Page 53 of Barron

The new officer winced. “Where am I supposed to find scissors?”

“Not my problem,” Durbin growled. “Buy a pair if you have to.”

“The kid has a point,” Murray said when the probationer ran off. “An explosive device would’ve gone off already. What do you suspect?”

“This thing was delivered for Miss Sanz. Ever heard of delayed release? An item contains a noxious substance that could be acid or poison. One touch, and the substance releases on your face and hands. Very nasty. I’d rather check first and not be sorry.”

“I’ll help you,” Murray said.

“Thanks.” As Durbin and Murray headed for the parking lot, he turned to Yoanni. “Stay here, Miss Sanz. We’ll check it out.”

“I don’t want you or anyone else to get hurt,” she said, clasping her hands.

After listening to his explanation, she feared for the officers’ safety and was grateful for Durbin’s precautions. As innocuous as it seemed in its humble presentation, the arrival of the bag was a new reminder she was in someone’s crosshairs. One more message intended to keep the tension high and keep her looking over her shoulder. Maybe there was nothing harmful in the bag, and that was part of the mind fuck. On the other hand, she might have searched through the contents and… She shivered, thinking of the possibility of acid eating up her skin.

“Found scissors,” the probationer sped past her, scissors inhand. He joined Durbin and Murray in the parking lot. Together, all three moved toward the farthest corner, where no one liked to park, and put the bag on the ground.

They were too far away for her to overhear the conversation, but she could easily see as Durbin cut the bag down the middle, then stood to the side in case of an unwarranted forward release. Murray, standing behind, separated the cut paper. Some of the contents spilled out.

“Miss Sanz.”

Yoanni jumped. Captain Weaver should be in his office, not standing behind her. “Oh, hello, Captain.”

“What are you staring at, and why is Durbin’s post unoccupied?”

“Umm… Officer Durbin is helping me. He’s over there.” She pointed to the three officers. Murray was putting on his gloves to examine the contents. “Maybe you shouldn’t do that.” She whispered the warning as if Murray could hear her.

“Say again?” Weaver bent closer. “Murray shouldn’t do what, Miss Sanz? What’s going on?”

“Well, before I arrived, a kid delivered a bag for me. Turns out, all the items missing from my desk are in the bag. Officer Durbin was concerned something harmful could be in there, so?—”

“Durbin, Murray, stop!” shouting, Weaver strode toward them. “Don’t touch another thing.” The officers glanced up and nodded.

Squinting at the four men talking and gesturing at the bag, Yoanni crossed her arms. Her curious side wanted to get closer and listen to the discussion, but she also knew the moment she stepped one foot into the parking lot, Captain Weaver would have a conniption.

“Good morning.”

She recognized Officer Billings’s voice. He and threeofficers exited past Durbin’s post. Turning, she gave him a little wave. “Good morning. Daily briefing over?”

Billings tapped his forehead. “Yes, ma’am. We’re heading out.”

“Hey, what gives?” said one of Billings’s companions. He’d noticed the situation in the parking lot.

Before she could explain, all four officers took off to join Captain Weaver and company. In a quiet town like Garden City, the idea of danger was a powerful lure.

Yoanni shrugged. Whatever had triggered Captain Weaver to act the way he did had to be significant. She hoped he would bring her up to date later. Meanwhile, her time as an observer had to end. She had a mountain of paperwork waiting on her desk. Might as well get her day started, because staying past five today was a no-go item on her list. She glanced at her watch.Shit, eight forty-five already?

She returned to the door and reentered her code.

“Yoanni, wait,” Betty called out, and Yoanni let out a long breath. Her newfound friend approached from the parking lot in a hurry.

Fate conspired against Yoanni. Catching up on her work wasn’t in the cards. Steadying her expression to appear calm, she waited for Betty to join her, which didn’t take long.

Talking nonstop, Betty embraced her in a slightly over-the-top bear hug. “Oh my goodness. What’s the deal with the bag? Did you get hurt? I hope not.” Betty released her but held her arms as she glanced from one side to the other, checking her for injuries. “No. I see you’re okay.”

“I’m fine,” Yoanni said, close to losing her patience.

What was the matter with everyone this morning?

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