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Mike leaned back in his chair as he looked over the budget for his station one more time. They had come in on budget or just under, so they were getting more wiggle room instead of less. And there was the question of the phone call he had with Hughes, asking about the promotion again, so he was starting to wonder how much this was just kismet. He didn't think the universe was telling him anything, other than his boss was worried about when and how Mike would retire more than Mike did.
Kristin tapped on the door to his office. “About to head out.” She leaned against the door frame. “You okay?”
“Just a lot of boss work that had to get done today instead of field work,” Mike said. He motioned for Kristin to sit down. “I think they're debating about expanding our unit.”
“Really?” Kristin asked, sitting down. “Why?”
“I have theories, but some are unkind,” he said. “The fact that this is coming right as we're doing team reviews is strange as well. You would be thinking we'd have to cut people, but they found more than enough of a budget for us to grow.”
“Boss –“ Chalmers said as he came up to the door but stopped. “I can come back.”
“No, what's up?” Mike asked.
“Frog and Cheetah were just bulgarized. They need someone to go down and look it over,” Chalmers replied.
“Alright – start it up and, if you need us, call,” Mike said. “Or if Trudy or Ray makes such a fuss that we need to be there.”
Chalmers nodded. “I'll let you know,” he said, grabbing a radio before heading out.
Kristin raised an eyebrow. “Letting him fly solo?”
“A little bit,” Mike said. “Give it about five minutes and we'll be called on scene anyway.”
“So, those theories,” she started and smiled as he gave her a look. “Alright, not going to go into theories. We solve a lot of cases. And not easy ones, despite what it looks like to everyone else, and, most of the time, there's a conviction. So maybe this is just a ‘good job, carry on' rather than something to worry about.”
“If we expand, it would mean promotions for both of us,” he said. “Hughes keeps on bringing up how I should be a higher rank.”
She nodded. “I thought a promotion for you would mean having to go back to the Big City.”
“It would. Until this fell into our laps. So, the theories.”
“Ah.” She paused. “Is it the worst thing in the world to be promoted? Unless you're worried about a bait and switch?”
“Nah, they wouldn't do that,” he said and looked at her. “You know, if I go up, you go up. That's the only way that I would agree to this. As much as I am in the field, there's more time than not that I'm behind the desk instead of doing the work.”
“I mean, I’m flattered,” she started.
“But?”
“I never saw myself getting promoted,” she said. “I know, I'm a transplant, and why not take a promotion and move somewhere else? But I like it here. I like working with everyone that lives here. Even if it means that, when something stupid happens, we usually have to interview the same usual suspects. Or hope that we don't have to interview Frodo.”
Mike laughed. “Or that.” He went quiet but the phone rang soon after. “Shephard.”
“Yeah, boss,” Chalmers said. “Not much to really write home about. Register was stolen, as well as a few bottles of wine, but get this. It was Trudy's and Ray’s day off. Ray came in as one of his employees contacted him.”
“So possibly they've been watching and noticing patterns,” Mike said and pulled the phone away from his mouth. “Get your coat.” He went back to the conversation. “We'll be right down.”
Mike looked around as Kristin took some more statements from the people who had been there. It was as Chalmers laid out on the phone – robbery with cash and liquor gone – and his gaze fell on Trudy who came in. He made his way over to her.
“I do hope you find them before I do,” Trudy said.
Mike decided not to fall for that comment. “Have you noticed anybody new lately?”
Trudy scoffed. “New?”
“Yes,” Mike said. “You and I both know that everyone local knows not to cross you. Not since the bank heist. They waited until you and Ray were on your days off. So either it's someone in town and they've taken too many blows to the head or someone new that doesn't know you.”
Trudy looked at Mike for a long moment. “So you are a good detective.”
“I try,” Mike deadpanned.
“There was a girl who came in a lot recently,” Trudy said. “Dirty blond hair, fresh bruise in a different place every day. Offered her a job and a place, but she kept on saying she was just passing through. Part of me wonders if this was her way of getting money and getting out. If it is, then I'll talk to Ray about the charges and dropping them.”
“That's generous.”
“Nobody should have to stay in an abusive relationship,” Trudy countered. “But that's the only new person I remember lately. I think she said her name was Stephanie, but you didn't hear it from me.”
“Any chance of a last name?” he asked.
“Kaur,” she replied. “So good luck with that.”
“Thanks,” he said, realizing that was a needle in a haystack.
“Boss,” Chalmers said as he came up to them as Trudy stepped back and went over to Ray. “Frodo says that he's been seeing a woman with dirty blond hair and a guy with slicked back black hair around town at his coffee shop. She's got – “
“Bruises?” Mike said and sighed as Chalmers nodded. “Alright. Get more from Frodo and we'll start calling the usual lodging spaces when we get back to the station.”
“Got it.” Chalmers said as Kristin came up.
“So… a lot of people remember black slicked back hair on the robber,” Kristin said. “But nothing on the name. He didn't order any drinks that needed ID, so Ray doesn't have a name.”
“Cameras?” Mike asked.
“They gave us the full footage from tonight,” Kristin said. “Ray or Trudy will bring along the rest soon.”
“Good. We'll start here then. Put out the usual hold on transportation with the descriptions we have for her. Might get lucky,” Mike said and watched as Chalmers went back to talk to Frodo as Kristin wandered to make her phone call. Mike went over to the register and looked down at the open till. “Do you do a lot of cash business?”
“No,” Ray said. “But the card reader’s still here.”
“We’ll have the techs check it out just in case,” Mike said. “What about the liquor stolen?”
Ray chuckled. “Just all of the Amanda James’ stock and some of the older bottles. The older ones are going to be easier to replace than the newer ones. She’s slowed down since her dad passed and has gone selective on who can buy her wines.” He scoffed. “I should have moved it when I planned to earlier this week. Just got busy.”
“Considering everything that happened before he passed, I’m not surprised,” Mike said. “Who knew about the shipment?’
“Trudy, Amanda, delivery guys – it’ll be in the footage. They delivered last Tuesday; it’s now Monday.”
“Alright,” Mike said. “Let us know if you realize anything else is missing or out of place.”
“Of course,” Ray said as Mike stepped away to walk outside.
He was joined by Chalmers. “I don’t think this was about the money.”
“Why?” Chalmers asked.
“The wine stolen – older bottles were taken but their entire stock of Amanda Jones is gone.” Mike said and looked over to Kristin walking over, talking on a phone.
“We got lucky – woman turned up making the description of the girl,” she said and listened again. “I’ll go.”
Mike nodded an agreement as Chalmers’ phone rang. “Bring her back to the station if you can, shelter if you can’t and we’ll follow up after.”
Chalmers clicked off from his call as Kristin walked away. “An Amanda Jones is requesting you as someone broke into her home, and she’s got him locked in her bathroom.” He offered his phone to her.
“What?” Mike asked and took the phone. “Amanda, this is Mike Sheppard.”
“Detective Sheppard,” Amanda said, her voice shaking. “I – he – he broke in and was shouting about how I was evil for ruining his favorite podcaster’s life.”
“A unit is heading to you and I’m right behind them,” Mike said, walking with Chalmers to a car. “I’ll stay on the phone with you until one of us gets there, alright? Now, are you hurt?”
“No,” Amanda said.
“How did he get in?” Mike asked as Chalmers started to drive.
“He kicked in my door,” Amanda said. “I was – I was in the kitchen, going over a new breakdown of a pinot we’re trying to solve. I heard the crash, grabbed my baseball bat, and hit him.”
“…Hit him?” Mike asked.
“Yes. And then somehow got him into the hall bath – it doesn’t have a window – and locked him in. I know he’s okay because I can hear him screaming and cursing at me,” Amanda said, her voice shaking.
Mike took a beat. “What’s wrong with the pinot?”
“There’s a metallic aftertaste,” she said after a beat of silence. “We thought it was the vat, so we changed it out. But it’s still happening so now we’re investigating the grapes. But our other grapes are fine. It’s just the pinot. So, we changed the bottles as well yet – “
“Still metallic,” he said, noting her voice got calmer. “Did you check the water that is going into the pinot?”
“And the sprays. So, I’m trying to solve my own mystery,” she said and paused. “Thank you.”
“Well, I was curious” Mike replied as they pulled up at the same time as the other unit did as well as an ambulance. “We’re here and coming in.” The unit plus Chalmers went over to the hall bath as he went over to Amanda, who was holding the bat. There was a bit of blood on it. “Do you have a spare?”
Amanda looked at Mike and then down at the bat. “Oh. Evidence. Yes.”
Mike put on gloves, about to take it, when Chalmers was body slammed into the wall. He moved over but the unit was able to grab the man with black slicked hair before he could do more damage. He looked to Chalmers. “Alright?”
“Heard something crack,” he said.
“Have them check you out,” Mike said as the paramedics came in. One went over to Chalmers as another went to the suspect. He turned back to Amanda. “Have you ever seen him before?”
Amanda shook her head no. “But I can guess who he listens to. Someone gave me a heads up that Julian Bright’s back on the air.”
Mike sighed. “Well, this will probably end it. I am sorry that I am going to have to ask you to leave for a bit – probably just until tomorrow – so someone can fix your door and make sure that this is a one-off.”
Amanda made a face but didn’t argue. “I’ll grab clothes and my things.”
“Senior,” the paramedic checking out Chalmers said. “He needs to go to hospital. Possible broken rib.”
“I’m fine,” Chalmers said.
“You heard her – hospital,” Mike said, a bit firmly, and nodded for the paramedic to take Chalmers out. It didn’t take long to get everything sorted at Amanda James’ place before going to the hospital to check on Chalmers. He would be in there for the night, at least, just to make sure that the break didn’t hurt his lung before being discharged. He made a note to put Chalmers on a bit of leave starting the next day before heading back to the station. Kristin was there, coming out of the nicer conference room, holding an empty cup that smelled like it had tea, not coffee.
“Stephanie Kaur,” Kristin said. “She admits to doing recon for her boyfriend – get this – Jon Oades.”
“That explains so much,” Mike said. “That’s the one who broke into Amanda James’ place?”
“One and the same,” Kristin said. “She used the time he said he was robbing the Frog and Cheetah to get to the bus station. And he was always listening to a podcast by –“
“Julian Bright,” Mike supplied. “He’s making new episodes from prison. Considering what he said to Amanda, this will get that privilege provoked.”
“How can one even podcast from prison?” Kristin asked.
“There’s a lot of hoops to jump through but, with his money and lawyers, I’m not surprised he got through them,” Mike said. “I’ll talk to Hughes about it.”
“How’s Chalmers?”
“Observation overnight but two broken ribs,” Mike said as she winced. “I agree.”
“So… what all paperwork would be involved from this case alone?” Kristin asked.
“Depends on if everyone continues to admit to what they did or not,” Mike said. “At least three hours, mostly due to the phone call with Hughes as he’ll also ask about other cases and station things.” He smiled. “You’re considering it.”
“Mostly for the money,” she joked.
“Not that much,” he joked right back before he was called to the front desk for their favorite lawyer to appear to talk to his client. Since Jon Oakes did not want to listen to his lawyer and admitted to everything, if only to get protection from Trudy, it was a nice open and shut case for a slow day. At least there wasn’t a body involved.