steps inside.

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