The Long Dark January by A.S. Andrews

Author:A.S. Andrews [Andrews, A.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781777289416
Publisher: Moving Target Press
Published: 2020-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

They asked a few more questions about how Veronica’s daughter got along with Bobby. A typical child friendship that waxed and waned depending on new toys, new kids in class, and whether the parents would organize things. Veronica said she’d never had a second thought about letting Elsa sleep over at the Gordon house.

“Makes you think,” Bill Coker said, as they walked back towards the station. “Ramona and I have my daughter’s friends over to our place every other night. And she goes to their homes, too. Some of them are no different from the Gordons. Not sure I’ll ever feel good about signing off on a sleepover ever again.”

“You can’t destroy their social life in the interest of protection,” Nadine said.

“Maybe not. Guess it’s just hard to accept how random all the crap out there is.”

Nadine nodded, it was.

As they reached the parking lot of the station, Nadine held the officer back a second. “Has Peter Quayle ever talked to you about someone named Karl Roach?”

Bill rolled his eyes and grinned. “You should ask has he ever talked about anything else. He obsesses over that guy.”

“Does it bother you that Roach lives in your town?”

The young police officer seemed to give it some thought. “I mean, I don’t like it all that much. But it’s not my town. My people—I’m from the Cowlitz Nation—we’re used to living close to murderers.” He smiled to take the edge off the statement. “Peter’s just easy to upset.”

The hallways of the station were busier than Nadine had seen, busier than the staff were used to. Still not half the traffic that any station in Seattle got on an average day. But towns worked differently. Nadine admired the way the receptionist dealt with the small crowd who just wanted to know if there was a killer in their midst. “When I know anything, so will you,” he said to the room.

Nadine walked back outside and dialed Teddy Fowler’s office. She owed the deputy commissioner a report. She was put through almost immediately.

“Been thinking of calling you for a status report, Nadine. From what I’m hearing, it sounds like Jen’s suspicions turned out to be right. You’ve got a double homicide on your hands.”

“Looks like it,” Nadine said.

She filled in the deputy commissioner on her progress, explaining that the case was still a sprawling mess of leads and dead-ends, but a picture was emerging. No, she couldn’t speculate how much longer it might take. Another few days, at least.

“I’d like you back here by Monday at the latest,” Teddy said. “We can only keep a civilian consultant on the payroll if we can demonstrate your value to the brass. I have a meeting set up for you with the other deputies for Monday afternoon.”

It was Friday now, and half the day had already been lost. “That might not be possible.”

“It’ll have to be. Remember, Nadine, it’s not on you to police the whole town. Just help them get their case squared away, however much you can in the time you’ve got.

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