Page 105 of Little Girls Sleeping
“Oh.” She looked away. Everything weighed heavy on her. The extreme tiredness pulled her down, willing her to sleep.
Her uncle leaned forward and squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry for everything Rey put you through—I don’t think anyone saw that coming. It’s been a tough time, with all the losses in the town, but we’ll survive. And most important, we’re here for you.”
“Can I have a raise?” She laughed weakly.
Sheriff Scott laughed too. “I’ll bring that up at the next union meeting.”
Katie stared out the window, remembering the attack, the truck ride in the coffin, and falling into the mine. She knew the experience would make her stronger, and a better detective.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, it’s just a little hard to comprehend everything that has happened. So what’s the status at the site?”
“Well, they’ve cordoned off the area so that no one else can accidentally stumble upon it, and now the county and the state, along with the geological and archeological departments at the university, are fighting over who has first rights.”
“Why?”
“They want to decide if it’s a historical area or just a geological anomaly… something like that. They think it might be part of a town that disappeared during 1863, but the jury is still out on that one.”
Katie leaned back, overcome by exhaustion. “Sounds like something the conspiracy theorists will love adding their take on…”
Sheriff Scott rose from the chair, leaned over, and kissed her on the forehead. “Rest. I’ll be back tomorrow. Don’t worry about Cisco; he’s being spoiled by Claire as we speak. You need anything?”
She shook her head.
“See you soon,” he said.
“Okay.” Katie’s voice faded. “I’ll talk to you soon…” She was already asleep as her uncle left the hospital room. He paused for a moment watching her sleep, and then he was gone.
Sixty
Three weeks later
Katie had memorized the swearing-in speech that every law-enforcement officer recited to officially become a part of the police department. There was no doubt as to where she wanted to begin her detective career—it was clear that the Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department was her home, and she was eager to get to work.
She stood proud, dressed in her uniform, and placed her right hand on the Bible, with the other raised, as she declared: “I, Katherine Ann Scott, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.”
She smiled, her excitement showing as she turned to her friends witnessing the ceremony.
The crowd of at least a hundred police officers cheered. Most were from the sheriff’s department, but there were others from some of the surrounding departments, there to welcome Katie and congratulate her on solving the serial-killer case.
She stood in front of her uncle as he handed her a detective’s badge and gave her a hug, saying for everyone to hear, “It’s my pleasure to welcome you to our family. You’ve more than earned it.” Then he whispered in her ear, “Your parents would have been extremely proud of you, as I am.”
“Thank you.”
Turning to the audience with tears in her eyes, Katie saw the friendly faces of Deputy McGaven, Supervisor Blackburn, Denise, Aunt Claire, and Chad with Cisco at his side. They were her friends and true family.
Sheriff Scott spoke to the audience. “You are now looking at the detective who will be in charge of our new cold-case division. Welcome, Detective Scott.”
More hoots and hollers rose from the crowd.
Katie smiled, feeling a tremendous sense of pride at belonging somewhere important, doing what she was meant to do. It was great to finally be home.