by Gerri Hill
She smiled. “And that was four years ago and the last time someone tried to break into one of the stores downtown.”
He laughed. “See? You’re learning. If you’re going to burglarize something, you try a store off by itself. There’s too many buildings here and no alleys. No place to run to, no place to hide.”
“So you say.”
“Yeah. I know this town, Murphy. Now, when you switch shifts and go to nights, then you’ll cruise out on the edges. You might scare up some action then.”
She nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“So…what do you think?”
She shrugged, knowing who his question was referring to. “Not much to think, really. I guess we’ll find out on Monday.”
“I can already see it. Everyone’s going to be walking on eggshells around her, trying not to say something wrong. I mean, we all love Earl, but sometimes, you just got to vent about things. Now, we got to watch our mouth.”
Murphy wasn’t looking forward to Kayla Dixon joining the staff any more than the rest of them, but for completely different reasons. She had no love for the FBI and she didn’t trust them. They were secretive and manipulative to the extreme. She had no reason to think Kayla Dixon would be any different.
“So, is she moving here with a family? Got kids?”
Tim shook his head. “No, after she and Kevin divorced, she didn’t remarry. That’s kinda weird too. From what I hear, she and Kevin are still friends.”
“Well, not all divorce has to be a war, you know.” She glanced over at him. “Why didn’t you ever marry?”
“Momma’s boy,” he said. He patted his belly. “Couldn’t no one match up to my momma’s cooking.”
“That an excuse or the reason?”
He sighed. “Just an excuse. Never fell in love, I guess. What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Well, Lori…well, she told us, you know.”
She nodded. “Okay. You got a problem with it?”
“No, I’m cool with it. But, you know, you ever been in love?”
She shook her head. “Can’t say that I have. Can’t say that I really tried either. Too busy with the job.”
“Yeah…well, Gloria Mendez, I hear—”
“What? You trying to play matchmaker?”
He laughed. “Just sayin’. You might hit it off.”
“Yeah, well, maybe you and Kayla might hit it off. Then your worries will be over with.”
He laughed again. “You obviously have never seen Kayla Dixon. She’s a blond-haired beauty. Got these gorgeous blue eyes that you could just drown in.” He shook his head. “No. A woman like that doesn’t look twice at a man like me. Even so, you can’t help but look at her. She’s like…you know that saying, where a man is lured to a woman and he can’t help himself, no matter what?”
“Lured? What are you talking about? A siren?”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s it. A siren.”
She laughed at him. “You need to start dating more, man. She’s just a woman. I doubt she’s going to lure you to your death.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll talk after you’re around her for a while. You’ll be all tongue-tied like the rest of us. Besides, you know, FBI and all, she kinda intimidates me.”
“No reason to be scared of the FBI.”
“Yeah, we’ll see, Murphy.”
Chapter Five
“I don’t know why you want to do this. Even at shift change, you still won’t meet everyone,” he said. “Why can’t you show up on Monday morning, ready for work, just like everybody does?”
“Because I’m not like everyone else,” Kayla said. “You’ve already said they were questioning my role here. I don’t want them to treat me differently because I’m your daughter.”
“They’re going to anyway.”
“Maybe at first, but I want to be just one of the guys. I think it’s best that I talk to everyone informally first. Besides, I already know most of them anyway.”
“Yeah. Got a new one though Murphy.”
She nodded. “You mentioned him one time. How long has he been here?”
“Six weeks. And he’s a she.”
“A woman? That’s a first. What’s gotten into you?”
“Oh, hell, I can’t say I’m crazy about her though.”
“If you don’t like her, why did you hire her?”
“Because she was the most qualified. Her lieutenant from down in Houston said she was top-notch.”
“Houston?”
“Yeah. She was a detective down there. Homicide.”
“How in the world did a detective from Houston find her way to Sawmill Springs?”
“Don’t know. Didn’t ask,” he said.
She looked at him suspiciously. “So why don’t you like her?”
He turned into the station parking lot, pulling into his reserved spot. “No particular reason.”
“Oh, no. Are you kidding me?”
“What?”
“She’s gay?” she guessed.
His mustache twitched. “Rumor has it.”
She shook her head. “Wow. What a double-edged sword for you, huh.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning you hired her because she was the most qualified, yet you don’t like her, simply because she’s gay.”
“You know me better than that,” he said. “I ain’t got nothing against gay people. If that was the case, I wouldn’t still love you.”
She smiled at him. “That’s because you don’t think I’m really gay.”
“You can’t blame me for holding out hope.”
She sighed. “Dad…we’ve talked about this.”
“Oh, honey…but Kevin…he was the best. He—”
“Yes, he’s a good guy. We dated all through high school, so I know him very well.”
“He still pines for you. He—”
“Oh, God…he’s not pining for me,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
“Of course he is. Everyone can see it.”
“He’s married. He’s got three kids,” she reminded him as she got out.
He looked at her across the top of the car. “Then how come you two always get together whenever you come home to visit?”
“We don’t always get together. Besides, we were best friends in high school.”
“You weren’t best friends. You were boyfriend and girlfriend,” he said, slamming his door a bit harder than was necessary.
“Dad…why do you think our divorce was so amicable? We both knew being married wasn’t the right thing for us.”
“You hardly gave it long enough to work out. What? Nine, ten months?”
“It was a very long ten months. And because we were smart enough and mature enough to end it when we did, we’re still friends.” She walked closer and squeezed his arm. “That was so many years ago, Dad. You’ve got to let it go. Kevin’s moved on, he’s got a great family now. Why can’t you just let it go?”
“Is it wrong for me to want you to get married, to have kids someday? Wouldn’t mind a couple of grandkids to bounce on my knee.”
She tried not to be short with him, but she was so weary of this same discussion they seemed to have whenever she came back to Sawmill Springs.
“I can get married now, if I want to. I can have kids too. I choose not to.” She looked at him pointedly. “And Jason has given you three grandchildren already.”
“They live way over in Alabama. It’s not the same.”
“Look. I love you. I know you’re getting old and crotchety, but this has got to stop, Dad. Mom never has these conversations with me. Why do you feel the need to constantly question my sexuality?”
She was surprised that he actually blushed, his face turning bright red. “I ain’t talking nothing about sex now,” he said. “Besides, you started this conversation, not me.”
She nodded. “You’re right. I did. Because apparently the only reason you don’t like this Murphy person is because she’s gay.”
“Well, don’t be too quick to judge. You may not like her either. According to Lori, she’s a little standoffish. Hasn’t shared much about her personal life to them.”
“Lori is the world’s biggest gossip. If you don’t dish out your life story to her, she considers you rude and unsociable.”
He paused at the door. “I thought you liked Lori.”
“I like her fine. She’s just one of those people who are too friendly. Not everyone wants to be an open book. Like me, for instance.”
“If you’re worried that they…well, that they know, then don’t be.”
“Know? Know that I’m gay?”
“Yeah. That. I’ve never said anything.”
“Really? You mean all these years I’ve been living in the closet and didn’t know it?” she teased.
He didn’t return her smile. “Ain’t nobody’s business.”
She didn’t reply as she followed him inside. That wasn’t the reason, and they both knew it. The real reason was because he was embarrassed to have a gay daughter. He’d never come right out and said it and he didn’t have to. She loved him, regardless, and she knew he loved her. Thankfully, her mother had no such issues and they talked openly about it. In fact, her mother knew all the sordid details of her breakup with Jennifer and the aftermath. She doubted her father even knew Jennifer existed.
Which again begged the question: Why would he hire a lesbian? She tried to envision the woman—Murphy: Older, most likely, unattractive and maybe a little overweight. Probably overly butch with very short hair. In her father’s eyes, that’s what lesbians were supposed to look like. They weren’t supposed to look like his daughter.
* * *
“Oh, my God! Look at you!” Lori explained as she pulled Kayla into a hug. “I swear, you get prettier every time I see you.”
Kayla accepted Lori’s enthusiastic hug with a smile. “Good to see you again. How’s Rusty and the kids?”
“They’re good. Sara’s in high school, if you can believe that.”
“Wow. Has it been that long since I’ve seen you?”
“Probably two or three years,” Lori said. “We need to get lunch and catch up.”
“I know,” she said, although that wasn’t very high on her list. She always felt like Lori was more interested in learning information that she could pass on rather than being genuinely interested in her. “Let me get settled in first. I don’t even know my schedule yet.”
Lori leaned forward. “Rumor has it, you’ll be riding with Timmy. He just got through taking Murphy through her first six weeks.” Her voice lowered. “Have you met Murphy?”
Kayla shook her head. “No, not yet. I understand she’s new.”
“She’s a little on the quiet side, but nice enough, I guess.”
“Quiet?”
“Keeps to herself, kinda guarded about her private life.”
Kayla shrugged. “Well, some don’t like to broadcast their business to everyone.”
Lori grasped her arm and pulled her even closer. “She’s gay,” she whispered.
“Really?” she replied, trying to keep a smile from forming. “Well, in law enforcement, that’s not a big shock. Or is she not welcome because of that?” she asked, fishing for her own information.
“Oh, no, nothing like that. I’m just sayin’.”
Just passing on gossip, in other words, but she smiled nonetheless. “What’s her first name?”
“Oh, it’s Mandi—with an ‘i’—but I don’t recommend you calling her that. She gives what I call the ‘death stare’ when you do.”
“I see. Well, I’ll keep that in mind.” She made a show of looking at her watch. “I came by hoping to meet everyone. Or at least those changing shifts at four. If I’m going to be riding with Tim, I’d like to visit with him a little. I haven’t seen him in a few years.”
“Yes, he and Murphy end their shift at four. Kimbro and Wade are in the back. They go on at four,” she said.
“Kimbro?”
“Kim Nguyen,” she said. “Everyone calls him Kimbro.”
“Okay, yes, I’ve heard my father mention him, but we’ve not met. I know Wade. It’s Wade Washington, right? He was a year ahead of me in school.”
“Yes, I thought y’all were close in age.”
She smiled, remembering the tall boy who’d been the star of the basketball team. She wondered if he was still as quiet as he’d been back then.
“Jeff and Ivan are off today,” Lori continued. “Ricky and Carlos are on midday shift.
“So they end at eight?”
“Yes, ten to eight. There’s two ten-hour shifts and two twelve-hour shifts. I can’t keep up with all their schedules without a chart.”
“Oh, I’m sure.” She motioned to the closed door that would take her into the back of the station. “I guess I’ll go meet the guys. We’ll catch up later,” she said as she opened the door.
Little had changed in the squad room over the years. She didn’t remember a time in her life that her father didn’t work here. He’d been chief for at least fifteen years now and sergeant before that. She’d come by here often, listening to stories with rapt attention. Even as a young child, she’d wanted to be a cop. Her mother, however, discouraged her, saying she needed to go to college for something that would land her a normal job. She started out doing just that, but after she and Kevin ended their marriage, she knew in her heart what she wanted to do and she switched majors to criminal justice. Her father was pleased, she knew, and her mother’s disapproval was tempered after the enthusiasm Kayla showed, something she never did while contemplating a business degree.
She found Wade Washington and a man who she assumed to be Kim Nguyen in the breakroom, filling travel mugs with coffee. Wade’s eyes widened and he smiled, his even white teeth a contrast with his dark skin.
“Kayla Dixon…it’s been a long time,” he said, holding his hand out.
She shook it firmly and returned his smile. “How are you, Wade?”
“Doing great. Been working for your father about four years now.”
“Late bloomer?”
“No. After I got married, we lived up in Madisonville. Started my career there.” He turned and pointed at a nervous-looking man beside him. “This is Kim Nguyen. Kimbro, meet Kayla Dixon, Earl’s daughter.”
Kayla shook his hand as well. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yes, you too. I…I thought you were starting on Monday.”
“I am. But I had some time, thought I’d swing by and introduce myself.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, why would you leave the FBI for this job?” Wade asked.
She knew she’d get this question, of course, but she still hadn’t settled on an answer. She shrugged. “I was ready for a change.” That much was true, at least.
Wade nodded, then glanced at his watch. “Well, we should get at it,” he said. “Good to see you again.”
“Nice to meet you,” Kim added as he hurried after Wade.
She sighed as they left. Two down, six to go—of the officers, anyway. Sergeant Wilson—Pete—she’d known since she was a kid. Her father promoted him to sergeant as soon as he became the chief. She would stop in and say hello to him, however. It had been a few years since she’d been around the station.
She went back to the main room where the desks were. There were four of them, two facing each other, the other two against a wall. Each held a computer and a phone, but they were all exceptionally neat, as if they were rarely used. She heard laughter through the hallway that led out to the door where the patrol cars were parked at the back of the station . She waited as two officers came in. Tim Beckman looked as familiar as always, his bushy mustache hiding his upper lip. The woman next to him, however, nearly took her breath away. She was the same height as Tim but much leaner. Dark hair, cut in layers, feathered around her face, just brushing the collar of her uniform. As dark eyes met hers, she had an almost overwhelming itch to brush away the hair that hid the w
oman’s eyebrows. Surely to God this wasn’t the woman her father had hired. Surely to God this wasn’t Murphy. No. She was supposed to be older. She was supposed to be overweight. She was supposed to be ugly.
“Well, hey there, Kayla. Didn’t expect to see you today,” Tim said with a hesitant smile. He jerked a thumb at the woman. “This here is Murphy. She just finished a six-week tour with me.”
Kayla stared at the woman, finally noticing that she was holding her hand out. Kayla reached out and clasped hands with her briefly.
“Nice to meet you,” she said.
The woman paused an almost awkward beat before replying. “Yes. Same here.”
“You starting early or…” Tim asked.
“No, no,” she said. “Just wanted to come by and meet everyone. Rumor has it I’ll be riding with you on Monday.”
“I heard that rumor too.”
Kayla didn’t miss the guarded look in his eyes. Of everyone, she thought that Tim Beckman would be the most open to having her here. He was several years older than she was, but besides Mr. Wilson, he’d been with her father the longest. Maybe her father was right. Maybe she should have just shown up on Monday morning.
“I’m going to take off,” Murphy said, her words directed at Tim and not her. “Have a good weekend.”
“Yeah. And hey, you be careful next week. I won’t have your back.”
Murphy smiled and slapped his shoulder. “I’ll try to stay out of trouble.” She turned then, and nodded at Kayla. “Nice to meet you.”
“See you around,” Kayla replied as she watched her walk away. She turned to Tim, her desire to visit with him before their shift on Monday vanishing. “I’m sure you’ve had a long day. I guess I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Yeah, well, it’s good to have you here,” he said, and she knew he was lying. “See you Monday.”
She stepped aside, letting him pass by. She took a deep breath. So this transition from the FBI to Sawmill Springs Police Department wasn’t going to be as smooth as she’d hoped. The one person she’d assumed would be her ally was as cool to her as the rest of them.