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“Yes, and it is very comfortable, thank you.” Wolfe smiled. “It’s better than I expected and walking distance from the elementary school and here, which is good. Since my wife died, caring for the girls alone has been difficult.” He sighed. “Emily is watching Julie and Anna at the moment but I can’t expect her to do it full-time—she is in her senior year at school. Losing her mother and moving here will make it difficult enough for her.”
“I can imagine.” She towered her fingers. “I’ll get Rowley to bring us some coffee.” She lifted the phone and spoke to the deputy then disconnected. “I have a list of the available housekeeper nannies and had them checked out. Take whatever time you need to interview them. You can use my office if necessary.” She handed him a list. “We don’t have many open case
s at the moment, and Kane will be able to bring you up to speed.” She drummed her fingernails on the desk. “I read from your résumé that in addition to your impressive qualifications in forensic science, you have a degree in computer science. Does that mean you can take a look at our systems? They’re pretty old and need a bit of updating.”
“Yeah, I can ‘tweak’ systems.” Wolfe leaned back in his seat and the corner of his mouth quirked up in a smile. “What do you need?”
“What we need—” she leaned forward, gripping the arms of her chair “—is a better system for logging case files. Every three months, this system archives all the files, open or closed. We can’t compare cases. We have no secure uplink to local systems. It’s run on the Boolean system, but if someone gets one letter wrong in a name, all the information goes missing.” She grimaced. “We don’t have the luxury of computers in the cruisers to check a license plate or a person’s criminal record. No on-board camera. Out at night, we are sitting ducks.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, my electronics expertise falls into a different area. Luckily, our new mayor, Mayor Petersham, gave us funding for earbuds and power packs. They should be arriving soon.”
“Do you have access to the case files using your cellphone? Can you write tickets via a handheld?”
“No, none of the above.” Alton waved Rowley into the room and took the tray of steaming coffee mugs from his hand with a smile. “Thanks.”
“It all comes down to budget.” Wolfe ran a hand over his blond buzz cut and shrugged. “I can write you a new program to run the nitty-gritty, but the other stuff you want costs money.” He pulled out his cellphone and checked the bars. “Here in town the reception is good but not so on the way here, so you have blackspots. If you all have smartphones, I can create an app so you can access all areas of the mainframe direct.”
“That would be wonderful.” Alton sipped her coffee and eyed him over the rim. “Perhaps we have a good reason to ask Petersham to up our budget this year. After all, he has allowed me to employ another two deputies.” She looked at Kane. “Although, we haven’t had one application for the positions I’ve posted.”
“I guess we could keep looking or manage for another year and use the funding to update the office?” Kane leaned his wide shoulders into the chair.
“Thank you, Kane, I’ll give that idea some thought.”
Wolfe looked as if he was carrying the world on his shoulders.
Jenna met his gray gaze. “I guess you’d like to get some lunch after your long journey? I’ll let you go and leave Kane to explain how I do things around here.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kane rubbed his chin and turned to Wolfe. “I’ll introduce you around then we’ll head down to Aunt Betty’s Café; I’m due for a break and I can bring you up to speed. As you need to get your kids settled and hire a housekeeper, I’m happy to cover for you for a couple of days.”
“You don’t need to.” Wolfe emptied his cup and stood. “I’m used to coping under pressure, and my daughter Emily is seventeen and old enough to care for her sisters in my absence until school starts again.”
“Maybe so, but I want my deputies to have their minds on the job, not worrying if their kids are okay.” Jenna stared at him, allowing no retort, and leaned back in her seat. “The cowboys are drifting into town for the start of the rodeo season and I’ll need all hands on deck by the weekend. At the moment, my biggest concern is a domestic disturbance over a cat peeing on a neighbor’s car.” She waved them toward the door. “Go… I’ll contact you if a riot breaks out.”
“Okay.” Wolfe smiled. “I do appreciate your concern. I’ll work on the program at home to make up the time.” He strolled out the door.
Kane stared after him then swung around to look at Jenna and raised one dark eyebrow. “Hmm.”
“Oh, man.” She grinned at him. “I could cut the testosterone in this room with a knife. I think you’ve met your match with him.”
“Moi?” Kane wiggled his eyebrows and flashed a white grin. “Never.”
* * *
An hour later, Jenna had finished updating her daybook when the phone rang and Maggie asked her to hold for a call. A woman came on the line.
“Sheriff Alton, this is Prue Ridley.”
“Yes, Mrs. Ridley, what can I do for you?”
“I think there’s been a bear attack. My son and his friend found a girl in Stanton Forest. I checked her. She is dead and cut up real bad.”
Horrified, Jenna swallowed the bile creeping up her throat and reached for a pen. “Can you give me the exact location?”
“The northern end of Stanton Forest, near the river. We are waiting by the road.”
“Are you in a safe location?”
“Yes, I could see no signs of the bear in the area, but if we see one we’ll get in the car.”
“Okay, good. Wait there, we are on our way.” She hung up the phone and massaged her temples.
