Wear Something Red
Page 20
Chapter 20
Leo Jones approached her with his best campaign smile frozen on his face and his hand out. He shook her hand vigorously but had no real strength in his grip.
“Sheriff McGowan.” His smile didn’t melt. “It feels good to say that now that it’s official.”
“It feels good to hear it officially.”
“I wanted to swing by to see how your first day on the job was going.”
“It’s ending with a bang.”
His smile shrunk a bit at that answer. “Good, good, that’s fine. I also wanted to let you know about our official welcoming banquet Wednesday night for Do-Dads and Karyon Research. As sheriff, you are automatically invited as a dignitary.”
“Good to know. I would hate to have to crash the party.”
His laugh sounded like an asthmatic rooster trying to get the day started. “That would be awkward indeed.”
He noticed Kelly escorting Harding back to his cell. Harding waved to both of them before vanishing behind the closing door.
She heard the lock being secured as per procedure and smiled back at Jones.
“I heard about what happened at Kate’s earlier.”
The DGN never stopped working. “It was a minor skirmish. I doubt anything will come of it. The twins are already gone. I was going to release Dr. Harding on his own recognisance.”
“Dr. Harding is a dedicated man.”
“I get that.”
“But he’s just so odd.” He covered his mouth. “I’m sorry, Sheriff, I should not have expressed myself in such a way. It’s just that he has a unique personality, and his views of the world and where people fit in it are unusual.”
“I’ve heard some of his manifesto, Mayor.”
“Leo, please call me Leo when we’re alone like this.” He smiled differently now.
Her first day on the job and she gets to arrest the two men who frightened her daughter last Friday as well as a renowned veterinarian, and then flirt, albeit in only one direction, with the effete, wheezy-rooster mayor of Dominion. Two out of three wasn’t bad.
“He tends to see conspiracies everywhere.”
“What kind of conspiracies?”
“A better way to put it is he has trouble recognizing friend from foe.” He backed away to avoid having to explain himself.
“Like tonight at the pub.”
“There’s nothing really wrong with him, though. He’s famous for his veterinary research and that animal hospital of his. I understand animals have been brought from all over the nation to be treated there, even a few from out of the country.” He recoiled and seemed ready to bolt when Kelly returned from the cells. He sighed with undisguised relief when he saw it was only her. “Excuse me for saying this, Joan.” He put a hand on her shoulder.
Where were those damn nipple clamps?
“It might not be the right thing to say in these modern times, but I think if he just found that special woman, she could get him to stop picking animals over people.”
Dr. Harding had got in his speech without having to be prompted. If Mayor Jones kept up with his opinions and friendliness, he was going to elicit a lengthy monologue from the new sheriff even if it was only her first day on the job.
Jones must have sensed something akin to running headfirst into a brick wall because when he smiled back at her after taking a good, long look at her tall, attractive deputy, he took his hand off her shoulder. His smile then shrunk to a sour pucker and he said, “I have delivered the city’s official welcome and invitation, Sheriff McGowan, now I will let you get back to your work.”
Kelly got the gate for him. He smiled that flirtatious smile at her before leaving. Kelly’s lip curled as if she’d spotted vomit on the floor.
“Not to your taste, either?”
“The way his comb-over twists and tangles his hair reminds me of varicose veins.” She went to her desk to finish processing the paperwork for releasing the Cotton brothers.
Joan went to the cells.
Harding was reclining comfortably on the cot. “Did you get his warning about me?”
“I didn’t need his warning.”
“Who else told you about me?”
“You did.” She unlocked the door and opened it. “Go home.”
“You take credit cards now? That’s all I’ve got with me.”
“Just get out of here and go back to your farm full of balding bears and itchy mountain lions.” The bell tinkled again. She slammed the door shut just as he was about to step through. “It is a goddamn parade out there.”