Tracking Bear by Thurlo David

Author:Thurlo, David
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2003-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

Nearly two hours later, Ella returned to her desk. The training session had run long, but the exercises, centering on pursuit driving, had been informative and practical.

First, they’d had some hands-on work at the vacant fairgrounds, where they’d had room to maneuver without interference from traffic. Then they’d moved to an old neighborhood across the highway from where the uranium mill had once stood. The streets were still intact, but virtually all the houses had been torn down and replaced because their foundations had contained uranium tailings.

Bruno had demonstrated real driving skills, teaching them some fast turns and techniques that her team had been eager to learn, though Ella had been through equivalent sessions years ago while in the FBI. Encouraged by their interest, Bruno had spent the extra time they’d needed so each could practice the maneuvers, and seeing that Ella already had the skills, had shown a little humility herself and asked Ella to help her train the others so they could all get more practice.

The best part, however, had come when they’d all seen Margaret Bruno finally drive away. She was now out of her team’s hair for good, and they could concentrate completely on the pending cases.

Ella spent the next few hours catching up on reports using her computer terminal. Midway through a manpower utilization update, the computer screen froze, and she was unable to go on.

Big Ed came into her office. “You might as well shut down your workstation. There’s something wrong with the system server, and it won’t reboot properly. We’re having people look into it now.”

Ella looked at the monitor and scowled. “This is not my day for good news,” she said, and discussed the situation concerning Ralph Tache’s planned departure. “I really don’t want him to leave.”

“I hate to lose him, too, but Tache has to make his own decision,” Big Ed said, then walked to the door. “Go home, Shorty. It’s almost quitting time, and you did a good job today helping train the others on the SI team with the pursuit driving exercises. Officer Tache mentioned it to me when he returned. You’ll probably be coming in early tomorrow, as usual, so that’ll be a good time to catch up on the paperwork.”

“But I have a truckload of work to finish.”

“Write down whatever notes you need in longhand, then enter them tomorrow. The work will still be there. Spend a few hours with your family. Remind them what you look like,” he added with a ghost of a smile, “before you change.”

She sighed. “Yeah, right.” Ella reached for her keys and stood up. The truth was that she was still angry and frustrated, not only with herself and the poor performance they’d shown at the power plant scenario a few days ago, but also with the department and tribe for failing to provide for their officers when it came to adequate field support. She needed to get away for a while, and spending time with her daughter was the perfect way to soothe her spirit.

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