Page 65 of Through the Fire
“Of course she’s stuck,” she muttered, easing out from under Justice’s heavy head and getting out of the SUV. The woman had reversed into a drift, and her wheels spun as she managed to bury the car even deeper into the snow. Kit tapped on the driver’s side window, and it slid down, revealing the woman’s glare. Kit knew she would’ve looked furious if her face had been capable of forming expressions.
“You need to push,” the woman said, and Kit held back a laugh.
“There’s no way you’re getting out of this snowdrift without the help of a tow truck,” Kit said, taking a step back so she wasn’t blocking the door. “Leave it here. I’ll give you a ride to the station, and you can call for a tow from there. It’ll be warmer than waiting here.” Kit hoped there was a local service. Knowing Monroe, all tow-truck drivers might have moved south for the winter.
The woman pressed her artificially full lips together before giving an audible huff. “Fine.” Climbing out of the car, she yelped as her feet sank shin-deep into the snow. Kit knew the feeling of snow dropping into too-short boots, and she grimaced in sympathy.
“Do you have a coat?” she asked when the woman shivered.
“Yes.” Popping the trunk, the woman waved toward the rear of the car, but didn’t make any move to walk toward it.
Although Kit knew immediately what the woman wanted her to do, she feigned ignorance, staying still and waiting quietly for the indignant squawking she knew was coming.
“Well?” the woman asked after just a few seconds had passed. “Are you going to get my coat? It’s right on the top. You can’t miss it.”
Kit couldn’t help herself—she laughed. “No, I’m not getting your coat. This isn’t what ‘public servant’ means.” With another amused snort, she headed back to her SUV. “Besides, it’s my day off.”
When she reached her car, she saw that the woman was still staring at her, mouth slightly agape.
“Grab your coat and let’s go before you freeze,” Kit called before climbing into her blessedly warm SUV. Justice had spotted the woman, and his tail was whipping back and forth as he pressed his nose against the window. “Don’t get too excited, buddy.” She kept her voice low, aware that the woman had finally grabbed her coat and was stomping through the snow toward them. “I doubt you’re going to get many ear scratches from this one.”
Her words didn’t seem to affect Justice’s enthusiasm, however, and he wiggled with excitement as the woman yanked open the passenger door, her affront clear in every line of her body. As she settled into her seat, Justice poked his head between the seats, looking at the new arrival with the confidence of a dog who believed that everyone loved him.
The woman drew away from Justice with a disgusted hiss, and Kit restrained an eye roll. Did the woman have to bring every cliché to life? Then again, maybe she was allergic or fearful of dogs. Kit chided herself for being judgmental. “Justice, down.”
Throwing a mournful look at the woman, he obeyed, lying on the back seat. Once his slight whine faded, silence settled over them.
“I’m Officer Kit Jernigan,” she offered, feeling like she should make an attempt to be polite. Also, her curiosity was still raging.
There was a pause before the woman introduced herself. “Courtney Young.”
“What brings you to Monroe?” Kit asked.
The woman let out a quiet huff. “I’d rather wait and discuss that with a detective.”
“A…detective?” Trying to hold back a laugh, Kit focused on the road in front of her a little too intently. “I think you’re overestimating the size of the Monroe Police Department, especially in the winter.”
The woman waved an impatient hand. “Whatever. I need to talk to someone who actually has some influence, not a jumped-up meter maid.”
Instead of being insulted, Kit just wanted to laugh again. Courtney Young was coming off as such a caricature of an evil rich person that Kit couldn’t take anything the woman said seriously. She looked forward to telling the other K9 cops about the encounter. Hugh, especially, would get a kick out of it. Kit smiled a little at the thought. Despite what had happened at the tower the day before, she was still hopeful that she could become part of the K9 team. Once they got to know her better, they’d figure out that they could trust her to have their backs—and watch out for their kids.
“Why are you going so slowly?”
Courtney’s complaint interrupted Kit’s thoughts, bringing her attention back to her passenger. “With this snow, driving can be treacherous…as you discovered. I’m surprised the car rental agency didn’t recommend a more snow-worthy vehicle.”
“They tried to switch and give me something like this.” Her hand flicked toward the SUV’s dashboard, contempt thick in her voice. “I refused. How was I supposed to know that this backwards hole wouldn’t plow its streets?”
Kit was about to tell Courtney that the streets were plowed and she’d gotten stuck because she’d driven her very impractical car into an unused parking lot, but she just sighed instead, knowing it would be a waste of breath. Besides, they were right in front of the station. Kit pulled up to the curb and parked. “I’ll walk you in.”
Courtney’s attention was fixed on the squat building across the street. “What’s that?” Her tone was surprisingly interested, considering she was looking at a dingy, small-town VFW.
“That’s the VFW and the temporary home to the town diner.” She wasn’t even finished speaking when Courtney opened her door and jumped out. As Kit watched, the woman hurried around the front of her SUV and across the street toward the viner entrance. She moved surprisingly fast on the slick pavement for someone wearing boots with four-inch heels.
Kit jumped out of the SUV and followed, her curiosity reignited. “You’re heading the wrong way. The station’s over here.”
Without pausing in her dash toward the viner, Courtney tossed over her shoulder, “I’m going to get some coffee.”
Although that was actually a good idea, since the quality of the station coffee varied greatly from barely drinkable to almost tolerable, depending on who made it and how long it had been sitting, Courtney’s manner was a little too urgent. The fire had caused more of a mess than true damage, so the viner was already open again for business. Kit hurried to catch up with her, following her closely into the entry. From the intent look on the woman’s face, Kit figured that Courtney had an ulterior motive for coming into the viner—unless she really loved her coffee.
