Page 26 of Girl, Forgotten (Andrea Oliver 2)

Andrea didn’t know a hell of a lot, but she knew that flirting with a man in a work situation was never going to gain her any respect. “What’s the other way to go?”

“Marshal rule number sixteen: think of yourself as a thermometer. Look at what they’re putting out and adjust your temperature accordingly. The chief was running a little warm, so you should’a been a little warm. No need to freeze him out. Give it a try next time. Practice makes permanent.”

She nodded at the familiar refrain. Most of policing required fine-tuning your responses. Andrea was more used to extremes. “Okay.”

“Don’t sweat it too hard now. Put ol’ Cheese in your rearview. Probably the last time you’ll see him.”

Andrea gathered lesson time was over. Bible started back up the sidewalk.

“My car’s back at the library.” Bible could clearly tell she was lagging. “We’ll grab a bite to eat before we go to the judge’s house.”

The mention of food made her stomach growl. Andrea’s feet felt heavy as she trudged behind him. She looked down at the concrete. Every few yards, there was a small black box about the size of a shoebox. She recognized the traps from her own beach town. With tourists came rodents. She wondered if whoever had mailed the judge the dead rat had found it downtown. And then she put the question out of her mind because she was too exhausted to do anything but put one foot in front of the other.

“Diner’s up here.” Bible picked up the pace. “I called ahead and snagged us two seats at the counter. Hope that’s good by you?”

“That’s great.” Andrea hoped like hell that food would bring her second wind. Her stomach rumbled again as the scent of French fries filled the air. Ahead, the neon lights of RJ’s Eats cast a pink glow onto the sidewalk. MILKSHAKES-HAMBURGERS-OPEN TIL MIDNIGHT.

“Well whattaya know.” Bible grinned as he held open the door for a woman carrying armloads of take-out bags.

“Cat?” She sounded surprised to see him. “What are you doing here?”

“Coach pulled me off the bench.” He made the introductions. “Judith, this is Andrea Oliver, my new partner in crime prevention.”

“Hi.” Judith stared at Andrea, waiting for a response.

“Uh—” Andrea had trouble finding her voice. “Huh-hey.”

“She don’t talk much. Lemma help with these.” Bible took the plastic bags and walked Judith the short distance to her car. A man waited behind the wheel. Andrea could see his Silver Star clipped to his belt.

Bible told Judith, “We’re gonna grab a bite. Tell the judge we’ll be there by five thirty so I can show my new partner the ropes.”

“Make it six so we’ve finished dinner. Granny has us all on the early bird special.” Judith opened the door and dropped her quilted saddlebag of a purse into the passenger’s seat. She took the bags of food from Bible. In the streetlight, she looked slightly older than Andrea, about forty. She was dressed in a colorful blouse with a flowing kind of sarong for a skirt. There was an earthy, artsy air about her, though the car she climbed into was a sleek silver Mercedes.

Bible waved, “See you in a bit.”

The door closed with a muted thunk. The engine purred to life.

Judith glanced out the closed window, giving Andrea a quizzical look. Andrea didn’t know what to do. She unzipped her backpack and rummaged inside as if she was searching for something of vital importance. Finally, the car pulled away, but the woman’s face was burned brightly into her memory.

Icy blue eyes. Sharp cheekbones. Slightly cleft chin.

Judith looked just like their father.