She was serious.
* * *
Adam hadn’t wanted Sierra to get involved in apprehending the bad guys. That was his job. Though he was glad she’d stopped Phyllis, he certainly hadn’t wanted Sierra to risk getting injured, but he figured no amount of saying so would change Sierra’s mind about helping him solve a case if she thought she could. And he was glad he didn’t have to be involved in a car chase with the woman, risking lives.
As soon as he was in his Hummer, he drove out of the parking lot and Sierra followed him into work.
She called him on Bluetooth. “You didn’t like that I stopped Phyllis from backing out of her parking space.”
He sighed. “I just don’t want these people hurting you.”
“I have to admit I was afraid she would run into my car and then I would end up having my car in the shop for repairs.”
“I was more afraid she would shoot you.”
“Which is why I moved my car.”
“I’m just grateful you weren’t injured. I’m going to call it in to Tori and let her know we got Dover’s girlfriend.”
“Tori will be thrilled.”
“She will be.”
He ended the call with Sierra and called Tori next. “Hey, we caught Phyllis at the dealership where I was picking up my Hummer.”
“Oh, wow, great going!”
“Yeah, she’s in custody now. We’ll see you in a few minutes.” He was glad Tori had made arrangements to speak with Kinney this morning first thing. He glanced in his rearview mirror and saw Sierra right behind him. He smiled. He couldn’t wait to get off work tonight to be with her and enjoy mated life with her. She was a real trouper.
* * *
Sierra and Adam had barely walked in the door at the bureau when the chief called Sierra into the office.
Now what?
“Yes, sir.” Sierra was afraid she’d really screwed up on one of the sketches.
Tori glanced up from her work at her desk and raised a brow.
Adam was frowning at Sierra, looking worried for her. She patted his shoulder with reassurance. “Everything’s fine, no matter what it’s all about.” She didn’t want him worrying about her when she knew he had to question Kinney and Phyllis this morning and needed to remain focused. Then she walked into the chief’s office.
“Shut the door and take a seat.”
She did, figuring the chief was going to complain about something she had done. Or maybe say something about her dating Adam. She wasn’t sure how her boss felt about people working in the same office and dating each other.
“The woman that the hiker found in the woods and you sketched for us? Her daughter recognized the sketch and confirmed her mother had been hiking alone and hadn’t told anyone where she was going. The autopsy revealed she’d broken her ankle, and the area where she was found was so remote that no one located her for weeks. There wasn’t any evidence of foul play. It was just an accident. But the daughter was glad to get closure. You do excellent work.”
“But?” She knew there was a “but,” as serious as her boss sounded.
“I posted the full-time position and interviewed someone who can fill the job. He was a friend of Willy’s so he knew all about his retiring and you taking over Willy’s position. I needed to make sure you really want to go back to working just part-time and doing witness sketches.”
She wanted to say yes, so she could do all the things she liked to do, and she did have her army retirement check. “Did this other person agree to me doing just witness sketches if he took my full-time job?”
“Absolutely. He was doing all the sketches in Medford, but his girlfriend got a better paying job in Portland and he wants to move here with her. Now, I didn’t confirm he had the full-time job because it’s yours and you’re great at it. I just wanted to learn your thoughts on this. It’s strictly up to you. But if you would like to go back to working part-time, we can do that.”
“You’re sure he wouldn’t decide he would rather do the witness sketches instead?”
Her boss gave her one of his rare smiles, then grew serious again. “Listen, no matter what, he’ll have to do the forensic sketches. I told him my full-time artist does both right now. He doesn’t mind doing either. He just wants to have a job here. He’s a former police officer who is an artist on the side.”
“Okay.”
“I know you had the arrangement with Willy that you would do just witness statements, but if you go back to working part-time and the new guy takes the full-time position and is swamped and needs a forensic sketch done—”
“Right. I would do it. Can I think about this overnight?” Normally, she would have just decided it right then and there. She loved doing this part-time. But there were the perks of getting more paid vacation time and health insurance coverage that she didn’t have as a part-time employee. And she wanted to talk to Adam about it now that he was her mate.
“Of course. Let me know as soon as you decide so I can get back with him and tell him if he’s got the full-time job or not.”
“Okay, I’ll give you my decision tomorrow.”
“All right, that’s it. And you’re doing great.”
“Thanks. I’m glad we got the identification on the woman.” Really glad. She had needed the validation of her work. Then she left the chief’s office, and both Tori and Adam were waiting to hear what the chief had to say.
“What did the chief want?” Adam asked, not waiting for her to clue them in.
Sierra thought Adam and Tori would have left already to question Kinney.
“Well, he has an applicant who is qualified as a sketch artist to fill the full-time position.”
“But you’re doing fantastic work,” Tori said, frowning, as if she thought Sierra wouldn’t want to give up her job.
“Thanks. It’s only if I want to give up the full-time job. The chief isn’t making me.”
“So what are you going to do?” Adam asked.
“Take the part-time job,” Tori said, patting her shoulder. “Only witness sketches, right?”
“Unless the new guy needed me to do one of his jobs if he got swamped.”
“But you enjoy doing the witness sketches. I haven’t known you for long, but being what we are, I could sense it. You stress out every time you have to see a dead body. And you’re having to come in all the time now. You have an army retirement, so you’re not hurting for money,” Tori said.