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Alice’s answer was a high-pitched giggle.
Ellie left the house and went out to her cruiser. With a quick honk—Alice loved that noise—she was off.
In the weeks since Christmas and New Year’s, Rain Valley had settled back into its usual midwinter routine. More often than not, the downtown streets were empty of both cars and people. The taverns filled up earlier and stayed busy longer. Ellie and Earl and Mel took turns waiting just off the highway for drivers who thought it was okay to pound beers and then operate a vehicle. Weekend matinees at the theater were jammed to the rafters with kids, and it was impossible to get a lane or a parking stall at the bowling alley.
News of the Flying Wolf Girl had all but faded from the newspapers. Even Mort had better things to write about these days, like the rumblings at Mount St. Helens and the court-sanctioned Makah tribe whale hunt.
Days at the station slid back into their comforting routine. Calm had returned to Rain Valley, and those who were charged with keeping that peace were glad. Cal had more time again to read his comics and draw his drawings, since the phone rarely rang. Peanut scheduled everyone according to their family needs and paid their paychecks on time.
In short, life was good.
Now, Ellie drove through the Ancient Grounds coffee stand, got a Grande Mocha Latte, then continued on to the station. She pulled into her parking stall behind the station and went in the back door. She was in the lunchroom, checking out what was in the fridge, when Peanut bustled into the room and slammed the door shut behind her.
“Ellen!” she said in the stage whisper she reserved for Big Gossip.
Ellie took a sip of her coffee and glanced at the clock. Eleven-thirty was pretty early for big news. “Let me guess: the wrong person was voted off Survivor.”
Peanut smacked her. “Survivor’s over.”
Ellie shut the fridge. “Okay, what’s the skinny, big girl?”
“It’s important that you keep your wits about you. Cal and I are worried.”
“That I’m witless? How comforting.”
“You know how stupid you get around certain men.”
“I’m not admitting that. However, the only good-looking man in town is hot for my sister.”
“Not anymore.”
“Max isn’t into Jules anymore?”
Peanut hit her in the shoulder. “Pay attention.”
Ellie frowned. “What in the hell are you babbling about?”
“There’s a guy waiting for you out front.”
“So? Why the full panic?”
“He’s gorgeous. And he won’t talk to anyone but you.”
“No kidding?”
“You should see the way you’re smiling. This is exactly what I was afraid of.”
El
lie eased out of the lunchroom and peered down the hallway. From here all she could see was a man—with his back to her—sitting in the chair opposite her desk. He was dressed all in black. “Who is it?”
“He wouldn’t give his name. Won’t take off his sunglasses, either.” She snorted. “Must be from California.”
Ellie ducked back into the lunchroom and grabbed her purse. Five minutes in the bathroom and she’d touched up her makeup and brushed her teeth. Back in the lunchroom, she turned to Peanut. “How do I look?”
“This is so not good. You’re going to go into full slut mode now.”
“Bite me. I haven’t had a date in months.” Ellie smoothed the wrinkles from her uniform, adjusted the three gold stars on her collar, and walked out into the main room of the station house. Peanut hurried along behind her.
