would, but I’m waiting on someone that I hope to meet with, and I can’t leave at the moment.”
“Not a problem. Daniel said he and one of his firefighters needed to pick up some vegetables out here on the farm for the station’s kitchen. If it’s okay with you, I’ll tell him to swing by your hotel and bring Marissa.”
“Er—” At the mention of Daniel’s name, Kimberly’s skin prickled. “We’re not at the hotel. The person I need to meet works at the police station, a Lieutenant Clarke.”
“Timmy? My goodness. Timmy and Daniel go way back—they were in high school together. And they won’t let young people in the back of the station, so it’s just as well that I send Daniel by to pick her up.”
“Oh, that sounds like too much of a bother—”
“No trouble at all. He’ll see you in a jiff.”
And with that, Ma rang off.
Kimberly tossed the phone back in her purse. She must have made some sort of noise because Marissa surfaced from her game.
“What is it, Mom? Something wrong?”
“No, it’s... Ma has invited you out to swim.”
“Cool beans! So I can go?”
“I guess. Don’t let it become a habit, okay? We don’t want to wear out our welcome. Daniel and someone else are supposed to come by and—”
The connecting door to the back of the station swung open. A tall red-haired man with an overwhelming amount of freckles and dressed in khakis and a knit golf shirt smiled at them. “I’m Lieutenant Tim Clarke. I understand you’re waiting on me?”
“Yes! I’m Kimberly—”
The man waved a freckled arm. “Yep. Daniel’s filled me in.”
“Daniel?” Kimberly stared past the lanky redhead to the man behind him.
Lt. Clarke slapped Daniel on the shoulder. “Yep. He said I should help you if I could. Hey, why don’t the two of us grab a cup of coffee at the diner across the street?”
Daniel and the lieutenant came out to join them in the reception area, the door locking shut behind them. Daniel smiled warmly at Marissa, but was it a little forced when he turned to Kimberly?
“Marissa, I’ve got orders from Ma to ferry you out to the farm. Ready to roll? Bobbi’s waiting for us in the truck. You remember her, right?”
And with nothing more than a casual wave goodbye to Kimberly, Marissa trooped out the open door that Daniel held for her.
He must have sensed Kimberly’s momentary panic, because he stopped, gave her a nod and said, “She couldn’t be in better hands. Ma raised six of us to be tax-paying productive citizens, and all in one piece. She’s got this. But you can call anytime—me or Ma—if you’re worried.”
Kimberly drew in a calming breath and reminded herself not to be a complete mess when it came to Marissa. “Thanks, I appreciate you taking her out there and, er, giving Lieutenant Clarke here my bona fides. As for Marissa—” Kimberly even managed a joke “—relax, Daniel. That’s the breeze outside you feel, not my rotor wash.”
He chuckled. “I like that. Gotta go grab these veggies if I’m going to con some of my firefighters to help me cook them and actually eat them.”
With that, he was gone, and suddenly the space reverted back to its bare sterility.
She shook herself to get rid of the empty feeling that washed over her. Well, she wasn’t here for Daniel. She was here on a mission. She was here for Marissa. She turned to the detective. “How about that cup of coffee, Lieutenant?” she asked.
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