Page 56 of No Man Left Behind

“I’ll finish up a few loads with Marcus, then I’m all yours.”

They finished filling up the car, and then he and Elina jumped in. Troy looked at the jammed back seat. “I’ll meet you over there. In fact, I’ll probably beat you.”

He just might. Phail Jail—the station—and Phail General were on adjacent sides of the square. Marcus had to navigate the streets and potential traffic. Troy just had to jog across the park.

“Do you have plans for a parking lot?”

“Eventually. I want to see what the budget looks like once I pay off all of this.”

She frowned. “I haven’t really thought about the costs. If you need more, I have some savings you can use.”

This woman. “I’m not taking your money, but thanks for the offer.” His voice was gruff. The things she did to him. “For now, I’ll just use the gravel driveway Edie and Jane had. Eventually, we’ll get a small lot, but for now, the new lot Piper had us put in is close enough to be helpful. Nothing in this town is too far away.”

“Your new officers might have their own vehicles. Will you need another squad car?”

He shot her a look as he pulled into the driveway. Troy lounged against the front door. “You ask good questions. I’ve been consumed with the station itself. Hadn’t thought about the cruiser situation.”

“You’ll figure it out.”

He’d have to, but he’d put that off until he hired someone and that need became a reality. One thing at a time.

After a few loads using his car, Levi and Garrett arrived with their trucks. They loaded up the desks and filing cabinets, and moved the heavy stuff.

On the last load, Elina and Piper came along to help put things in order. The two women shared looks and giggles that told him they were up to something. But anything that made Elina laugh was a good thing. He figured they’d let him in on the secret when it was time. He prepared himself to love it, no matter what it was.

Over the next hour, they arranged and rearranged the furniture in the squad room, searching for the best fit. Sean and Heath arrived with the sinks, washer and dryer that had been delivered.

Heath leaned against the half wall that separated the waiting area from the squad room. “Hard to believe all of this was squashed into one room. You’re going to need a few things to fill out the spaces, though.”

He agreed. “Tansy offered to let me check out the sawmill and the lodge at Midnight Lake. I’m hoping to find some budget-friendly items to use in here and in the rooms upstairs.” And Midnight Lake would be a fun place to take Elina. The lodge was a two-mile hike from the sawmill. A completely off-the-grid property full of amazing people and spaces.

Piper came in from where she and Elina had been organizing a few pieces of furniture in his new office. “We’ve got something to show you.”

Her voice was bright and happy, but when Marcus looked at Elina, he saw nerves bouncing in her eyes and body language. “What have you ladies been up to?”

Elina shrugged. “Nothing much. And you don’t have to like it. It’s absolutely okay if you don’t.”

Oh shit. Nothing like that kind of warning to set his expectations low. What was he in for?

Behind him, Troy laughed. “Well, that sounds ominous.”

Piper shook her hand. “It’s not ominous. It’s amazing. Come and see.”

Elina didn’t look sure, so he took her hand as he walked into his new space. It took him a moment to find the surprise. Lined up along the bottom of the large picture window were seven large framed pictures.

No, not pictures.

Wanted posters. Six showcased him and his team.

Wanted. Epic. For unauthorized growth of the town of Phail.

Wanted. Falcon. For building a networking center in Phail.

Wanted. Oz. For growing plants unnatural to Phail.

Wanted. Slick. For financing Phailed operations.

Wanted. Scooby. For letting the dogs out in Phail.

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