It was Wednesday, and Evan was returning from a meeting with Ben Stevens when a U-Haul truck pulled up to the front doors of the police department. A smile crossed Evan’s face as Nathan climbed out of the driver’s door.

“It’s about damn time you got here,” Evan called from halfway across the parking lot.

“Dude, it feels like we’ve been driving for four days straight,” Nathan said as he stretched his back.

Evan shook his hand. “You remember Ben Stevens with our state police?”

Nathan released Evan’s hand and shook Ben’s. “Yes. How are you, Ben?”

“Good. Glad you and Sam are joining us down here,” Ben replied.

“Where’s Sam?” Evan asked.

“He went straight to the Sheriff’s office since he’s on his bike,” Nathan said. “Did you just have lunch?”

“It was a dual-purpose lunch meeting. I’ll explain later. Are y’all staying at the hotel until you find a place to live, or do y’all need to stay at the ranch for a day or two? I don’t think you’d want to stay there much longer than that with all the wedding planning and shit going on.” Evan chuckled. “I think they’re delivering a tent or something this week.”

He shook his head as he thought about all the decorations being delivered. Plus, this weekend they were finally going into their parents’ wing of the house for the first time in over six years, and he really didn’t want any extra people there. That was private.

“Nah, I’m staying at that hotel where we met over on Highway 61 until I decide where I want to live, and Sam found a little house on the edge of town to rent. I just wanted you to know I was here and see if there was anything I needed to start work tomorrow.”

“You’re ready to start? When’s your last official day with ATF?”

“I took the payout for my days so I could start as soon as I got here.”

“Oh, man, that’s great.” Evan slapped Nathan on the back.

“Evan, I need to make some phone calls. Do you have an office I can borrow, or do I need to head over to the Sheriff’s office?” Ben asked.

“No. I’ve got an extra office. I’ll fill Nathan in while we wait for Human Resources to send down his new hire packet,” Evan said.

They all walked into the police department, and heads turned as Nathan walked through with his wavy blond hair, blue eyes, scruffy jaw, tight-fitting T-shirt, and ripped jeans. Evan was used to the reaction but still found it comical. As soon as they rounded the corner at his office, he said, “I ought to make you clean the drool stains on the floor from the women out there. Take a seat while I show Ben the empty office.”

When Evan returned, he was laughing. “Every female officer is out there whispering about you. No dating anyone in my department, got it?” Even though Evan was smiling, his eyes and tone were serious.

“Learned my lesson there years ago.” Nathan frowned.

“I know. Sorry, man.”

“Do you have time to catch me up to speed? I’d like to hit the ground running tomorrow,” Nathan said, effectively changing the subject.

Evan sat behind his desk. “A few weeks back one of my officers told me that Mr. Jones from United Southeastern Bank has weekly meetings at the Riverton Diner with different people, most of which are from out of town. There’s always a briefcase present, and one of those briefcases ended up in my office when Curtis was Chief. It was full of counterfeit bills and marked ones that ATF and DEA used with the Masterson case. We were just trying to see if the meeting was still taking place with Curtis and Frank behind bars, and who’d show.”

“So what happened?”

“He still had lunch with someone I don’t know. I took a picture to see if my officer recognizes the man.”

“Is that what I’m going to be working on?” Nathan asked.

“No, I want you working with ATF on the email and photos. They aren’t pursuing the one of Ginger even though I think they’re related.”

“I’m going to what, look at mug shots?”

“Nathan, our wedding is in ten days.” Evan ran his hand down his face and held it over his mouth. “Ginger’s stalker is still out there. She’s seen him. We know the emails were sent from the Riverton County Public Library, so I want you to arrange to look at their security discs for the last ten weeks. That should go back to when Ginger arrived in town. I’ll get some physical characteristics from her for you to go by, but if he’s the guy we saw at the river, he’s about my height, but bulkier.”

“That should be doable, but I don’t know anyone here, so how am I supposed to know who doesn’t fit?”

“There’s a lady who works there named Vanessa Harper. She’ll be able to help you. Her husband is the school board superintendent, so she should know most everyone around here. If she doesn’t know them, they either don’t have children or aren’t from here.”

“That makes sense. Anything else I need to know?”

“Ben is calling Secret Service for some help on the counterfeit currency. Oh, your official title is Assistant Chief of Police, and I’ll introduce you as such in the morning. The wedding reception is a street dance for the town to attend. You’re heading up the security for it. You’ll have both town and county officers at your disposal, and I’ve requested for Sam to be one of them.”

Evan placed his crossed arms on his desk and leaned into them. “Nathan, if we haven’t gotten this asshole by then, I want that place locked down tight. I trust you and Sam. If I’m not able to be with Ginger for some reason, I want you no more than a foot away from her. Other than Mitchell, you’re the only ones I’d trust with her life,” Evan said as tears stung his eyes.

Before Nathan could answer, a tap sounded on the door. “Come in,” Evan called.

Rita opened the door and stuck her head in. “Human Resources dropped these off.”

“Rita, I’d like you to meet Nathan Cox. He’s my former partner at ATF and our new Assistant Chief of Police. And Nathan, this is Rita. She’s our day desk clerk. Run everything through her—schedules, special task forces, meeting. Randy is our night clerk. You’ll meet him later.”

“Nice to meet you,” Nathan said as he stood to shake Rita’s hand.

“You too,” Rita said with a slight flush to her cheeks.

Evan pulled out his phone. “Before you leave, has this man ever met with Mr. Jones before?”

Rita looked at Evan’s phone. “Yes, a few weeks back.”

“Before or after Curtis showed up with his briefcase?”

Rita stared at a spot on the wall and appeared to be thinking. “Um, the week after, and he didn’t look as happy as he does in that picture.”

“Thank you, Rita.”

As soon as the door closed, Nathan asked, “What do you think she meant by that?”

“I don’t know unless Curtis didn’t do what he was supposed to with the briefcase.”

Nathan stood. “I’ll work on this,” he said as he raised the envelope. “What time do you want me here tomorrow?”

“Come in around nine. That way you can be here for shift change tomorrow night. I’ll stay and introduce you. It’ll give you time to meet the officers.”

“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”

“Do y’all need any help tonight?”

“Nah, I’m going to leave my stuff at Sam’s until I find a permanent place. When we drop off the U-Haul, I’m getting a rental to drive until I find a truck.”

“Don’t waste your money on a rental. You’ll have a patrol car. I’ll pick you up after shift change and bring you here. Your car will be waiting.”

“Thanks, man. I’ll find something this week.” Nathan walked out of Evan’s office.

* * *

Sam unfolded his over six-foot body from his motorcycle and called Sheriff Cahill as he approached the front doors of the Sheriff’s Department. As soon as Sam walked up to the desk, Sheriff Cahill greeted him. “I’m glad you decided to join us, Mr. Boo…, I mean Baxter.”

Sam grinned. “Thank you, sir. I’m glad to be here.”

“You goin’ to be ready to start on Monday?”

“I was leaving that up to you, sir. I’m moving into a little house this afternoon, so I could start tomorrow if you’d like.”

Sheriff Cahill motioned, and Sam followed him to his office. A couple ladies smiled as he walked by. They were attractive, but he’d learned from Nathan not to date anyone you work with, so he politely nodded and kept walking.

Just like Nathan, Sam was brought up to speed on what was going on with the counterfeit case while his new hire package was sent to him. The Sheriff told him that since he was replacing Frank Smith, he was coming in as Assistant Sheriff. Once his packet was dropped off, Sam headed toward his landlord’s address anxious to get the keys to his new home.