“And you still aren’t sure Richard’s going to call you back?”
She took a deep breath and let it out. “Let me put it this way. His work always comes first. When he’s back at the office, he’ll be busy playing catch-up.”
“And when he’s home at night?”
“Maybe then he’ll think to call me.”
“You’re not going to just call him and get it over with?” That was what Adam would have done. Ended the relationship right then and there.
“Ha! I texted him three times. I don’t know when he’s getting out of the field. It could be another week if he had just gone out before I arrived. I’m not going to keep calling and texting him. It would sound like I’m desperate to get in touch with him.”
“Did you call it off between you and him in your texts?”
“No. I wanted to talk to him in person. I feel I owe him that much. Though I guess I really shouldn’t feel that way. And if he doesn’t respond in a couple of days, I’ll just email him a Dear Richard letter.” She took another bite of her steak. “Not to change the subject, but did you ever get any response on the sketch I did on the suspect with a shaved head?”
“Not yet. It’s a great sketch, but either no one wants to come forward with any information, or he’s not from around here. Next time he hits up a liquor store, we’ll get him.” At least Adam hoped they would.
“Well, darn. There’s nothing that matches him in the database, I suppose.”
“No. He might never have been caught before so he wouldn’t be in the database. Or he just started his life of crime. Oh, and by the way, the redheaded guy you sketched the day before you left on vacation? We got several leads on him. Hopefully, we’ll get him soon.”
“I sure hope so. Anyone who commits armed robbery shouldn’t be running free. Oh, what about the rental car theft?”
Adam smiled. “Now that worked out great. A second rental car had been stolen just before I arrived, and I took off after it. With a couple of police cars also in pursuit, we nabbed the car thief and learned about the chop shop where they were dismantling the cars and selling the parts.”
“That’s great!”
“Yeah, it was. We’ve missed you. Everyone has,” Adam quickly said. He hadn’t realized until she wasn’t there how much so, just seeing her smiling face when she was coming into the office to do a witness sketch or frowning in concentration as she was drawing the eyewitness’s account. Or thrilled when he brought her the special coffee. “I think Willy Blanchard’s getting tired of being our only other sketch artist. He’s crabby, short-tempered half the time.”
“As long as he doesn’t retire.”
“Right, like Josh did.” But Adam was thinking that was where this was headed with Willy, and he hoped Sierra would consider taking his place and working full-time.
“But at least you have a great partner to replace Josh.”
“I do.”
“Maybe Willy just needs a vacation. Mine wasn’t what I had planned for, but it turned out great. It recharged my batteries.” She took another sip of her wine.
“You could always go full-time and take over Willy’s position if he decides to really retire.” There, he mentioned it, hoping she would consider the idea favorably.
“Thanks, but no thanks. Willy and I have a great arrangement. He does all the dead body sketches; I do the witness sketches. Now that I’m back early, I can relieve him of some of the load I’m sure he has been feeling. Maybe that will help.”
Adam didn’t have the heart to tell her that Willy had been telling him over and over again that he was going to retire. Adam suspected it was going to be sooner rather than later. After Willy had snapped at a witness for making him change a sketch several times, Adam knew it was past time for him to retire. He was a great guy, but this work could take a toll on anyone.
Suddenly there was a noise like a transformer had been fixed and the lights came on, shut off, came on again, and stayed on. He’d forgotten Sierra had turned the living room light on. He was glad the electricity was back on. The washer turned back on too. And her food wouldn’t spoil.
“Great. Maybe my electricity is back on too.” Adam checked with his electric company on his phone. “No, it’s still out.”
“Well, you can just stay here. You have to anyway, until I can wash and dry your clothes.”
“Thanks.”
Adam glanced at the picture of a family of red wolves and one of two young wolves sitting together on the mantel of her fireplace. “Your family? Is the other of your brother and you when you were little?”
He had never met her parents. When they had visited Brad from San Antonio, Adam had been busy working. He wondered if they would move here, now that both Sierra and her brother lived here.
“Yeah. I need to get a photo of Brad and his mate now too.”
Adam looked around at the oil paintings on the wall of landscapes, birds, boats, seascapes, wolves, and flowers. “All yours?”
“Yeah, as you can see, I ran out of room. My parents’ home is filled with them. And I’m working on Brad’s new home. He wouldn’t take any until he retired and settled down, not wanting any of my paintings to be ruined in shipment. I want to do one of Mount Hood when I have time, since I live here now, and it’s just part of being in Portland. I’ve started selling some of my floral oils in Brooke’s shop, which has been really cool.”
“That’s great and they’re beautiful.”
The rain was still pouring outside, but the lightning was moving off and the thunder rumbled farther in the distance, not as loud. Adam was glad the storm was dying down so when he left, he would get home easier after all the damage was done. Though he was enjoying the time with Sierra and wasn’t eager to leave just yet. About half an hour had passed and the wash was still going, though he figured it wouldn’t be long now before it was done. He’d still have to wait for his clothes to dry. Maybe he and Sierra could watch a movie or something after they finished eating while they waited for his clothes to be finished.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. His first thought was that someone needed help because of the storm. Hopefully Sierra wasn’t a target for Dover Manning’s continued harassment.
“Expecting someone?” Adam asked, ready to protect her. He was off his barstool in a hurry.
“No, I’m not expecting anyone.” She went to the door and looked out the peephole. “Ohmigod, it’s Richard.” And she didn’t say it in a good way.
“Oh,” Adam said and returned to his seat.