by Garth Ono
"What's that? A peace offering?" Sheriff Coleman asked.
"Would it work?"
"Yes. Everyone loves your brownies."
"Then peace and love, baby," Kate said. She looked at Randy, "I have another plate for you in the Defender."
"Are you back for good," the sheriff asked, leaning back and stuffing a moist, chocolaty brownie into his mouth. Kate watched, holding her breath. His eyes closed and he moaned with pleasure.
"I am," she said. "Did Daphne call you?"
She instantly regretted the question. His eyes teared up and his face reddened. The sheriff blinked away the tears and sat up straight. For a long moment he regarded her with an unreadable expression.
"Thank you," Sheriff Coleman said, voice low and a little hoarse. He got up and came around the desk to hug her. "She called and told me everything. You saved her from going down a very dark path, Kate. My baby girl sounded happy and excited for the first time since being bitten. I think she really wants to be a cop."
Kate quickly brushed away a tear. "I think it's in her DNA. She told me that she's always wanted to be a cop, but thought she was too small. I think Daphne will make a real difference in St. Louis."
"Well, my family and I will always be grateful to you for making it happen," he said.
He had her all choked up. That wasn't expected, since he usually steered away from such displays of emotion and affection. Fortunately, Randy was eager to get his plate of brownies.
"You owe me one brownie, Randy," Sheriff Coleman called after them.
Once outside and behind her Defender, Randy folded her into his arms and kissed Kate. She held him tight, savoring that intimate contact.
"I'm starting to think it isn't the brownies you're after," she said after she noticed people watching them and smiling. "But I'll give them to you anyway."
"I missed you," Randy said.
"I missed you more."
"I doubt that. Up there alone, in a hotel full of strong young men," he said, watching her closely.
"You'd be surprised how many of them were kind of old," she said. "But yes, there were some lookers in the bunch. But you steer away from saying we're exclusive, so…"
Kate winked at him. She wasn't going to confess anything, but it was good if he worried about what went on in St. Louis after hours.
"I have to go. Call me," she said. "I'm available on short notice most nights."
She winked and he laughed. Kate wasn't sure how to take that. But Randy wasn't the only fish in the sea, or the small pond of Tennyson. She headed across the street to the bank. There was a line in front of the one teller on duty. Kate took note it was Mercy Williams, Simon's widow.
Kate wondered if Mercy knew she'd just killed Simon again, for the final time. Mercy had always been cool toward her since the Cray incident. Did she still have feelings for Simon, even after he turned into a killer vampire? Was that the reason the bank teller gave Kate's bank information to her mother, the mayor?
Going over to the bank manager's office, Kate peeked in the open door. He looked up and his face brightened.
"Miss Brokenshire! Come in. Come in," he said. "I was just reviewing your account information. My goodness, you've earned some good money over the past week."
Kate smiled. She'd earned almost $72,000 in bounties and bonuses in just a week. That was more than two years of her projected income. Just thinking about it left her a little giddy. Mordred even promised to send her another $30,000 bounty for killing two vamps.
"Every dollar was hard won, sir," she said. Kate paused to close the door. "But this is not a social call. I know an employee of this bank gave my account information to someone. I am not naming names, or filing a complaint. Not this time. If it happens again, I'll take all legal measures at my disposal against the bank."
He looked shocked and tried to question her further. Kate refused to give names, and insisted she didn't want anyone fired. She just wanted him to make sure everyone understood their responsibility to guard her private information.
Next, Kate headed up Main Street. She left the Defender in front of the sheriff's office. There weren't any open parking places anywhere else. Everyone greeted her as she went, with some stopping to chat and asking about her 'adventure' in St. Louis. Apparently, everyone in town knew she'd spent the last week in the city.
There were no secrets in Tennyson.
The door up to the Got Zombies? office and her apartment was unlocked. At least Morgan hadn't forgotten to unlock it every day. Or did she forget to lock it at night? She found her friend and assistant in the office, nose in her phone and messaging half a dozen friends at once.
"You're back!" the blonde cried. She jumped up and hugged Kate with a squeal of joy. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you, too," Kate said. "I missed Tennyson. It's great to be home."
Morgan took her by the hand into the living room, sat her on the couch, and sat next to her. She looked Kate in the eyes.
"Tell me everything that happened. I want to know about Daphne," she said. Then she looked mischievous, "And about any and all guys you hooked up with. Pictures would be nice, too."
"Sweetie, haven't you heard?" Kate replied. "What happens in St. Louis, stays in St. Louis."
THE END
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You can contact me at:
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Check out these other stories by Garth Ono:
Lady Justice and the Zombie Apocalypse
Kate Brokenshire Zombie Slayer:
Zombie Slayer
Stand and Deliver
Stone Cold Vengeance
Master of the City
About Garth Ono:
He served 7 years in the US Army (11th ACR Blackhorse Regiment, 2nd Armored Division, and 8th Infantry Division, in that order) as a Cavalry Scout. After the Army he went back to school and had a wide variety of jobs, all in the electronics field, but now he is a full time writer. He shares his life with his wife and their two dogs.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
The End
About the Author
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