Nothing could’ve preparedme for this.
Two nights ago all I took in was a vague impression of the front desk and Jesse fainting.
Today I’m seeing all the details I missed—plus the added touches obviously pulled together this morning. The station looks mid-conversion between a small-town jail and a Chuck E. Cheese—streamers over bulletin boards, balloons bobbing beside aCode of Conductposter, and a glitteryWelcome, Officer Alex!banner taped above the holding-cell door.
“She’s here! She’s here!” a middle-aged woman at the front desk whisper-shouts.
My eyes catch on Jesse. He’s wearing an apologetic expression, quietly telling me he tried to stop this, but no one listened to him.
“It’s okay,” I silently mouth to him.
A shy smile inches across his face. The man is not hard to look at.
“Welcome to Bordeaux PD, Alex!” the group exclaims in unison.
“Thank you,” I say, frozen in the hallway between the entrance and the main room.
“I’m Jeanie!” The woman at the desk rounds the tall counter and sweeps me into a hug.
These people are huggers.
“Funny, huh?” she says, still holding me tight before stepping back and pointing to the man with salt and pepper hair. “I married Chief Gene—well, he wasn’t chief back then. Gene and Jeanie. That’s us. At least we didn’t name our kids Jeanette and Billy Jean.”
Jesse’s in the background stifling a laugh. If our eyes meet, I’m certain we’ll lose it.
“Nice to meet you,” I say, smiling. “And you, Chief.”
“You can call me Gene. Unless you have an infraction. Which I’m sure you won’t.”
He glances at Jesse—and all eyes follow.
May as well drag the elephant out from under the rug.
“He had every reason to believe I was stealing Lexi’s van,” I say. “Did everything by the book.”
Looks are exchanged between all the men and Jeanie.
“Good to hear,” Chief Gene finally says.
Jeanie introduces the other three policemen. Officer Randy Madson—a thirty-something brunette; Officer Buzz Larkin—slightly younger with a blond cropped cut; and Deputy Nolan—probably younger than me with wavy sandy-brown hair.
“Nolan’s just a floater for now. He works at Satterson’s as a mechanic part-time too,” Jeanie boasts.
Two jobs. I’m convinced it’s a thing around here no matter what Lexi says.
“Well, we’ve got cupcakes,” Jeanie says brightly. “And punch.”
I’m tempted to open closets to check for the human-sized dancing stuffed mouse.
“Jeanie, if you don’t mind holding those till later,” Chief says. “I wanted to see Jesse and Alex in my office. Men, you can help yourselves before you head out.”
Jeanie looks only slightly disappointed, so I promise I’ll indulge later.
She beams. “Memaw’s lemon cupcakes—county fair winners.”
Jesse and I follow Chief to his office, a small room toward the back of the building. He takes a seat in the leather swivel chair behind the metal desk. Jesse and I take our spots across from him.
“Well, I planned this differently before you two got acquainted Saturday night.” His amused smile says he’s been in on the ribbing. “Since you’re familiar now, you’ve saved me the trouble of introductions. Jesse, meet your new partner—for the next four weeks.”
