past the sudden constriction in her throat.
“Now.” Mabel placed her hand on top of one stack of folders. “The first thing you need to do is log these into the computer under complaints, then file them over there.” She pointed across the large room to a bank of file cabinets. “When you’re through with that job, I’ll explain what else you need to do.”
After Mabel gave her the password to get into the computer files, she strode away. Rebecca released a slow breath while she scanned the messy desk, so out of place in the orderly station. She heard a cough behind her and looked to see Mabel waiting for her to get busy. Rebecca scrambled into the hardback chair and switched on the computer, hoping she knew the software program. She didn’t want to ask Mabel for help. She only had so much bravery for one day. Thankfully the computer was similar to the one she’d had in Dallas.
As she checked the hard drive, trying to find a place to log in cases, she couldn’t help feeling like a fish out of water. She looked up from the computer and stared at the brown paneled wall in front of her. It must have been part of the station since the sixties. Noticing at least a dozen nail holes in the paneling, she thought about bringing some pictures to hang and maybe some flowers from home to brighten her work area.
“Mrs. Michaels, is there a problem?”
Wincing, Rebecca clicked on an icon and found what she was looking for. “No, Ms. Preston. I’ve got everything under control.”
Two hours later Rebecca regretted saying she had anything under control. She frowned at the offending computer screen, wondering what Mabel would do if she threw it at the brown paneled wall.
“It can’t be that bad.” Gabriel leaned against the desk, gripping its edge, while he stared at her.
The minute Rebecca saw his face crinkled in a grin, a sparkle in his eyes, the past few hours’ troubles vanished. She relaxed in her chair.
“What’s wrong? You’ve been staring at that computer for the past hour as though you’re gonna do bodily harm to it. I have to remind you, ma’am, we’re in a police station, and that kind of behavior is frowned upon.”
“Did anyone bother to check how competent Jenny was with the computer?” she asked with a laugh. “Nothing’s where it should be. I’ve spent the past hour moving files from one folder to another. I haven’t had a chance to log in any of these yet.” Rebecca trailed her hand up the foot-high stack taunting her. “And to make matters worse, Ms. Preston has been coming over here every fifteen minutes and watching what I do over my shoulder. I can feel her breathing down my neck. I’m sure I have scorch marks on my flesh.”
Gabriel’s grin widened. “Mabel’s just trying to make sure another Jenny doesn’t happen.” He bent forward, invading her personal space. “You see, Jenny is the mayor’s daughter, and we sort of had to hire her. But I don’t think Mabel has forgiven me for that yet. Everything will work out.”
His clean pine scent washed over her, and Rebecca imagined a spring day spent hiking in the woods. “Easy for you to say. I don’t see her dogging your every step. I’m even afraid to take a bathroom break. By the way, where is it?”
“Come on.” He grasped her hand and pulled her to her feet. “You haven’t had a tour of the station yet, and every new employee deserves at least that.”
With his touch, again Rebecca visualized walking in a pine forest, the sun streaming through the trees, bathing her face in radiance much as his smile did. Everything will work out. In that moment she believed those words.
Chapter Five
“This is the jail where we harbor hardened criminals,” Gabriel said, touching the small of Rebecca’s back as he guided her toward a door. A tingling awareness of his nearness flooded her senses. Her throat tightened, and her pulse sped.
Rebecca noticed all the cells were empty. “Often?”
“On the weekend it picks up. A few people who can’t hold their liquor. Occasionally there’s a fight. If we’re lucky that’s all. I’m proud to say there hasn’t been a serious crime in Oakview in a year.”
“How many police officers do you have?”
“Twelve besides myself. Today you should meet some of them. When you get settled in, Mabel will show you how to dispatch messages to the patrolmen out on the beat.” He led her into the main room and pointed toward his office. “That’s mine, but you already know that.”
Rebecca’s gaze fixed on Mabel’s desk, which stood guard outside Gabriel’s office. “Who gave her the nickname Dragon Lady?”
Gabriel chuckled. “A man who wanted to see me, and she kept telling him that I was busy.”
“Did he get to see you?”
“No. He had to come back later. Mabel has her pluses.”
“You didn’t want to see him?”
“He was a salesman, and he had a hard time understanding the word no. Mabel helped the poor guy with its meaning.”
Gabriel gestured toward another door. “That leads to the rest rooms and the courthouse. Now you’ve been on the grand tour such as it is. Any questions?”
“When’s lunch?”
“Don’t let Mabel hear you ask that question on your first day.”
Rebecca ignored the twinkle in his eye and said, “I have to let Granny know when I’m going to be home for lunch. She’ll need to keep Josh up so I can do his physical therapy with him after I eat.”
“Mabel goes to lunch at noon, so you can go before or after her, whichever works best for you.”
“I’ll try one today, and see if that works best for Granny and Josh.”
“Just let Mabel know—”
A commotion at the front door caused Gabriel to turn. He sighed and strode toward an officer, a small, elderly woman and a young man with a beet-red face who appeared as though he would have a stroke at any moment.
“Ben, what can I do for you?” Gabriel asked, eyeing the cuffs on Bess Anderson. “I think, Officer Morris, we can remove those. I doubt Bess is a flight risk.”
“She’s a menace to society.” Rebecca recognized the man speaking as Ben Cross, the owner of a clothing store. “She took a bottle of perfume this time.” Anger was in the young man’s face as well as his voice. He stepped forward until he stood only a foot from Gabriel. “I demand that something be done this time. You promised you would take care of her.”
Gabriel plowed his hand through his hair and drew in several deep breaths. “Now, calm down, Ben. Why don’t you come into my office and we’ll talk about this?”
“No!” Ben stiffened, his hands balled at his sides. “I want satisfaction this time.”
A picture of the young man dueling at dawn popped into Rebecca’s mind, and she clamped her lips together. When she couldn’t contain her grin any longer, she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Mabel
