Badge of Honor by Carol Steward Page A

leave home again!”
    â€œMontana was the hideout of the Unabomber. You can always use that as an argument not to do so.”
    Sarah laughed. “Thank you. I’m not going, but bigger and more secure is hard to find these days.”
    â€œIt sounds like a good idea, though. My sister has a place in a gated community. I think there’s a three-bedroom condo for sale. They’re pretty nice, in a good neighborhood. Even a gate doesn’t keep everyone out, though.”
    â€œDon’t tell my dad that, please. I just want to find someplace soon. I haven’t signed a lease for my apartment yet, so I need to make a decision pronto. I stayed with Beth till I found something, and just barely got moved in myself, but it’s definitely not going to work for the two of us. Beth’s been in her house for two years, so she’s fine to give her notice. Under the circumstances, I figure it’s safer to make it look like she’s living there for a while longer anyway, until this guy is caught.”
    â€œStop right there. That sounds like you’re planning something, Sarah.” He almost wished they were assigned to patrol tonight, given the stress she had waiting at home. “Did you call the detective yet?” He glanced up from the report to find her looking at him.
    â€œIt’s not quite that easy, Nick.” She ran her hand through her hair and pressed her lips together.
    â€œWhy not? These details could break the case,” he said, handing the paper back to her. “This report looks good, by the way.”
    â€œThe whole thing could also come back to bite me. I want to fit in here. I want the other officers to give me a chance. I can’t come in and act like a hotshot from the FBI, telling the detectives how to do their jobs.” She shook her head. “I’ve left a message for Detective Wang to call me. I mentioned that Beth is staying with me now, but he hasn’t phoned back yet. He didn’t recognize me when I picked my sister up after the incident, and for all I know, he may not even realize I’m a cop for FCPD.”
    Nick looked at her, shook his head and smiled. “That’s kind of funny, a detective who didn’t recognize a coworker. Even I recognized you from fourteen years ago.” He didn’t dare admit to her that he’d been too shy fourteen years ago to ask an older woman out.
    â€œWith a little reminder,” she said with a grin. “I thought I’d see how he responds when I talk to him. If he seems irritated, I’ll find some other way to pass the information along. I’m just not willing to make waves right now.”
    Nick wrote down his sister’s phone number and the cross streets where her condo was located, and handed it to Sarah. “There were several weeks between each attack until Beth’s and her neighbor’s. If the online community is how the perp is finding his victims, we need to take action right now. I don’t care if Wang doesn’t like someone thinking of something he hasn’t. Our goal is to solve the case and prevent more assaults.” Nick gazed at her again. “I understand your hesitation, but this is not something you can keep quiet about, Sarah. Take it to the shift supervisor if you don’t want to step on Wang’s toes. Send Lieutenant Douglas an e-mail with your discoveries. Let him look into it and pass it along.”
    â€œI notice you’re not willing to tell Wang.” Her eyes sparkled. “You think he’s going to be upset?”
    â€œHe and I worked okay together, but I think it will come better from someone else right now. Like you. I know it’s hard to swim upstream with your hands tied behind your back. But one way or another, it’s a lead that needs to be passed along.” Nick studied Sarah’s face. “You shouldn’t back down. Your experience is worth a lot in a department like Fossil Creek.