Page 1 of The Watcher

Welcome to Virtue Falls

Founded 1902

Your Vacation Destination on the Washington Coast

Home of the World Famous Virtue Falls Canyon

Population 2487

Every time Sheriff Kateri Kwinault drove past that sign, she grinned. If Virtue Falls was world famous for anything, it was for an earthquake, a tsunami, and some very messy, well-publicized murders.

And if she was famous for anything, it was surviving the earthquake and tsunami and recovering enough to become interim sheriff. Even better, she was running for the office in a race so close she got lip from every old fart in town. Of course, the old guys in this town gave everybody lip, especially a female, half-Native American law officer. Apparently that was part of the Old Fart Code.

Her cell phone rang; she glanced at the car screen and pulled over to the curb. In a town of eccentrics and loners, Rainbow Breezewing was the undisputed wise woman, and she always required all of Kateri's attention. "What's up, Rainbow?"

Rainbow whispered, "I want you to come to the Oceanview Café and arrest the Rosen kids."

"What did they do now?"

"They're eating lunch."

Kateri laughed. She remembered how much Becca Rosen had cried when she found out she was having triplets. Zeke Rosen had taken to staring vacantly into space rather than prepare for the impending onslaught of three infants. Once the babies arrived, the beleaguered parents had done their best, but no one could ever truly be prepared for changing that many diapers every day. Now Becca looked like she hadn’t slept in 8 years (and she probably hadn’t). “You can’t blame the parents on this one. Having triplets isn’t on anyone’s bucket list.”

“It’s like those kids have never eaten in public before. Except they come in every. Single. Saturday." Rainbow spaced the words for maximum dramatic effect. "Watching them consume fries is better than watching a contraceptive commercial.”

"Whatever works. You didn't really call me to complain about the Rosen kids, did you?"

"No." Rainbow's voice got grim. "There's a situation at the camp on the reservation."

"The boys' and girls' camp?"

"It's the only one out there."

"What kind of a situation?"

"Come on over. You can help me clean melted Velveeta off the metal napkin holders and I'll fill you in."

"How could I possibly resist an invitation like that?" Kateri hung up, put the car in gear and headed toward the heart of town and the Oceanview Café.

As always during the summer months, the place was packed. Tourists came in for the pie. Locals came in … well, they came in for the pie, too. And the fresh made donuts. And the coffee. Dax owned the place and his cooking was the stuff of Northwest legend.

Rainbow was the stuff of Northwest legend, too. She wasthewaitress at the Oceanview Café. She dressed with wild originality, she changed her hair color to match her mood, and she knew everything that happened in town. She knew everybody who wandered through. She made the old farts toe the line and the children of Virtue Falls adore her. Even the Rosen kids adored her. They didn't have any manners, but they adored her.

Deputy Bergen sat at the old farts' table, listening to them complain and nodding as if he agreed with their every word. Maybe he did, but Kateri suspected he was trolling for votes; he was her opponent in the race for sheriff and while he did his job competently, he really wanted the job. He lifted a hand in greeting.

Kateri gave him a wave back, then slid onto a stool at the counter and watched Rainbow wipe greasy fingerprints off two of the metal napkin holders.

"Did you think I was kidding?" Rainbow demanded.

"Not at all."

"Be careful not to put your foot in the puddle of maple syrup."

Kateri tried to lift her boot. It held, then released with a sticky sound. "Too late," she said.

Rainbow whisked away to rinse the towel in hot water.

Deputy Bergen came over and sat next to Kateri. Before the election, they'd been friends and sometimes still were; like now, when in a low voice, he asked, "Is Rainbow dressed like a hobbit? Or Han Solo from the first Star Wars trilogy? I can't tell."

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