Page 70 of The Sweet Spot
I join Ricky in the break room, and we each polish off a glazed donut while we’re waiting for the coffeemaker to work its magic.
Darlene pops her head through the open doorway. “Better get those ropes out, boss. The goats are in Mrs. McPherson’s flower garden again.”
Yeah, it’s good to be back.
After wrangling half a dozen goats and returning them to their rightful owner, Ricky, Jace, and I head back to the station. I’m hoping to get good news today on my SUV. It’s taken this long for the insurance adjuster to get out to Micah’s Auto Repair to get a look at it.
* * *
As it turns out, my SUV is totaled. I was afraid of that, but I’d been holding on to the hope it could be repaired. It looks like I’ll have to put in a requisition for a replacement vehicle. In the meanwhile, I have my loaner cruiser to drive.
I resume my normal patrol schedule. I’ve got eyes and ears out on Braggart, but so far, he’s been quiet. No one has spotted him in town, which is fine with me. I’m hoping his fancy attorney put the fear of God in him and explained that if he violated that restraining order, his ass would end up back in jail. And this time, he wouldn’t find it so easy to get bail.
Life at home with Jennie is wonderful. Maybe we’re still in the so-called honeymoon stage, but it’s been going really well. I get to go to bed with her each night and wake up with her every morning. We take turns cooking breakfast and doing the dishes.
I manage to drive her to and from the diner most of the time. When I can’t, one of our friends stands in for me.
I notice she’s been wearing the pendant consistently, which makes me happy. I’m debating whether or not to suggest to Jennie that we put one of these pendants on Granny. Then, if she goes on another walkabout, we’ll be able to track her easily.
* * *
I’m sitting at my desk when my phone chimes with a notification. When I check the screen, my heart stops. It’s an automated alert from Jennie’s panic button.
“Fuck!”
Immediately, I check her location, and according to the app, she’s at the diner. I grab my duty belt and race out of my office.
“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Jace asks as I rush past him to the exit.
“Jennie’s panic alarm just went off!” I tell him. “I’m going over to the diner to check on her. Be on stand-by in case I need you.”
“Will do,” Jace says as he follows me out the door. “It probably got pushed on accident!” he hollers as I run to my cruiser. “I’m sure she’s fine!”
On my way to the diner, I call Jennie’s phone. It rings several times before I hear,“Hi, this is Jennie. Please leave me a message.”
Damn it!My anxiety is climbing with every second that passes.
I text her.
Me: Jennie? Everything ok?
But there’s no answer.
So I call her phone again. Same thing. It rings a few times and then I hear her voicemail greeting.
My pulse is racing now, and I’m trying to shove back the panic. Panicking won’t help the situation. Usually I’m pretty calm when I’m stressed, but this isJennie!
When I arrive at the diner, I pull up at the back door and run inside. I check her newly furnished office, which is empty. I check the storage room, then the kitchen. “Have you seen Jennie?” I ask the kitchen staff. Both cooks and the dishwasher are here, up to their elbows in work.
“Yeah,” Chad says as he pulls a tray of plates and silverware out of the dishwasher. “She was taking out the trash.”
The trash dumpster is right outside the back door. I would have seen her. “When was this?”
Chad shrugs. “I dunno. Just a few minutes ago, I think. I’m not sure. I haven’t seen her come back in, so she should still be out back.”
“She’s not,” I say. Then I head for the dining room. It’s packed with customers, and I see Cara and Michelle waiting on customers, but no Jennie.
I snag Michelle’s arm. “Have you seen Jennie?”
