up a chance to be waited on, is what I say.”
Lori’s polite smile widened to something more genuine. She braced her hand on the table and lowered herself to the chair.
Frank glanced around at the front door. “Is that black guy coming in?” He said to his wife, “I invited ’em all, even the ones who were gay-kissing on the walkway.”
She patted his hand. “You’re a good man.”
Charlie said, “Zander had to go home. His mom’s there alone, and he wanted to keep her company.”
“A good boy takes care of his momma.” Helen nodded her approval. “I’ll meet him another time.”
“That one’s not moving in.” Frank began sliding the pizzas out of the boxes onto plates down the center of the table. Brian took the empty boxes and set them over on the kitchen counter. “Just these two.”
“He and his mom were putting Lori up,” Charlie said. “But this is better, and a lot closer to the hospital.”
“Where does he live?” Frank asked. “Sit down, folks, let’s have some pizza while it’s hot.”
“Zander’s mom has a farm a bit west, off Sailby Road.” Charlie eased into a chair almost as slowly as Lori had. It sucked watching him move like he was as old as Frank. Nick hoped he’d simply overdone it a bit.
“That’s Winrowd County, isn’t it?” Helen struggled to lift a full pitcher of something amber, unfortunately more likely iced tea than beer.
Brian said, “Can I help?” as he reached to support it.
“Oh, you are a polite young man. Thank you.” She let him take over filling the glasses. “I hear things aren’t very safe out in Winrowd these days. All that vandalism, and now the fire.”
“Fire?” Nick repeated. What fire?
“This afternoon,” Frank said with a hint of relish. “The organic farm. One of the greenhouses. It was on the news. The flames were shooting out the top. I said to Helen, ‘What’re they using in that hydroponics stuff? Gin?’”
“Was anyone hurt?” Brian’s eyes were wide.
“Not so’s I heard,” Frank said. “But there’s talk about starting up a civilian patrol, maybe. Give Sheriff Gannet a hand, so to speak. That gal’s took on too much, trying to do the job in place of old Bachmann.”
Helen shook her head. “Someone needed to. He was as crooked as they come.”
“Maybe, but at least people were safe in their beds when he was running things.”
“No one’s been hurt.”
Frank raised a bushy gray eyebrow. “Not yet. I don’t trust her to keep it that way, though. Is this where I get the lecture about how girls can do anything men can do?”
Surprisingly, it was Brian who broke in with, “She’s not a girl!” He flushed but continued, “She’s got to be at least, well, thirty or maybe forty. She seems pretty tough.”
“You’ve met her?” Helen leaned forward. “You like her?”
Brian’s gaze skittered sideways. “I don’t know her, really, but she seemed okay. For a cop.”
“Oh, thanks!” Nick said.
Brian turned to him and his expression lost a little of its seriousness. “You know what I mean.”
“Right, don’t trust the cops.”
“Jerk.” Brian nudged his knee, and Nick pretended to fall sideways.
“Do I have to separate you two?” Charlie lifted a slice of pizza onto his plate. “Frank, we were both cops, Nick and me, and I have to say, women can do the job too.”
“Maybe in the big city.”
Nick said, “Big city’s a dangerous place. The best boss I had was a female Narcotics detective. Tough as nails, and damned good at the work.”
Charlie quipped, “Yeah, even Nick couldn’t keep up with her.”
That stung a bit more than it should’ve. Nick shot a glare at Charlie, who spread his hand back in a gesture that might’ve been apology. Smug bastard.
Frank shrugged. “If you say so. I’m still thinking it’ll be safer for a pregnant girl like Lori here in Carrboro, with the Winrowd department shorthanded. At least till they get that patrol up and running.”
Lori smiled sweetly and thanked him for his concern. Nick stuffed his face with pizza to avoid coming out with how he felt about civilian patrols. A bunch of vigilantes with guns, running around looking for trouble. They’d probably end up shooting some teenager out herding his own cows. Maybe I should try to get in with them, keep an eye on things. Could be a way to keep life interesting and do some good for law and order. He mulled the idea over as they ate and talked.
Chapter 7
Brian didn’t feel the least bit tired as they headed back