Chapter 24
Her second and third day on the job presented no surprises, which made them seem to go by quickly. No one got into trouble either day. Her stiffness subsided. Shana got to the mall and back again without her getting a phone call from security, which led to even more hope that her daughter’s hobby might finally be coming to an end.
All she got on Tuesday was a text from Shana: at the mall, made some new friends, BOUGHT a pair of jeans, met future husband, home in ten.
Craig Harding had emailed his preliminary report on the fire as he’d promised, so it was waiting for her when she got in yesterday morning. He had also sent a text message to her phone reiterating his promise to behave himself at the banquet and expressing his hope to see her there.
When she’d gone to Cottage Country to take a look at the damage, both Madsen and the Department of Forestry Fire Investigation team were there searching through the log cabin again. They didn’t find any more human remains.
Madsen had nothing new to report on Nguyen, Wiley or Huard’s intransigence about her.
This morning, Harding had sent another text message asking her if she was still going to bring her gun.
She texted back: Don’t b a smart-ass.
She completed the workforce report for submission to city hall for review and approval before they submitted it as part of Dominion’s omnibus budget funding request to the state.
Janine Becker, a dark, intimidating beauty with ridiculously perfect facial features to go along with a still perfectly proportioned figure after having two children, also came back to work this morning. She was ridiculously apologetic for shirking her duties just because of the flu and had insisted on taking over the final preparations of the workforce report for her. Arched eyebrows from both Kelly and Mrs. Truman convinced her that handing over the report was the best way to proceed.
Shana had busied herself working in the house and had the living/dining area completely painted with the first coat of that detestable taupe. She was wrapping the brushes and rollers in plastic bags when Joan arrived home at 6:15 pm.
“I brought you a burger and milk shake. I’ll eat at the banquet.” She took the bag to the rickety table in the nook.
The dining table was still covered with paint cans, trays, brushes and extra drop cloths. By the end of her shift tomorrow, they might be able to use it. Theo Fraser would be by tomorrow night to give them an estimate on a new furnace and water tank. Saturday at 5:00 pm, Gus Bigelow, a contractor connected to Lowe’s, was going to swing by to also give them an estimate for the furnace and take measurements for a whole new kitchen. She loved working on a house, but she preferred to have kitchens, electrical, plumbing and roofs installed by professionals.
While Shana engulfed the burger, she said, “You can go for a short ride after I’m gone if you want.”
“What about Friday?”
“I need to think about that a bit longer.”
Shana surprised her by only nodding her acceptance of the delay and continuing with her burger.
Donny Nguyen and Lily Wiley were not only four years older than Shana, look at who their fathers were. She stifled as best she could a growing suspicion that Madsen had orchestrated this little irony.
Once upstairs, she resisted another urge to go through Shana’s room in search of any nasty surprises from the mall, went straight to her bedroom instead and quickly undressed.
The hot water tank and the pipes made a loud but brief racket when she turned on the shower. After five days of daily use, the tank finally started sending some brown water through the pipes. She had to let the water run for twenty seconds before it stopped sputtering and turned clear. The water wouldn’t warm up while she showered no matter how far she turned the hot water tap. By the end, she had turned the cold water tap off and still felt chilled when she got out.
She put on the red cocktail dress that Michael had talked her into getting for a Portland FBI banquet. It came to just above her knees. It had a ruched bodice and long, sheer, beaded sleeves leading up to an equally sheer and beaded neckline. It hugged her curves a little more now than it did then. Putting on five pounds could be a real bitch.
According to Michael, she looked hot in it but still looked credible as an agent. According to Shana, it was a passable Versace knock-off, but it should have been black not this garish red. She liked red.
She wore tear-drop pearl earrings and a matching necklace.
When she stopped to check herself in the old mirror in the hall before trying to dash out the door, Shana gave her a so-so approval wave
“Not so fast.” Shana grabbed her by the arm, hugged her and kissed her cheek. “Dad was right about you in that dress, mom. But it should have been black.”
“I’ll be back by ten at the latest. You’re my awesome girl. Love you.”
Shana flinched and blushed; adolescent embarrassment, no doubt, at such obvious parental mawkishness.
She arrived at city hall at 7:30 pm, the time she was supposed to get there.
Kate and Susan greeted her in the main entrance hall. Kate wore a long, aqua-marine chiffon gown with a ruched cross over the bust and a tiered layered skirt. Susan wore a black short-sleeve, ruffled gown that featured a jewel brooch at the center of the waist. Both were probably real Versace gowns.
“You look incredible,” Susan said.
“So do you two.” She looked down at her dress. “It should have been black and long enough to cover my legs.”
“No,” Susan said, “it’s perfect. I love your shoes.”
“My calves and toes are going to hate me in the morning.”
Kate said, “Shall we go?”
The ballroom was on the second floor. Billy and Bobby were standing over by a tall window when they entered. They were dressed in tuxedos and they did look like demented penguins.
Mayor Jones, Mattie and Colter were standing with Reginald Tate, President of Karyon Research, and Delmont Epstein, owner of Do-Dads Manufacturing. Mrs. Tate and Mrs. Epstein stayed close to their husbands. Mrs. Tate wore a gown of vanilla cream highlighted by various shades of blue. Mrs. Epstein wore a blush-pink gown with flowing pleats and real jewels around the waist and as clasps for the shoulder straps. Both were likely by Stella McCartney or Nina Ricci. The glamour competition in Dominion had just ramped up about a hundred notches.
Mattie wore a short, black evening dress that revealed plenty of leg above the knee, hugged her curves in a flattering way and exhibited a bare back, her ample cleavage and a diamond choker necklace. Her heels were impossibly high.
“Black,” Joan muttered, “it had to be black.”
“Pardon?” Kate waved back at a woman waving at her from across the room.
“Where do we sit?”
Kate pointed to the head table. “You sit there beside Leo.” She pointed to a long table off to the side. “Susan and I will be over there.”
“Damn.”
Kate didn’t bother to ask. “Leo will give his speech. At least he’s good at keeping them short. He will introduce you, then Tate and Epstein in that order. Tate won the coin toss.”
A quick look around the ballroom provided her with an estimate of the number of people. She didn’t see Harding anywhere. He probably wasn’t coming. She couldn’t find Stephanie either. “I’d say about a hundred.”
“One hundred and twelve,” Susan said, “not counting the people at the head table, which has twelve more. I helped with the arrangements.”
Leo, Mattie and Morton escorted Tate, Epstein and their wives to the head table. Mattie caught her eye and waved for her to join them. It had all the inflection of an invitation for her to leave the riffraff behind for the more prestigious members of Dominion society.
She sat to Jones’ right. Mattie sat to her right. Tate, Epstein and their wives sat to Jones’ left on the other side of the podium. Colter sat at that end of the table.
“Isn’t this exciting? I love doing this.” Mattie licked her lips. “I made sure
we were put together.” Joan started when Mattie leaned over and kissed her cheek right on the scar. “I love your dress. Most women just look sleazy in red, but you look hot, like a succubus just arrived from hell ready to fuck every man in Dominion to death.”
“Gee, thanks. You look good, too.”
Mattie ran her hand along Joan’s leg from hem to knee. “You have gorgeous legs, Joanie. I always meant to tell you that.”
“Tell you what, whatever men I don’t get to you can have.”
“I probably already have, sweetie.” Mattie caressed the back of Joan’s neck then kept her hands to herself.
Mattie must really love these soirees. She was horny enough to jump on just about anybody. If the rumor about her and Jones was correct, he might have agreed to the seating arrangement to keep Mattie off Tate and Epstein for as long as possible. How would it look if she jumped their bones at the head table while Leo was making his speech?
Maybe he thought the new sheriff, being female, was less likely to be molested. Maybe he just wanted to keep someone between himself and her slutty BFF.
Kate was right about Jones. He kept his speech short. He then provided a gracious introduction for the new sheriff before stepping aside for Tate and Epstein, who also kept their speeches short. They were both excited to be coming to Dominion and expected to work together with everyone to make sure the city became the dynamic community they knew it could be.
For dinner, they had their choice of prime rib, roast game hens, venison, salmon or trout, with locally grown corn, broccoli or five other vegetables on the side. For dessert, there was apple pie, pumpkin or blueberry. There were wines from the finest, award-winning vineyards in Oregon and California.
She ate little; the dress was tight enough. She did have a glass of wine when she learned she was expected to be in the receiving line once the dinner was over and another just before they lined up to greet the one hundred and twelve invited guests this little shindig threw at them.
Mattie stood beside her in the lineup and continued to have trouble keeping her hands off the new sheriff. She tapped Joan’s thigh constantly as people came past and welcomed her to Dominion. Twice Mattie rested her hand on the small of her back, brushing it against her ass when she pulled it away.
Mattie pinched her the second time just as some man whose name she missed pecked her cheek. Then Mattie wiggled enough to bump hips together with her. The third time Mattie put her hand back there she just placed it on Joan’s right buttock. Before Joan could knock it away, Craig Harding was standing in front of her with his hand out. She felt another pinch.
“Welcome to Dominion, Sheriff McGowan.” He leaned forward when she held out her hand, that grey-blue twinkle capturing her gaze, and kissed her cheek the way about forty other men already had. “I know we are in good hands.” He moved down the line.
The kiss didn’t feel the same as the other forty. Her ears became hot. She changed her footing and smoothed her dress.
“I’ll get that.” Mattie reached down with that roving hand of hers, took hold of Joan’s hem and tugged on it, though not before curling her fingers up under it first. “Sweetie,” she whispered, “I wouldn’t have worn pantyhose tonight. I’d go commando.” Her lips touched Joan’s hot ear. “It saves time.”
If Mattie were a man, she would have decked her long before now.
The receiving line finally ended. Billy and Bobby had not been a part of it, having remained on guard at the large window. As everyone dispersed and formed smaller groups, Jones and Colter took Tate, Epstein and their wives aside to monopolize them again. Mattie took one more opportunity to feel up her BFF along her spine when the band started playing.
“I am so glad you came.” Mattie grabbed her by her shoulders and hugged her, wiggling again when their breasts pressed together, kissed her on the cheek, then left to join Jones and the others.
She glanced down to make sure her nipples weren’t pushing out against the red, resolved to take Mattie aside and bitch-slap her senseless if they were. She and Mattie were both safe.
Harding, Kate and Susan were coming to her when she looked back up. Couples began dancing to Michael Bublé singing Feeling Good. The gyrations looked sillier the older the dancer got. Given that few of the people at this banquet were less than forty, the dance floor resembled a beach full of crabs scampering back and forth with the waves coming ashore.
“You held up well,” Kate said. “Your first official public event is now mostly behind you.”
Had Mattie left fingerprints on her?
“I thought that was slapping the handcuffs on me.”
Her ears stopped cooling and heated up again. She raised her left foot until only her toes touched the floor. She wanted to check the front of her dress again. Damn you, Mattie.
Susan said, “It is hot in here, isn’t it?” She was probably the youngest one in the room. She was also flushed. “You wouldn’t think this crowd could generate that much heat.”
She could kiss Susan for that, but after Mattie’s priming of her, that would only make her hotter.
The music ended Bublé’s crab dance song and became a waltz.
Harding held out his arm. “I’ve never danced with a sheriff before.”
Kate gently took hold of her arm when she reached to tug down her hem. “You’re fine, Joan.”
She took Harding’s arm and they walked out onto the dance floor. He put his arm around her. His hand ended up on the small of her back exactly where Mattie’s had been. She tensed.
“I promised I would behave myself. And I promise not to step on your toes.”
They began dancing.
“This is only the third time I’ve been to anything like this.”
“That’s two more than me. I haven’t been to anything close to a party since university.”
“Why’d you come to this one?”
His eyes held her as firmly as his embrace. “I was invited.”
“You need to meet more people.”
“I know enough.”
“Not the socializing kind, huh?”
“You were married for how long?”
“Fifteen years, why?”
“You had an active social life?”
“Can’t complain.”
“So, you see, you’re only rusty at this. I’m a notch or two farther away from this kind of stuff than that.”
“Everything’s left you behind. You don’t know what the rules are or if there even are any rules anymore.”
“Animals are a lot simpler.”
“Someone told me men are full of shit and women are phony, manipulative bitches.”
“Ouch, that’s going to leave a mark.”
“It usually does.”
“Animals may have elaborate rituals, but at least both parties know the game they’re playing and how to play it. There is no mystery about what the end result is supposed to be.”
“Don’t you like a good mystery?”
“Don’t you want it to be clearer, especially if you’ve been out of circulation for fifteen years?”
“Assuming I was even interested in the first place, how would you go about being clearer?”
“Giraffes have an infallible way of knowing. The male takes the female’s urine into his mouth and swishes it around for a bit to see if she’s receptive or not.”
“Tell me that’s not what you had in mind. I’m fairly liberal, but. . . .” She shivered and made a face.
“I think I would just ask you to wear something red.”
She didn’t have to check the front of her dress. That flood of heat that always started just behind her ears quickly percolated through her. If there was any luck on her side tonight, the music wouldn’t end until her face was no longer as red as what she was wearing.
“That would be easier.”
“Now that we’ve got our signals straight, I thought you might want to come over to my place.”
“Hey, I can arrest you again.”
&
nbsp; He chuckled. “You’re going to Colter’s farm, aren’t you?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Shouldn’t you visit mine, too? You can see both sides and make up your own mind one way or the other.”
“A brief visit isn’t going to be of much help.”
“It’s a start. Come by Saturday.”
The music stopped and Harding let go. The moment he did, gooseflesh erupted all over her.
“Can I bring Shana? She loves animals.”
“You sure can. See you then. Good night, Sheriff.”
“It’s still early.”
“No one here will miss me. Most of them will be only too happy to see me go.” He kissed her cheek. “I meant what I said. Dominion is in good hands with you.”
A man and a woman joined him on his way out.
Jones, Colter and Mattie watched Harding leave before going back to talking to Tate and Epstein, who had taken no notice of him.
She returned to Kate and Susan. She declined the drink Kate offered her.
“It’s only water.”
She took the glass and drank it all. “I don’t know what’s going on here.”
“It’s only your third day,” Susan said.
“If that’s what you meant.” Kate smiled.
“I’m going home. I need another shower.”
She made a point of welcoming Tate and Epstein and their wives to Dominion before leaving. She hugged Mattie because she couldn’t avoid it. On the way to her car, despite Mattie’s earlier mauling of her, it was Harding’s hand pressing against the small of her back while they were dancing that she still felt.