Page 38 of The Birthday List (Maysen Jar 1)

“What seems to be the problem?” My voice held enough bark to shut the crazy lady up. Her eyes flew to mine as Terrell looked over his shoulder.

His frame deflated as his hand dropped to his side. “Detective Goodman. I was just writing a ticket because—”

“I’ll tell you what the problem is here.” The woman stepped right around Terrell and into my face. “This kid is trying to give me a speeding ticket when I wasn’t speeding!”

“Ma’am, you were doing forty in a twenty-five.” He looked to me with pleading brown eyes. “Honest, Detective. I’ve got her on radar.”

She whirled around on Terrell—her muumuu whipping me in the shins—but before she could launch into another rant, I stepped between them. I stood my tallest, looking right down my nose into the woman’s paling face. “Speeding and assault on a law enforcement officer. Not good.”

She stuttered back a step, slapping a hand to her chest. “What?” she gasped. “Assault?”

“That’s right.”

“But—”

“Officer Parnow, mind if I borrow your cuffs? I left mine in the truck.”

The woman gasped again.

“Detective, I don’t, um . . .” He moved out from behind me to my side, speaking underneath his breath. “I don’t think we need to charge her with assault.”

“I’ll take the speeding ticket.” The woman flew to Terrell’s side like he was her new best friend. “Please.”

I held back a grin, fighting to keep the scowl on my face. “I don’t know. It looked awful serious when I pulled up.”

“I get carried away sometimes,” she told me, then looked over to Terrell, nodding fiercely. “I was going too fast. You were right.”

Terrell looked to me and I shrugged. “It’s your call, Officer.”

He nodded, turning back to the woman who was now clinging to his arm. “Ma’am, if you’ll get back in your car, I’ll finish with the speeding ticket. Then you can be on your way.”

“Oh, thank you.” She squeezed his arm and then let him go, ducking eye contact with me as she scurried back into her Olds.

When her driver’s door shut, I chuckled.

“Would you have charged her?” Terrell asked.

“Nah. I just wanted to shut her up.”

Terrell grinned. “Smart.”

I shrugged and jerked my chin to the Olds. “Give her the ticket and get her on her way.”

“Yes, sir.” He took his clipboard back to her window, returning her license and registration. Then he tore off a goldenrod speeding ticket and away she roared, pulling out of the parking lot with—careful—haste.

“Thanks.” Terrell joined me by his cruiser and sighed. “That got out of hand. Seems to be happening to me a lot lately.”

“Unfortunately, that’s part of the job.”

“Every time? I haven’t had a stop in a month without getting a load of shit. Do you think I’m doing something wrong?”

“I doubt it.” I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Come on. I’ll go out on patrol with you for a while.”

His entire face lit up. “Really?”

“Really. Let me grab my keys.” I walked back to my truck, leaning in to shut off the ignition and get my keys. Then I plucked my sunglasses out of the console and went to the cruiser.

Sliding into the passenger seat, I grinned at Terrell’s excitement. His dark face was split with a wide, white smile, and his fingers drummed on the wheel.