Page 38 of Beyond Her Reach (Bree Taggert #10)
“Thank you.” Jager raised both hands in a stop gesture. “The tip line number will follow at the bottom of the screen.”
Bree leaned over to speak in Jager’s ear. “We don’t have one set up.” Because you didn’t clear this with me first was implied.
Jager nodded and spoke into the mic again. “Ah. It seems we’re having a technical issue. The tip line number will be posted shortly. For the moment, you can call any tips into the main number for the sheriff’s department.” She recited the phone number from memory.
She planned this.
Jager said to the cameras, “With the help of the citizens of Randolph County, this killer will be caught and brought to justice.”
So much for our truce. Jager had stabbed Bree in the back yet again.
The tip line detail occupied the reporters, and Bree ended the press conference. Matt opened the door to the squad room, and Jager and Bree filed through it. He closed the door, muffling the sound of the news crews. Then he stayed out of the way.
Bree turned on Jager. “You know I don’t like tip lines. They don’t help us solve cases. They flood us with nonsense calls we have to waste time investigating. I guarantee we’ll have at least one fake confession.”
“Yes. I know you hate them.” Jager leaned on the closed door. “Which is why I didn’t bring it up beforehand. Better to ask forgiveness and all that.”
Bree fumed, propping her hands on her duty belt. “You can’t continue to make decisions that affect my cases without conferring with me.”
Jager pulled a compact out of her purse and checked her lipstick.
She snapped it closed and met Bree’s gaze with an unflinching one of her own.
“This may not help your case, but it will help your career. It’s good politics.
People like to feel as if they’re helping.
The citizens want to be on your team. A tip line helps them to do just that. ”
The rationale made sense in a twisted, manipulative way.
“I hate politics,” Bree grumbled. “And I’ll need deputies on overtime to man the phones. You’ll have to approve an increase to the budget.”
Jager shrugged. “That’s easy to do if the public is behind you. In fact, we should hire a communications officer, someone whose job it is to deal with the public. You need to delegate, and a polished community liaison will refine your image.”
That offer was insulting. Bree had requested funds for a second K-9 and deputy handler. The board had denied the budget increase. But a communications officer? That they would approve?
Matt pictured a slick, smarmy dude with perfect creases in his uniform and a toothpaste-commercial smile.
Even as his brain recognized the benefits of such a position, his gut resisted with an uncomfortable twist. If they were in a rich suburban community with resources to spare, he could make sense of adding a media officer.
But they were not. Randolph County was more rural, not wealthy.
In his opinion, their very limited funds should go to protecting the community.
Bree’s scowl said she didn’t like the idea at all. “I don’t want to delegate my image to anyone, and the board of supervisors made it clear that an additional deputy isn’t in the budget.”
“I can probably talk them into a media liaison, though. They all see how the department image needs to be spruced up. I mean, the public loves you.” She gave Bree a condescending look.
“But more polish will improve that image. I know you hate all of this.” Jager shoved her compact back into her purse.
“But you are a politician, even if you don’t think you’re very good at it.
” She gave Bree a rueful side-eye. “You wield honesty, honor, and sincerity like weapons. We can use that.”
“Or maybe I’m just honest,” Bree suggested in a wry tone.
Jager raised both brows. “Don’t start a nasty rumor like that. Your political career will be over. No one in power wants to help someone get elected who they don’t think they can blackmail or bribe. Rich people don’t lift up honest citizens. They support those they think they can manipulate.”
“That’s not comforting.”
“It’s reality.” Jager turned up a palm. “I’ll leave you to the investigation. Please make an arrest.” She didn’t wait for a response before leaving the station.
Bree shook her head. “She’s like a tornado. Blows in, causes chaos, and leaves us to clean up a path of destruction.” She headed for her office. “I’m off to find deputies who want some overtime.”
Matt followed. “What can I do?”
“Figure out who we’re going to arrest?” She entered her office and dropped into her chair.
“Seriously, arrange the tip line and get the number out to the media. Zucco is going to call Troy’s cleaners and make an appointment for her and me to talk to them.
” She glanced at her phone screen. “I have an email from Harrison. He found the cash receipt for the beer purchase for Monday. We need to drive over and pick that up. Hoping it’s time- and date-stamped so we can obtain the corresponding surveillance video. ”
“Interesting that he didn’t go through his attorney.”
Bree lifted a shoulder. “Either he thinks he’s smart enough to handle things on his own, or he’s being cheap and didn’t want to pay his lawyer for an hour of his time.” She typed on her keyboard and tapped send with purpose.
“You could delegate this to a deputy.”
“I could, but I hate to miss an opportunity for Harrison to blab nonstop. He ignores his lawyer and is a nervous talker. Who knows what we could learn?”
“This is true.” Matt’s phone vibrated. He read the screen. Worry tightened his chest. “It’s Luke.”
“I forgot the kids were off school today for a teacher in-service day.” Guilt creased Bree’s face. “How could I have forgotten?”
But Matt was more concerned about the reason for the call than Bree’s memory lapse. Luke normally texted. The young man acted as if he were allergic to making phone calls.
Matt punched the answer button. “What’s up, Luke?”
“Turbo is gone. I’m so sorry. It’s my fault. I let him out of the tack room while I groomed Riot. I thought he’d been cooped up enough. But while I was picking hooves, he opened the barn door and bolted.”
“Where did he go?”
“Across the meadow.” Luke sounded near tears. After all he’d been through, the young man was usually solid and stoic. But he loved animals. “I let you down. I’m so sorry.”
“No. This is my fault. I should have brought him with me. I know what he’s like.”
Bree frowned and mouthed, “You need to find him.”
“I’m coming home. His collar is GPS chipped. I can track him, but we’ll never catch him on foot. Saddle up the horses, and we’ll go get him. He’s probably chasing rabbits.” Matt hoped.