Threat of Darkness(18)

 “Okay. What do we do now?”

 “As soon as Walt and his partner finish searching your house you need to get in touch with your credit-card companies and cancel all the cards that were stolen.”

 “Um, okay. Any chance I can borrow your cell phone? Mine bit the dust, remember?”

 “Right. I’ll drive you over to Ash Flat later and you can pick up another phone. We’ll need new lock sets for your front and back doors, too. The car will need to be towed in and checked for prints before we do anything else with it.”

 “We?”

 “Yes, we. Get used to it, Sam. After I advise Chief Kelso of your problems I imagine he’ll let me hang around. At least I hope so.”

 “What about asking Adelaide Crowe to keep me company? You remember her, don’t you? She’s a sheriff’s deputy now. I worked with her on one of the CASA cases I told you about.”

 That suggestion, sensible though it was, hit John like a punch in the stomach. “You really do want to get rid of me, don’t you?”

 “I didn’t say that. I was just thinking it would be easier on both of us if we weren’t forced to spend so much time together.”

Forced? Shrugging, he had to accept her logic. “All right. I’ll look into it Monday morning and see if your house is within her jurisdiction. In the meantime, do you think you can grit your teeth and put up with me a little while longer?”

 Samantha’s widening smile and the twinkle in her dark eyes lifted his spirits even before she said, “I guess I can manage. And in case I didn’t mention it earlier, thanks again for rescuing me, Officer Waltham.”

 He smiled back at her. “Actually, it’s Detective, although I don’t plan to ask anyone to use my rank, at least not until I’ve been here long enough to feel accepted.”

 “You don’t think you are?”

 “No. I was gone too long. Too much has changed. I can’t say I blame the men who stayed behind for being a little jealous.”

 Samantha’s smile began to wane and she glanced toward her back door, obviously deep in thought. When she arched a brow, cocked her head and asked, “Is there any chance one of the guys you work with might be stirring up trouble to try to discredit you?” he was floored.

 Being a veteran of undercover work, he was able to mask his surprise. At least he hoped he was. “No way. I’ve known all those men since before I went away. I do wish the chief hadn’t insisted on reciting my credentials and experience in front of everyone after he hired me, but that’s no reason for longtime police officers to start pulling pranks.”

 “Pranks?” Samantha faced him, hands fisted on her hips. “Are you saying what happened to my poor car was some kind of stupid joke?”

 “Not at all. We’re talking about two totally different things here.”

 “I disagree. Whatever began with Bobby Joe is still going on. Whether or not some of your fellow officers may be throwing in false clues to drive you crazy is a fair question. I doubt old Walter would give you grief but I can’t believe all cops are as upstanding as you are.”

 The sound of the back door screen slamming kept John from the rebuttal he’d intended to give. There was no way any of the men he worked with would be mixed up in actual crime, although he wouldn’t put it past them to conduct a little harmless hazing. Samantha was right about that. He just didn’t intend to let her influence him against men he had to rely upon day after day.

 He left her and approached the others. “Find anything?”

 They both shook their heads.

 “Okay. Make arrangements with whoever you usually use to have Samantha’s car towed and impounded. We’ll finish up here and then I’ll bring her to the station.”

 Glenn winked at him before glancing past to focus on Sam. “Sure you don’t need a little help here, Detective? I’m happily single again. I’d be glad to pitch in and give you a hand.”

 Although John felt an instant surge of animosity he hid his ire behind a casual smile. “Thanks for the offer, buddy. I’ll keep it in mind in case this victim starts to give me too much grief.”

 “You do that.” Glenn touched the brim of his cap as he sauntered past Samantha and bid her goodbye with a simple nod and a pleasant, “Ma’am.”

 John shook hands with Walter. “Thanks for your help.”

 “Just doin’ my job.” The older man eyed his partner. “Don’t mind him. He’s been like that ever since his wife left him. A real pain in the…”