Perfect Harmony (Harmony Falls #2) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,3
make it work together. All you have to do is leave.”
“I leave and I’ll never have my own shop.”
“You will,” Gideon said. “I promise you.”
When Preacher stayed silent, Gideon said, “Simon, trust me.”
Preacher’s nostrils flared and he sucked in another deep lungful of oxygen.
Gideon stepped away from the car. “Drive away, Simon. Please.”
A muscle ticking rapidly under his left eye, Preacher turned the car on and, with a final look at Gideon, drove away.
Gideon activated his body cam and pulled his gun from his holster before glancing behind him at Maurice. The older cop was already climbing out of the car. Gideon walked toward the service door of the jewelry store, checking his surroundings as he drew closer to the building.
The door swung open and he raised his gun, pointing it at the two men who walked out. They stared at him in silent shock, black cotton masks over their faces and each of them holding one of those reusable grocery bags.
As Maurice’s footsteps drew close, Gideon smiled at the two men. “Good evening gentlemen. I’ll need you to raise your hands, nice and slow.”
Chapter One
“Gideon? What are you still doing here?” Ian stuck his head into Gideon’s office.
“Just finishing up some paperwork,” Gideon said.
“Your shift ended an hour ago.”
“I know.” Gideon leaned back in his chair and rubbed at his eyes. Staring at his laptop screen for longer than an hour always made him feel like he had sixty grit sandpaper for eyelids.
Ian dropped into the chair across from Gideon’s desk. He looked as exhausted as Gideon felt.
“Twins get you up last night?” Gideon asked.
Ian nodded. “Yeah. Rose has figured out how to climb out of her crib.”
“Seriously? She’s only two.”
“I know, but you know how smart she is. It’s only a matter of time until she teaches Megan. I’ll need to switch them to beds sooner than I thought.”
The deputy rubbed at the back of his neck. Gideon had no idea how Ian managed to get everything done. Not only was he employed full time as a deputy, he was a single dad to twin toddlers, and he owned a hobby farm with a small pack of goats, chickens, and two ginormous pigs.
“Gideon, you were supposed to be at your sister’s house for a barbeque twenty minutes ago.” Wanda, one of their full-time dispatchers and the unofficial mother hen of the department, walked into his office. The tall and elegant black woman had been a dispatcher for Harmony Falls Sheriff Department since Gideon was a boy, and Gideon would be the first to admit that the entire department would fall apart without her.
“I know, I’m running a bit late. You’re supposed to be finished work too. Is Sophie not here?” he said.
Sophie was their night shift dispatcher and wasn’t known for her promptness.
“She’s here.” Wanda sat gracefully in the chair beside Ian, giving him a once-over. “You look tired, sweetie. Girls keeping you up?”
“Rose learned how to climb out of her crib,” Ian said.
“Oh, that sweet girl is a firecracker,” Wanda said.
“How’s Murray doing?” Ian said.
“He’s good.” A soft smile crossed Wanda’s face. “He had his check up with the doc yesterday and it’s official – he’s in remission.”
“That’s fantastic,” Ian said.
“You all know how stubborn my husband is,” Wanda said with a grin. “I think he might have beat back the cancer by sheer willpower alone. Speaking of which, Gideon, I have a favour to ask.”
“What’s that?” He shut down his email.
“You know I’m doing a silent auction and dinner as a charity fundraiser for cancer.” Wanda’s voice took on a cajoling tone.
“Yeah. I already told you that the department would be happy to make a donation,” Gideon said.
“I know, but what I really need is some more volunteers. We’ve had four drop out in the last forty-eight hours and I’m in a real bind.”
Gideon groaned. “I’m not the volunteer type, Wanda.”
“Sure you are, you just don’t know it yet,” she said. “Please, Gideon? You’d be doing me a real favour. You know how important this is to Murray and me, and without you, it might not happen.”
“This is emotional blackmail, you know,” Gideon said.
“It is. But the last I heard, a person couldn’t get themselves arrested for emotionally blackmailing their boss into volunteering for an amazing cause that will not only help out his favourite dispatcher and her cancer-riddled husband, but also show the community a softer and sweeter side of their good sheriff.”
Ian snorted. “There isn’t anything soft or sweet about Gideon.”