“Catch you later,” Johnson called after her.
Robo glanced back, but Mattie merely raised one hand to acknowledge she’d heard him. Halfway down, she began to feel silly. Maybe she’d overreacted. Geez, she told herself, no reason to act like such a bitch.
At the office, Mattie opened the patrol car door and let Robo out. “Come with me,” she said, and he trotted along beside her off lead. She had five minutes to spare before the meeting about Grace.
Inside, Rainbow was sitting at the dispatcher’s desk. Since she wasn’t required to be in uniform, she often wore flowing costumes made from gauzy fabrics with psychedelic colors. Today was no different, and she’d added a pink scarf tied with a floppy bow to hold back her long, blond hair. On anyone else, it might’ve looked ridiculous, but somehow Rainbow pulled it off.
“Good morning, Deputy.” Her blue eyes twinkled. You could always count on Rainbow being twinkly in the morning.
“What’s up?”
“I heard about you and Robo finding that girl yesterday.” Rainbow sobered for a moment. “That’s terrible. I mean, it’s not terrible about you finding her. It’s terrible about her being dead. I mean, killed.”
“Yeah, it’s bad.”
“I canceled my party tonight.”
Mattie had forgotten about Rainbow’s party, since she’d never planned to go to it in the first place. She hated parties. Seemed like someone always showed up either drunk or high, and she felt responsible for doing something about it. “Okay.”
“It didn’t seem right, most of the sheriff’s department partying after what happened to that poor girl.”
“Yeah, I guess not.”
“So I have all this food,” her voice rising at the end as if asking a question. “And I can freeze some of it, but I don’t know if the tofu cheesecake will freeze, so I’m just inviting a few friends over, and I hoped you would come. Anya Yamamoto from the hot springs will be there, and I want you to meet her.”
“Gee, Rainbow, I don’t know. I’ve got a full shift today, and I’m a little wiped out from helping out at the vet clinic last night. I think I’ll have to pass. But thanks anyway.”
“If you change your mind, just come on over. I have plenty of food, and feel free to bring Robo.”
“So you know those hot springs people?”
“Yeah. Haven’t you gone out there yet?”
“Not yet. But I thought I might drive out there when I have time and check things out.” Mattie remembered a comment Brody had made a while back that the people out at the hot springs were a bunch of idiots, some kind of health freaks. But then, Brody was an idiot, so she hated to lend him too much credibility.
Still, drug traffic had started through Timber Creek shortly after the group’s arrival.
“What are they doing out there, Rainbow?”
“They’re building a world-class health spa.”
“Uh-huh,” Mattie said, doubtful that a world-class anything would take off in Timber Creek. “You got any messages for me before I go into briefing?”
“No. But come on over tonight if you have a chance. I think it would be fun to get to know you better.”
Mattie searched Rainbow’s face for a hidden agenda, but she wore a smile that was completely genuine. Mattie smiled back halfheartedly and then turned to go into the briefing room, Robo at her heels.
Brody and Johnson were already there, seated at one of the Formica-topped tables. Mattie took a seat at the far end of a different table, across the room from them.
“Lie down,” she said to Robo in a quiet voice, pointing to the floor. He circled once and lay down next to her feet.
“Hey,” Johnson greeted her.
Mattie nodded, picked up a flier that summarized the latest regional bulletins, and started to read. Sheriff McCoy entered the room soon after, shadowed by a petite woman with highlighted hair the color of dark honey and a knockout figure. With a gallant gesture, McCoy indicated a seat up front for the woman as he stepped to the podium.
“This is Detective Stella LoSasso from Byers County.” McCoy gestured toward the woman. “She’ll be handling this investigation. As I believe you may all know by now, our victim’s name is Grace Hartman. Detective LoSasso will interview her parents later this morning. But first, Deputy Cobb, I want you to take her up to the crime scene, and you two go over it with a fine-tooth comb. Use the dog.”
“Yes, sir,” Mattie said.
Detective LoSasso turned and swept her with a searching gaze. Mattie nodded in acknowledgment while the detective lifted her head slightly. Mattie felt as if she’d been given the once over but had no idea if she’d passed inspection.
“I’ll summarize what we know so far,” McCoy said. “The dog that we found at the crime scene had eight balloons filled with cocaine in her belly.”
“Wow,” Johnson muttered.
Brody gave him a look meant to squelch further comments.
“The rig that Ranger Benson spotted up there belongs to Mike Chadron, and we’ve put out a BOLO for it,” McCoy said. “Mr. Hartman told me last night that Grace was driving a dark red Honda CR-V, and I’ve put out a BOLO for that vehicle as well. I believe the car could be hidden somewhere in the mountains near the crime scene. Ranger Benson will organize a search for it. Deputy Brody, tell us what you found at Mike Chadron’s place.”
Brody cleared his throat. “Basically nothing. I went there last night and again this morning, but he’s gone. His rig and his dogs are gone, too.”
McCoy nodded. “I want you to put together a warrant request to search his place. See if you can get Judge Taylor to sign off on it this morning.”
“All right,” Brody said.
“Deputy Cobb found out last night that the veterinarian’s daughter is one of our victim’s friends.” McCoy looked at Mattie. “Did you arrange a meeting to interview Dr. Walker’s daughter?”
“I notified Dr. Walker of the death late last night. But his daughter got sick with food poisoning from eating at Clucken House during the night, so he doesn’t plan to tell her until this morning.”
“I heard about the outbreak,” McCoy said.
“He’s agreed to let us interview the girl after he’s had a chance to tell her about her friend’s death. I’m supposed to call later and set it up.”
“All right. You and the detective can set up an appointment after you finish at the crime scene. Deputy Brody, you get to work on that warrant. Deputy Johnson, you take patrol.” McCoy straightened and swept the group with piercing eyes. “Now let’s get to work and bring this child killer to justice.”
Chapter 9
Carrying her briefcase, Detective LoSasso rounded the patrol car and headed toward the passenger side. Mattie noticed that the men watched the attractive woman even while they walked over to their own vehicles. She hoped one of them would trip over his tongue.
LoSasso’s civilian clothing, tight black slacks and a turquoise blouse nipped in at the waist, emphasized her hourglass figure. Mattie couldn’t help but feel frumpy in her khaki uniform, a feeling that surprised her. Usually, she wouldn’t even notice, much less bother to care.
She secured Robo in the back area of the cruiser and then took her place in the driver’s seat, reaching for her patrol log to make a notation of the time.
“Are you the only woman in the department?” LoSasso asked as she found her seatbelt and pulled it across her lap.