Bring Me Flowers (Detectives Kane and Alton)

Bear attacks were scarce this close to town. It could be another homicide. Indecision plagued her of late, but she refused to allow the flashbacks of her kidnapping six months earlier to affect her work. She considered calling Kane then dismissed the idea. Rowley could give him the details. She lifted the phone and called the mortician to attend the scene then explained why her new deputy would be attending the autopsy. Standing, she strode out of her office. “Rowley and Walters, with me.”

“Yes ma’am?” Rowley jogged to her side with Walters close behind.

“We have a possible bear attack. Someone found a body with multiple injuries at the northern end of Stanton Forest.” She looked at Deputy Rowley. “I want you to take charge until Kane gets back, but first, run down to Aunt Betty’s Café and inform him. Tell him to wait for my call, and grab something for lunch while you’re there. I’m not sure how long this will take. I’ll need to examine the scene and speak to the kids who found the body.” She glanced at Deputy Walters. “You’re with me. Let’s go.” She headed for the door.

Three

Walking in the sunshine, Kane found it hard to believe the ice-packed snow of winter had vanished. Spring had been a relief, but the first week of June arrived with a rush of color across the landscape and filled the gardens with flowers. A carnival atmosphere replaced the usual lazy-first-day-of-the-week attitude of the townsfolk. Bunting decorated shopfronts on the main road, and a series of signs hung between the streetlights, celebrating the first rodeo in Black Rock Falls on the circuit the coming weekend.

Wolfe strolled beside him, blond head erect, his attention moving from one group of people to another. He said little, obviously taking in the ambience of the town.

Kane glanced at Wolfe, trying to rid himself of a strange feeling he had met him before. Something about him was very familiar and he just could not put his finger on it. He cleared his throat. “I haven’t seen this many people on the streets since the last Larks game. This will be my first experience of the Black Rock Falls County rodeo crowd. Sheriff Alton tells me the crime rate goes up by ninety percent over the rodeo circuit weekends.”

“Looking at the number of deputies you have, I’m not surprised.” Wolfe stood to one side to allow two women pushing strollers to pass. “Why is everyone looking at me as if I have two heads?”

“You’re new in town.” Kane grinned at his dour expression. “They’ll have your picture up on the wall of Aunt Betty’s Café before you know it. It’s a friendly town.”

“Really?” Wolfe curled his lips. “I can deal with friendly.” A glistening black SUV screeched to a halt at the curb and he rolled his shoulders. “Now there is another thing I detest.” He indicated with his chin toward the vehicle. “Dangerous drivers. Men like him need to have their vehicles impounded and crushed. It’s the only way to teach them a lesson.”

Kane rubbed his chin and grinned. “It certainly would slow them down, but right now we need a new law passed.” He strolled toward Aunt Betty’s Café. “This is the best place to eat unless you want to go fancy, then it’s the restaurant at the Cattleman’s Hotel.”

“Who is the guy in the black SUV?”

“Dan Beal, the new captain of the Larks, the local hockey team.” Kane snorted. “Don’t worry, he doesn’t receive any special privileges.”

“Nice to know.”

Before Kane had time to pull open the door, it opened and Reverend Jones stepped out, giving him a beaming smile.

“Good morning.” He turned his attention to Wolfe. “I see we have a new deputy in town.”

Kane nodded. “Yeah, Reverend Jones, this is Shane Wolfe.” He noticed Wolfe’s expression harden but he gave the man a curt nod.

“Nice to meet you.” Jones’s lips quivered and he dropped his offered hand, but he lifted his chin and met Wolfe’s unfriendly gaze with a sunny smile. “I hope I’ll see you and your family at Sunday services. You too, Deputy Kane. All are welcome.”

“Thanks for the invitation.” Wolfe’s lips formed a thin line. “Maybe after we get settled.”

Wanting to get Wolfe away from any personal questions, Kane tipped his hat. “We have to be going.” He moved past the reverend and led the way into the café.

?

??Damn preachers.” Wolfe shook his head. “I saw him watching me with my girls earlier. I pushed them inside the house and shut the door. I am so over preachers right now.” Agitation rolled off him. “You should have seen them come out of the woodwork when Angie died. They were like flies—every time I turned around, another was telling me it was God’s will. Cancer killed my wife and God had nothing to do with her suffering.”

“He means well.” Kane frowned. “I’m sure he didn’t mean to offend you.” He moved through the busy café to his usual table set in the alcove bedside the bay window. He liked the more secluded spot with no one close by to overhear his conversations. “I doubt he’ll bother you again unless you seek him out. People need someone to talk to and he fills that spot along with some of the other clergy around here.” He sat down and peered at the menu, needing something to do. Noticing the waitress heading in their direction, he cleared his throat. “One thing about being a deputy in this town is we get served ahead of the rest.”

“Great.” Wolfe grasped the menu and ducked his head. “What’s good?”

“Everything. The chili is the best I’ve ever tasted and I’m pretty sure the cakes are becoming an addiction.” Kane grinned and lifted his head as Susie Hartwig sashayed toward him, coffee pot in hand.

“What will you have today, Deputy Kane?”

“I’ll have the usual, thank you.”

“I don’t believe we’ve met.” Susie stared at Wolfe and raised one penciled eyebrow. “I’m Susie Hartwig, and you are?” She filled the two cups on the table and set down the pot of coffee.

“Deputy Wolfe.” Wolfe’s icy gaze flicked over her then returned to his menu.

“And what can I get you, Deputy Wolfe?”