“Joshua Manning.”
“Right on. But I don’t think so. The background check produced darn little except he’d been an army staff sergeant with an honorable discharge for medical reasons. The army wouldn’t release anything else.”
“Staff sergeant?”
“Pretty responsible job. Staff sergeants make the army work. Incompetent or dishonest guys don’t make it. Don’t even come close.”
Eve wasn’t surprised. It validated all her instincts. A dangerous man who’d lived on, and probably for, the edge. Nothing like her peace-loving husband or her father, who, despite being police chief, would go a mile out of his way to avoid trouble. Except for one time, and that one time killed him.
“Thanks. I think you should end any further searching.”
“I agree. I’ll steer Sam away from him.”
“Good.”
“But something like this burglary can escalate. The town will go into a frenzy if there’s a third. I’m going to start Fred and Mike patrolling the downtown area at night.”
“Good idea. If you need overtime I’ll find the money. Somewhere. Do what you have to do.”
“I think I’ll process the crime scene myself and see what I can find. Are you going to be here?”
“I have that budget to finish and I plan to meet Stephanie for lunch so we can talk about the fund-raiser for the community center. Then I have to leave early to pick up Nick for baseball practice, but you can reach me anytime on my cell.”
She didn’t tell him she planned to drop by the Hannity place sometime in the afternoon. She hoped Marilyn wouldn’t be home, either. Because of the trees, Marilyn couldn’t see the Hannity cabin from her house, but from the information flowing in, Eve would bet she had taken many walks down his way.
Eve worked all morning on the budget, trying to eke out funds for the community center. It was to be located in an abandoned building on Oak Street across from the city park and ball fields. The owner had died, and the heirs had moved away long ago and didn’t want to invest the money it would take to bring it to code. The city claimed the building in lieu of taxes, and volunteers had painted and repaired it. It had required a lot of work, but it was something she’d wanted for a long time: a place for club meetings, for craft groups to work, for Cub and Boy Scout meetings. A room was set aside for computer use, and another for a library. She wanted computers available for kids whose families couldn’t afford them and for adults who wanted to learn how to use one. The library area would replace the current library, a corner in her father-in-law’s drugstore.
But looming over all the other city business was finding a chief for the police department. Tom had contacted friends in the Colorado state police and some chiefs he knew around the state. The job was perfect for a retired officer. Not much happened in Covenant Falls, although the town limits included a large geographical area. The cost of living was inexpensive compared to other parts of the state. But pressure was building to name Sam Clark. She worried how long she could hold off on the appointment without presenting a reasonable alternative at a salary the city could afford.
She worked for nearly three hours, then gave up.
* * *
STEPHANIE WAS WAITING for her at Maude’s for their lunch date. Eve slid into the booth opposite her. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself. I heard Nick practically won the game all by himself. Takes after his dad, and you, I hear.”
“I wish you would forget that,” Eve said. She had been a dedicated tomboy, a daddy’s girl, despite her mother’s attempt to “civilize” her. Her father had treated his only child more like a son than a daughter and taught her to fish, shoot and play poker. He’d taken her on volunteer work sessions when someone needed a home painted or repaired. Most of all, she’d loved playing ball with him, and she was darn good at it. She’d sued to play in Little League. Her mother nearly died of embarrassment. She lost, but it was another battle that had torn her parents apart.
“How’s the motley crew?” Stephanie asked. “Haven’t seen you in the office lately.”
“That’s a good thing,” Eve said with a grin at Stephanie’s description of her four dogs, cat and two horses. “I’m just glad you’re boarding your horse at my place or I would probably be bankrupt.”
“Since I stuck you with two of the dogs, it’s only right.”
“Nick thinks they’re all wonderful and the best dogs ever.”
“He would. He’s a great kid. Wouldn’t mind having one like him some day, but probably won’t happen now. You have to have a husband, or at least someone you think could be a good father, and I’m not too keen on going that route again.”
Eve knew Stephanie had been married twice, the first when she was young and a bit wild. The boy was killed while buying drugs. The second husband was the total opposite, a lawyer who’d liked the idea of an independent wife until he had one.
“Think about adoption?” Eve ventured.
“Not with my schedule. I never know when I’m going to be away all night with a sick cow or pregnant mare.”
Mary came to take their order, although they usually got the same thing. Their guilty pleasure, they both agreed, and to be enjoyed once a week.
“Let me guess,” Mary said. “Two patty melts with fries, and iced tea, one sweet, one without sugar.”
“Got it.” Eve beamed up at her. She would have a salad tonight and make Nick a hot dog. He ran all his calories off.
“I heard you went out to the Hannity place,” Stephanie said.
“Marilyn again, I suppose,” Eve replied with a deep sigh.
“Yep. I think she sits at that window all day long, just praying for more gossip fodder.”
Stephanie nodded. “Mr. Manning came to my office day before yesterday to discuss his dog.”
“And—” Eve held her breath “—was the dog as starved as Marilyn charged?”
“No,” Stephanie said. “I can’t talk about it. Mr. Manning requested that I don’t, and I won’t. I can say, though, that he is a responsible owner and, hopefully, that will end the talk.”
That shut down that subject. Eve had heard harsh words come from Stephanie when talking about owners who did not take care of their animals properly, and her defense of Joshua Manning told her a great deal.
She couldn’t help but pry a bit more. “What did you think of him?”
Stephanie shrugged. “It’s clear he’s carrying a lot of weight on those shoulders. Don’t know what, and it’s none of my business, but I like him. He doesn’t bullshit.” She peered at Eve. “Rumor is that you went by his place.”
“I did. I took him a land survey he’d requested.”
“Do you usually do that?”
“I wish people would stop asking me that,” Eve said.
“Ah,” Stephanie said. “Same question you asked me, then. What did you think of him?”
“Prickly. Defensive. Secretive. Rude.”
Stephanie’s face creased into a smile. “And you liked him! I’ll be hornswoggled.”
“I didn’t say that,” Eve protested.
“Yeah, you did,” Stephanie said with a big grin. “Not exactly with words but...”
Eve’s face flushed.
“Okay,” Stephanie said. “I’ll drop it. But one small warning. He is attractive in a rather rebellious way, but he’s a loner.