Page 5 of Perfect Harmony

A muscle ticking rapidly under his lefteye, Preacher turned the car on and, with a final look at Gideon, drove away.

Gideon activated his body cam and pulledhis gun from his holster before glancing behind him at Maurice. The older copwas already climbing out of the car. Gideon walked toward the service door ofthe jewelry store, checking his surroundings as he drew closer to thebuilding.

The door swung open and he raised his gun,pointing it at the two men who walked out. They stared at him in silent shock,black cotton masks over their faces and each of them holding one of thosereusable grocery bags.

As Maurice’s footsteps drew close, Gideonsmiled at the two men. “Good evening gentlemen. I’ll need you to raise yourhands, nice and slow.”

Chapter One

“Gideon? What are you still doing here?”Ian stuck his head into Gideon’s office.

“Just finishing up some paperwork,” Gideonsaid.

“Your shift ended an hour ago.”

“I know.” Gideon leaned back in his chairand rubbed at his eyes. Staring at his laptop screen for longer than an hour alwaysmade him feel like he had sixty grit sandpaper for eyelids.

Ian dropped into the chair across fromGideon’s desk. He looked as exhausted as Gideon felt.

“Twins get you up last night?” Gideonasked.

Ian nodded. “Yeah. Rose has figured outhow to climb out of her crib.”

“Seriously? She’s only two.”

“I know, but you know how smart she is.It’s only a matter of time until she teaches Megan. I’ll need to switch themto beds sooner than I thought.”

The deputy rubbed at the back of his neck.Gideon had no idea how Ian managed to get everything done. Not only was he employedfull time as a deputy, he was a single dad to twin toddlers, and he owned ahobby farm with a small pack of goats, chickens, and two ginormous pigs.

“Gideon, you were supposed to be at yoursister’s house for a barbeque twenty minutes ago.” Wanda, one of theirfull-time dispatchers and the unofficial mother hen of the department, walkedinto his office. The tall and elegant black woman had been a dispatcher for HarmonyFalls Sheriff Department since Gideon was a boy, and Gideon would be the firstto admit that the entire department would fall apart without her.

“I know, I’m running a bit late. You’resupposed to be finished work too. Is Sophie not here?” he said.

Sophie was their night shift dispatcher andwasn’t known for her promptness.

“She’s here.” Wanda sat gracefully in thechair beside Ian, giving him a once-over. “You look tired, sweetie. Girlskeeping you up?”

“Rose learned how to climb out of hercrib,” Ian said.

“Oh, that sweet girl is a firecracker,”Wanda said.

“How’s Murray doing?” Ian said.

“He’s good.” A soft smile crossed Wanda’sface. “He had his check up with the doc yesterday and it’s official – he’s inremission.”

“That’s fantastic,” Ian said.

“You all know how stubborn my husband is,”Wanda said with a grin. “I think he might have beat back the cancer by sheerwillpower alone. Speaking of which, Gideon, I have a favour to ask.”

“What’s that?” He shut down his email.

“You know I’m doing a silent auction anddinner as a charity fundraiser for cancer.” Wanda’s voice took on a cajolingtone.

“Yeah. I already told you that thedepartment would be happy to make a donation,” Gideon said.

“I know, but what I really need is somemore volunteers. We’ve had four drop out in the last forty-eight hours and I’min a real bind.”

Gideon groaned. “I’m not the volunteertype, Wanda.”

---