Page 55 of Little Girls Sleeping
“Yeah, it’s really tough. But what’s more difficult is the detective in charge.”
Chad stuffed another piece of sandwich in his mouth. “Templeton, right?”
“Yeah,” she said quietly. “He just doesn’t get that we need to work together, but we don’t see eye to eye.”
“Wait until everything shakes out. I’m sure he’ll calm down.”
Katie turned around to face the incredible valley of trees that extended as far as the eye could see. She took a deep breath. Cisco huddled to the side of her leg and looked out as well, alert and ears pitched forward.
Chad got up from his position and joined her on the bench. “I haven’t been up here in a while. I’ve been too busy trying to get on full-time at the fire department. It is truly beautiful here.”
Katie turned to him. “What’s the situation?”
He took a deep, somewhat disappointed breath. “It all comes down to budget.”
Katie nodded; she understood all about budget restrictions at the police department, and it even affected the army too.
“So I’ve been working a few hours as an ambulance driver and some shifts up at the fire department. The sheriff’s K9 unit asked me if I wanted to help out with training.” He leaned in and said in a comical tone, “That generally means they need another decoy for the dogs to chase.”
She laughed. “No wonder Cisco likes you.”
“Oh, I forgot. The morgue also needs someone to fill in as a body guy.”
“A what?”
“That’s what they call the guy who picks up dead bodies and brings them to the morgue. And that would about round out my week as I wait on budget and politics to get a full-time position.”
“You’ll never get bored—just mauled, burned, and acquainted with a lot of dead people.”
“Go ahead, laugh it up. You’re living your dream job.”
“I don’t know what will happen after this case is closed. I’m still on leave from Sacramento PD and I just don’t know…”
Chad shrugged. “I’m sure your uncle isn’t going to let someone like you get away—he has something planned, I’m sure.”
“I don’t know. Even he still has someone to answer to.”
That evening, Katie decompressed, trying to empty her busy mind. She had a long, hot bath, and went to bed at a reasonable hour. Just before she turned off the light, she took out her journal and opened it. She reread her first entry. Then she picked up her pen and slowly began to write.
Wednesday, 2230 hours
It was a surprising day of rest for me today. I went on a picnic with Chad. I had so many memories (mostly good) and familiar feelings flying around in my mind, but in the end I was able to relax without any anxiety issues or panic attacks. I lowered my guard and opened up to Chad. I’d never have done that before. I don’t expect anything from him, but I do care about him. I don’t feel like I’m ready for a serious relationship, though I’m not sure if Chad would be that special person anyway. I’m taking my uncle’s advice to let time take its course.
Am I healing? I hope I can live up to what I’ve been through and accomplished so far. My thoughts are still constantly with my army teammates: my sergeant, and Billy and Chris. I hope they’re doing okay—I touched base with them in an email but haven’t heard from them in a while. We are all broken. Forever changed. We are survivors.
Thirty
The temperature outside had dropped several degrees overnight, but that didn’t stop the kids from Pine Valley Elementary School walking or riding their bikes to school. It was Thursday and the last day of the week for them; Friday was a parent-and-teachers’ conference. All the kids were extra hyper and looking forward to a fun outing. There was supposed to be an assembly too, and that would mean fewer classes.
Dena Matthews was particularly excited because she would be going to the amusement park in Sacramento this weekend. She could almost taste the food: cotton candy, chocolate-dipped cones, and anything on a stick she desired.
She’d begged her mom endlessly to let her meet her friends at the park near the pond and cycle to school. The last few times there had been a bike-to-school day she wasn’t allowed to participate, but she finally pleaded hard enough that her mom permitted her to go.
She put on her backpack, jumped eagerly onto her light-blue bicycle and rode down the driveway. The cool morning air chilled her face, but she didn’t care. Dressed in dark jeans, a blue sweatshirt, and her favorite sneakers, she pedaled as fast as she could. She was going to be early, and knew she would have to wait for her friends, Carrie and Jessica. But that was okay, because she wanted to check out the fountain and the pond. It was her favorite place whenever she visited the park.
She coasted down her street and cut across a neighboring one, which then took her in a roundabout way to the park. She took that route because it was mostly downhill and she could cycle with comfort.
A couple of cars passed her slowly.
