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A MELLOW MAYOR. NOT the norm. Unless he was going to dump something new in Gordon’s lap. Something that was going to work to the mayor’s advantage. Something Gordon couldn’t protest.
“Guess I’ll find out tomorrow.” Gordon turned, about to head to the workroom to check in with the duty officer, when Laurie interrupted him.
“Chief, I know it’s none of my business, but are you thinking of moving? You know, now that you’ve had a chance to see Pine Hills?”
He tried not to let the fact he was damn sick of this question show on his face. “I’m not thinking of anything yet.” He repeated what was rapidly becoming his stock response. No job offers having been made, keeping his options open, and not considering anything unless asked.
“If the offer came in tomorrow, would you take it?” she asked.
“Not without a lot of thought. A lot of thought.”
She gave a noncommittal head bob.
“One more question,” Gordon said. “Did the reason I was away hit the office grapevine?”
“Not from me, Chief. Or Ed. You were using vacation days while things were quiet was the story, and I didn’t see or hear anything to indicate anyone doubted it.”
Good. Then he shouldn’t have to field that question every time he ran into one of his officers. “Thanks,” he said. “See you tomorrow.”
He made his way to the workroom, where Gaubatz sat at the duty officer’s desk. The man smiled and took his hand off his keyboard as Gordon approached. “Chief. Thought you weren’t coming in until tomorrow. How was your trip?”
“A nice change of pace,” Gordon said. “I’m not officially here until tomorrow. Just wanted to check in, see if I need to brace myself for anything.”
“No, sir. You picked the perfect time for a getaway. The only case worth mentioning would be kids playing mailbox baseball along Cedar Avenue. Last hurrah before school starts. Perez and McDermott rounded them up, brought in their parents, and there are now three kids who are going to be volunteering to pick up trash in the square for their final vacation days. Plus, according to the parents, they’re going to be grounded and making restitution.”
“Good work, then.”
“Glad to have you back.” Gaubatz hastened to add, “Not that Solomon didn’t do a fine job.”
Gordon cut him off with a lifted hand. “I’m sure he did. We’re a team. See you tomorrow.”
~
GORDON ARRIVED EARLY the next morning, started a pot of coffee, then deposited the candy he’d brought from Salem in the breakroom. He tucked the Pinot Noir he’d bought for Solomon into his credenza, powered on his computer, and leaned back in his chair. Taking a deep breath, he felt the same calm wash over him as he had when he’d viewed the mountains on the drive from the airport.
The calm wouldn’t last long, so he took a few moments to savor it before tackling the night reports. He checked last week’s reports, noting Solomon had dutifully transcribed everything through Sunday night, but Gordon reviewed them to get a feel for what types of incidents had taken place prior to today.
When mailbox baseball was the worst offense, it most definitely had been a quiet few days.
Once Gordon felt caught up with the incident reports, he listened to his voicemail. Solomon hadn’t deleted any of his messages. Gordon grabbed a cup of coffee and sipped as he listened. What Solomon hadn’t indicated was which, if any, still needed to be dealt with. Most of them were easily dismissed, but he let the duty officer know he wanted to see Solomon in his office when he came in from patrol.
He pulled up the spreadsheets he’d worked on before he’d left town. What would the mayor say to adding a lab or a fitness center for the station? Waste of money, that’s what. Having a list gently padded with items the town council could cross off made them feel good, and gave those items Gordon felt would really help the department a better chance of approval.
A call rang through on his cell. The Realtor who’d promised to let him know if anything turned up. Reluctantly, Gordon answered. Should he tell her to put everything on the back burner until he knew whether he’d be staying in Mapleton? What if he and Angie decided to stay and missed the perfect house?
“This is Gordon Hepler.”
“Chief Hepler. This is Iris with Mapleton Real Estate.”
“Yes, Iris. What can I do for you?”
“A deal fell through on a house I think you and Angie will love. The owners live out of state, and they’ve been very anxious to sell. Losing this deal was a heartbreaker for them—and put them in financial strife. They’ve dropped the price considerably, and it’s now well within your budget. Can you and Angie get away sometime today—the sooner the better—to have a look? I’m afraid someone will snatch it up fast.”
What could it hurt to look? “I’ll need to check with Angie. We’ve been away for a few days, and I’m not sure she can leave work.”
“If she can’t, what if you come, do the preliminary look-through, take pictures, talk it over with her? If she’s interested, it’s no problem for me to go back a second time with her or both of you.”
Gordon looked at his schedule. Nothing after the meeting with the mayor. “Will noon work? Or will it interfere with your lunch?”
She laughed. “No more than yours, I’m sure. We Realtors are used to very flexible schedules.”
“Give me the address, and I’ll see you at noon. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
After she provided the address, Gordon thanked her and searched computer records to see what he could learn about the property in question. A little farther out than what he and Angie had set as their preferred limits, but she could still be at work in well under ten minutes.
Property taxes not unreasonable. An acre of land would mean spending time doing yardwork or hiring it out. Three bedrooms, not the two they’d been looking at. Finished basement. For the price, this was much more house than the ones they’d seen. If they were going to stay in Mapleton. If it looked as good in person as it did on paper.
He texted Angie. Call me when you’re free.
He continued working on his report for the town council. Even though their meeting wasn’t until Thursday, Gordon wanted to show up today prepared for anything the mayor threw at him. A meeting ostensibly to discuss manpower, knowing the mayor, could rapidly switch directions. Gordon wouldn’t be surprised if the manpower part of the meeting was glossed over in a few minutes, moving to what the mayor actually wanted to talk about.
If Magda was right, and the mayor’s mood had been mellow, maybe this would be the exception to the typical mayoral agenda.
Maybe pigs really could fly.