shape they’re in. Can the Sheriff’s Office afford to do that?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Then have all of them—no, I tell you what. Caro and I will come over tomorrow morning at eight and check the deputies on duty before they go out to run.”
“Are you sure, Jon? I don’t want to burden either of you.”
“It won’t be a problem. The others can check inhere before they go on duty. We’ll leave some time in our schedule.”
“Thanks, Jon. You’re the best.”
Though Caroline might not think so when she heard what Jon had volunteered her for. Not that it would take that much time. Besides Willie, Mike had only five other deputies on duty during the day, and two night guys.
He sighed, hoping Jon told Caro at once and she had time to calm down before he picked her up for dinner.
Fifteen minutes later, Harry returned.
“How’s Willie?” Mike asked at once, coming out of his office.
“Doc says he’s fine. But they’re going to keep him overnight to be sure.”
“Damn. I should’ve had him tested before I ordered him to work out.”
Harry rubbed the back of his neck. “Boss, don’t feel too bad. He didn’t do much jogging. He mostly walked.”
“You went with him?”
“Yeah,” Harry said with a grin. “I jogged in circles waiting for him to catch up. Two blocks and he said he couldn’t go on. I’m the one who insisted he keep going, so it’s my fault if it’s anyone’s.”
“I gave the order,” Mike reminded him. “Anyway, everyone is going to be checked before there’s any more jogging.”
“We are? Hmm, I hope I get to see Caroline instead of Jon,” Harry said with a grin.
Mike tried to keep a calm face, in spite of the jealous pang he felt. “She’s too old for you, boy.”
“I think that’s up to her, boss.”
“No harassing, you hear?”
Harry feigned shock. “I’d never do that!”
“Okay. I want you to go over to the general store. They’ve been losing inventory. Give them some ideas about catching shoplifters, and look for ways they can improve surveillance.”
“Yes, sir. Shall I take Steve with me? He worked there when he was in high school. Might have some insight.”
“Good idea. Check with me when you get back.”
“Yes, sir.”
After the men left, Mike reminded himself how much he liked Harry and how he thought he’d turn out to be one of his best deputies. He shouldn’t let his judgment be altered by jealousy.
He drew a deep breath and tried to concentrate on his paperwork. Not on Caroline.
“T OMORROW AT EIGHT ? At the Sheriff’s Office?”
Jon nodded. “I thought that would be more efficient. I approve of Mike’s intention to keep his men in good shape, but Willie shouldn’t have overdone it the first day.”
“Willie jogged for an hour?”
“Well, actually, that’s what he told me. Harry brought him in, and, privately, he said Willie walked all that time. I think I’ll recommend his walking for half an hour and maybe some weight work for fifteen minutes. It ought to improve his health quite a bit.”
“Yes, of course. I noticed the weight he carried. Inhis present state, he’s a heart attack waiting to happen. The rest of them are in pretty good shape, aren’t they?”
“I think so, but I’m sure several of them don’t do any exercising. Starting can be a shock to the body.”
“Okay. I’ll be there at eight in the morning. Will we see everyone?”
“I think we can check the two coming off duty before they leave and then get the two who go on early duty. The others report in at noon. I reckon they’ll come over to the office.”
“So we’ll see our police jogging all over town now?”
“Harry said Mike is planning on turning the back storeroom into a place to work out. I may offer free exams if he’ll let me work out there, too.”
“So I’d be the only bad guy, charging for my work?” she teased. “I’ll just donate mine without demanding anything in return. Then you’ll be the bad
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Then have all of them—no, I tell you what. Caro and I will come over tomorrow morning at eight and check the deputies on duty before they go out to run.”
“Are you sure, Jon? I don’t want to burden either of you.”
“It won’t be a problem. The others can check inhere before they go on duty. We’ll leave some time in our schedule.”
“Thanks, Jon. You’re the best.”
Though Caroline might not think so when she heard what Jon had volunteered her for. Not that it would take that much time. Besides Willie, Mike had only five other deputies on duty during the day, and two night guys.
He sighed, hoping Jon told Caro at once and she had time to calm down before he picked her up for dinner.
Fifteen minutes later, Harry returned.
“How’s Willie?” Mike asked at once, coming out of his office.
“Doc says he’s fine. But they’re going to keep him overnight to be sure.”
“Damn. I should’ve had him tested before I ordered him to work out.”
Harry rubbed the back of his neck. “Boss, don’t feel too bad. He didn’t do much jogging. He mostly walked.”
“You went with him?”
“Yeah,” Harry said with a grin. “I jogged in circles waiting for him to catch up. Two blocks and he said he couldn’t go on. I’m the one who insisted he keep going, so it’s my fault if it’s anyone’s.”
“I gave the order,” Mike reminded him. “Anyway, everyone is going to be checked before there’s any more jogging.”
“We are? Hmm, I hope I get to see Caroline instead of Jon,” Harry said with a grin.
Mike tried to keep a calm face, in spite of the jealous pang he felt. “She’s too old for you, boy.”
“I think that’s up to her, boss.”
“No harassing, you hear?”
Harry feigned shock. “I’d never do that!”
“Okay. I want you to go over to the general store. They’ve been losing inventory. Give them some ideas about catching shoplifters, and look for ways they can improve surveillance.”
“Yes, sir. Shall I take Steve with me? He worked there when he was in high school. Might have some insight.”
“Good idea. Check with me when you get back.”
“Yes, sir.”
After the men left, Mike reminded himself how much he liked Harry and how he thought he’d turn out to be one of his best deputies. He shouldn’t let his judgment be altered by jealousy.
He drew a deep breath and tried to concentrate on his paperwork. Not on Caroline.
“T OMORROW AT EIGHT ? At the Sheriff’s Office?”
Jon nodded. “I thought that would be more efficient. I approve of Mike’s intention to keep his men in good shape, but Willie shouldn’t have overdone it the first day.”
“Willie jogged for an hour?”
“Well, actually, that’s what he told me. Harry brought him in, and, privately, he said Willie walked all that time. I think I’ll recommend his walking for half an hour and maybe some weight work for fifteen minutes. It ought to improve his health quite a bit.”
“Yes, of course. I noticed the weight he carried. Inhis present state, he’s a heart attack waiting to happen. The rest of them are in pretty good shape, aren’t they?”
“I think so, but I’m sure several of them don’t do any exercising. Starting can be a shock to the body.”
“Okay. I’ll be there at eight in the morning. Will we see everyone?”
“I think we can check the two coming off duty before they leave and then get the two who go on early duty. The others report in at noon. I reckon they’ll come over to the office.”
“So we’ll see our police jogging all over town now?”
“Harry said Mike is planning on turning the back storeroom into a place to work out. I may offer free exams if he’ll let me work out there, too.”
“So I’d be the only bad guy, charging for my work?” she teased. “I’ll just donate mine without demanding anything in return. Then you’ll be the bad
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