Badge of Honor by Carol Steward Page B

You can’t hide your skills in a place like this or you’ll be kicked around forever. And it seems like you are trying to hide them. What’s going on?”
    She didn’t answer, just shrugged.
    Nick wasn’t up for games right now. He’d overstepped the lines already. If she wasn’t going to come clean with what she was up to, he wasn’t about to drop his guard.
    â€œWhen we return to work on Thursday, I want some answers. And I’d better not see you holding back. Talk about something coming back to bite you, that’s going to be it.” He stood, pushing the chair aside. “Have a good weekend.”
    â€œYou too, Nick,” he heard her say as the door closed behind him. “Sorry I can’t be who you want me to be.”
    Â 
    Nick opened the local newspaper Friday morning, and nearly choked on his coffee. “Rapist Taunts Fossil Creek Police, Promises to Strike Again.” He had spent his days off splitting firewood for his wood stove, ignoring the outside world, trying to put Sarah Roberts out of his mind. So much for his efforts. She was front and center once more.
    Had she talked to anyone about her suspicions yet? What had spurred this change in the suspect’s pattern?
    He called Garrett to see what he knew about the message the newspaper was referring to. “Did it mention anyone specifically?” he asked his brother.
    â€œAll we were told last night was that until he’s caught, we’re patrolling in pairs. The chief’s job is on the line, I suppose. They’ve asked for volunteers to work the Harvest Festival tonight. I think they wanted to cancel it altogether.”
    Nick left early for work, hoping to talk to Sarah before the briefing. He’d called yesterday to find out about her house hunt, and had left her a message, reminding her to be prepared for a lot of walking the downtown carnival grounds during the festival the next two nights. It seemed like a perfect place for their rapist to strike, especially after his recent message to the newspaper. Nick also needed to be sure she’d talked to Detective Wang.
    He turned onto Highway 87 and noticed a car on the shoulder with the trunk lid open and the left side lifted on a jack. He looked at his watch and started to drive past, until he saw the white-haired woman trying to turn the wrench to loosen the lug nuts on the wheel.
    Pulling off the road, he called the station to let them know he’d be a little late, and give his location in case they’d already received a report of a stranded motorist. He tugged his wallet from his pocket to show the woman his badge. “Good evening. I’m Sergeant Matthews from Fossil Creek Police Department. Looks like you could use some help.”
    â€œI’d just about given up and started walking,” the woman said. “No one stops to help these days.”
    â€œYou never know whether it’s safer if they do or don’t. Do you have roadside assistance to change that for you?”
    She looked at him as if he was speaking a foreign language. “I don’t even have one of those cellular phones, or I’d have called for help. No one even stopped to offer to call someone for me.”
    He could see where this conversation was going—in circles. “Let’s see if we can get you back on the road then.” He lowered the jack.
    â€œI just got the car lifted. Why’re you doing that?”
    â€œTo keep the tire from turning while I loosen the lug nuts. Where’s your spare?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t have one. My husband put this jack in the trunk before he died, I guess, but I can’t find the extra tire.”
    Nick paused. She was obviously confused. It was going to be a long night. He asked a few general questions to make sure she wasn’t disoriented, then went back to the topic of the tire when he felt sure she was okay. “You certain there’s no spare?