Page 73 of Wild Justice

“You did it,” Ramsey crowed. “We knew you could do it.”

“That’s what I told, Ray. Didn’t I, Ray? I told him you could do it. You’ve closed this investigation incredibly fast. Fantastic,” Dunphy said, nodding her head over and over. “Looks like we have ourselves a first-class sheriff here in Harper. Again.”

“First class,” Ramsey echoed. “The Reilly family must have law enforcement in their blood. Listen, Lulu. There’s probably going to be a lot of press creeping around here once the word gets out that Seth Reilly’s daughter solved a murder case. You might want to take a few days off. Maybe go on a little vacation. Lay low for the weekend.”

“Good idea,” Witscoff agreed. “The national news might pick this up, or at least statewide. I know you don’t like publicity, so it might be good to get away. Take a long weekend. You deserve it.”

“Yes, you deserve it,” Dunphy repeated. “Right, Ray?”

“Absolutely. A reward for a job well done.”

“I’ll think about that,” Lulu said. “I just feel like I haven’t been on the job very long to be taking a few days off.”

“You solved a murder,” Witscoff protested. “That’s huge. A few days away from the prying eyes of the press will be good.”

“Maybe I will. We’ll see.”

“What happens now?” Dunphy asked. “What can we expect?”

“I can answer those questions, Lulu,” Witscoff said. “I know you have a prisoner to process.”

Did Witscoff want some of that sweet praise for himself? Lulu didn’t seem perturbed at all by the older man’s dismissal. She simply nodded and took a step towards the door before hesitating.

“Can we talk for a minute?” she asked Kai.

“Sure.”

They stepped away from the chattering threesome who were talking trial strategy and possible bail numbers.

“I wanted to call you…”

“I know,” Kai said. “I understand why you couldn’t. I get it, Lulu. I do.”

“You’re not mad?”

“I’m as far from mad as I can be.”

“I guess it’s kind of over,” she said, looking over her shoulder where Witscoff was talking to the town council members. “Things should probably go back to normal. Whatever that is.”

“It probably will,” he agreed. “And you’ll figure out what normal is.”

“I will.”

“How about we get together tonight and celebrate? Chase and Henry, too,” he suggested. “Dinner is on me.”

For the first time this afternoon, Lulu smiled. In seconds, she’d gone from serious sheriff to playful girlfriend.

Now that the killer was officially behind bars, perhaps they could take some time and figure out what they were to each other.

Figure out if they were truly falling in love.

20

Ray Ramsey’s idea of getting away for a few days wasn’t a terrible one. The sheriff’s station was already getting calls from news outlets, all wanting the story about how the daughter of a famous serial killer catcher was now catching killers of her own. Everyone wanted a piece of the story, and Lulu didn’t want to be the latest entertainment in the twenty-four-hour news cycle that cable television and social media demanded these days.

Her parents had a cabin that they used now and then to get away from it all. It was shared by several of the “aunts and uncles”, and when she reached out no one objected to her using it. They’d all agreed that it was probably a good idea to stay out of the spotlight until the excitement died down. She’d received congratulations on arresting her first murderer, but luckily, no one had decided to compare her to her father.

At least not out loud.

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