their vehicles close in parking lots to catch up on business or just pass the time as he did with the other guys. They did their communicating by phone or radio, where anyone could hear. And most annoying for him, they never interviewed witnesses together, gathered evidence together, or examined scenes together, even when they were working the same case—which was most of the time. Wyn was the best partner he’d ever had, back when they had both been deputies and ridden together. She saw things he didn’t, and some of his best thinking had been done out loud, to her, riding the roads and patrolling the highways of Hanover County. She was still the best partner he’d ever had, and he still did his best thinking out loud to her, only these days, most of the time it had to wait until they got home.
That was why he was surprised to see her come into Miss Meg’s Diner a little after seven in the morning, glance around until she saw him, and then start his way. The diner was busy with the bustle and clatter of the breakfast crowd: the smell of coffee and eggs, the rattle of dishes, the buzz of voices. Buck had taken his coffee over to Buddy Hall’s table, who was head of the Chamber of Commerce, and had scheduled a meeting with him later that day to talk about the parade schedule. They were both glad to save themselves the time, and they got the last minute details on the parade schedule ironed out while Buddy finished up his pancakes and Buck waited for his toast and eggs.
“The only thing is,” Buddy was saying, “we’re going to need to close Main Street for about an hour tonight to get those big banners up over the reviewing stand. Generally, we’d do it the night before but with it falling on a Sunday and all we couldn’t find anybody to drive the cherry picker unless it was tonight. Sorry about the short notice.”
Buck nodded. “As long as it’s after closing time for the stores there shouldn’t be much of a problem. I’ve got Jeb Wilson’s people coming Sunday anyway to check out the parade route, so it’ll be better to get as much set up in advance as we can. I’ll send a couple of patrol cars over. Call me when you know what time you can get the cherry picker because we can’t reroute traffic more than an hour. It’s Friday night, you know. ”
“I’ll check as soon as I get back to the office.” Then he grinned. “It sure is something about old Jeb, isn’t it? Whoever would’ve thought he’d amount to anything? But folks sure are worked up about him coming to town.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Buck agreed, and that was when he saw Wyn.
She was working a week of nights—it was her turn in the rotation—and had that weary, just-coming-off-shift look common to all night shift workers. Her dark bun was a little messy, her uniform tired, and her eyes looked puffy and sun-shocked. Buck had worked plenty of night shifts himself and knew the feeling.
She said, “Morning, gentlemen,” as she approached and Buck started to stand up.
“Everything okay?”
She waved him back down. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I saw you through the window and thought I could save myself some paperwork by giving you my report in person. But if you’re busy …”
“Just finished,” Buddy assured her, tossing back the last of his coffee as he stood. “You all go on with your business. Let’s get somebody over here to clean up these dishes.” He waved at the waitress who was already on her way over with Buck’s order. He slipped her a couple of dollars as she gathered up his dishes and wiped the table with a cloth. “Buck, good seeing you. Glad we got this out of the way. Ma’am …” He nodded at Wyn. “Have a good day.”
Wyn slid into the chair Buddy had vacated and the waitress said, “Back with coffee in a minute, hon.”
Wyn started to protest, then shrugged. The waitress was already gone.
Buck speared his eggs, watching her.
That was why he was surprised to see her come into Miss Meg’s Diner a little after seven in the morning, glance around until she saw him, and then start his way. The diner was busy with the bustle and clatter of the breakfast crowd: the smell of coffee and eggs, the rattle of dishes, the buzz of voices. Buck had taken his coffee over to Buddy Hall’s table, who was head of the Chamber of Commerce, and had scheduled a meeting with him later that day to talk about the parade schedule. They were both glad to save themselves the time, and they got the last minute details on the parade schedule ironed out while Buddy finished up his pancakes and Buck waited for his toast and eggs.
“The only thing is,” Buddy was saying, “we’re going to need to close Main Street for about an hour tonight to get those big banners up over the reviewing stand. Generally, we’d do it the night before but with it falling on a Sunday and all we couldn’t find anybody to drive the cherry picker unless it was tonight. Sorry about the short notice.”
Buck nodded. “As long as it’s after closing time for the stores there shouldn’t be much of a problem. I’ve got Jeb Wilson’s people coming Sunday anyway to check out the parade route, so it’ll be better to get as much set up in advance as we can. I’ll send a couple of patrol cars over. Call me when you know what time you can get the cherry picker because we can’t reroute traffic more than an hour. It’s Friday night, you know. ”
“I’ll check as soon as I get back to the office.” Then he grinned. “It sure is something about old Jeb, isn’t it? Whoever would’ve thought he’d amount to anything? But folks sure are worked up about him coming to town.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Buck agreed, and that was when he saw Wyn.
She was working a week of nights—it was her turn in the rotation—and had that weary, just-coming-off-shift look common to all night shift workers. Her dark bun was a little messy, her uniform tired, and her eyes looked puffy and sun-shocked. Buck had worked plenty of night shifts himself and knew the feeling.
She said, “Morning, gentlemen,” as she approached and Buck started to stand up.
“Everything okay?”
She waved him back down. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I saw you through the window and thought I could save myself some paperwork by giving you my report in person. But if you’re busy …”
“Just finished,” Buddy assured her, tossing back the last of his coffee as he stood. “You all go on with your business. Let’s get somebody over here to clean up these dishes.” He waved at the waitress who was already on her way over with Buck’s order. He slipped her a couple of dollars as she gathered up his dishes and wiped the table with a cloth. “Buck, good seeing you. Glad we got this out of the way. Ma’am …” He nodded at Wyn. “Have a good day.”
Wyn slid into the chair Buddy had vacated and the waitress said, “Back with coffee in a minute, hon.”
Wyn started to protest, then shrugged. The waitress was already gone.
Buck speared his eggs, watching her.
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