THE USUAL MORNING visit to the café was anything but when I found myself face to face with a dozen newspapers highlighting a photo of Erica Gunter. Her brown eyes stared at me from every direction. I slowly backed up to the counter as the anxiety encircled me. The story these people were reading wasn’t even the whole truth. They hadn’t seen what I had.

“Large black, detective?”

I turned around when I heard Tracy’s voice. Her red hair was pulled back into a ponytail, her green eyes brightened her face.

“No, just a bagel, please.”

“Are you sure?” she asked while taking a bagel out of the display case. “It’s free.”

“It's free? Why is it free?”

“All policemen get free coffee.” She slipped the bagel into a brown paper bag along with packets of cream cheese and a plastic knife, and then rolled the top of the bag to seal it.

“Sheriff Harris had me convinced a long time ago that he got free coffee because you liked him.”

“I’m sure he did … and that was a while ago.” She laughed. “And no.”

She pointed up to the sign hanging from the menu that read, COPS DRINK FOR FREE. I laughed with her. I couldn’t wait to tell him of this bit of information I had just uncovered.

“He’s not exactly my type,” she continued.

“What exactly is your type? There are a lot of single detectives.” I handed her a five-dollar bill in exchange for the bag she just handed me.

“Jack Heavner.” She winked as she counted out the change.

I couldn’t help but laugh again. “Of course, he is.”

I waved away the dollar and change. She smiled in appreciation and put the remaining money into the tip jar.

“It’s something about those tattoos.” She leaned on the counter with a sigh, her eyes off in some dreamland.

“Caleb Harris has a tattoo,” I said before turning away.

“Well, now you tell me!”

Tracy grabbed the morning paper lying on top of the display case. There were Erica Gunter’s eyes again, staring back at me.

“Did you know her?” I asked.

Tracy shook her head. “I’m from Taylorsville originally, so I really only know the people who come into the café.”

“So, she never came here?”

“Not in the three years I’ve worked here. It’s a shame, though, about what happened. I hope you catch the guy.”

“I will.” It was a promise to myself. Tracy lifted up the newspaper to read as I turned away. With bagel in hand, I made it to the door, avoiding Erica’s stare on the way out.

The eerie clouds still loomed overhead. People continued on with their lives, but they all knew about the murder; at least, the story we had told them. They had no idea about the gruesome way she had died or the way the killer had mocked us with it. If they knew those details, no one would feel safe. I had to do whatever I could to ensure it never happened again. The thing was, I had no idea how to go about doing that.

I pushed open the door to the police station and shrugged out of my coat, juggling my bagel from one hand to the other. Charley stood as I headed toward my office.

“I’m sorry about not telling you sooner.”

I stopped and stared at her. “About what?”

“About Lara. I honestly thought you already knew.”

“Well, I didn’t, but it’s fine. It’s just something I’ll have to get used to.” I turned down the hall, taking the few short steps to my office. When I had left, the only things Lara had on her desk were the case file and a notepad, but it had since grown into a stack of books and multiple tabs open on the computer.

“I’ve been doing a little research regarding the carving on the victim’s neck.” She didn’t even turn around.

“I guess you don’t really need much of a briefing.” I walked to my side of the office, threw my coat on the back of the chair, and laid out my bagel, plastic knife, and cream cheese. My desk was extremely bare in comparison to hers, and she had been here for less than two hours. Maybe Caleb was right. Maybe she would be a good detective.

“I feel like it’s something I’ve seen before.”

“Something you’ve seen carved on a person?” I slathered the cream cheese on my bagel and took a bite.

“No, no. I’ve studied various religions and mythologies while in college. For fun.” She still had yet to look at me. Her eyes were either on the computer screen or intently studying a book.

“For fun?” I asked once I had swallowed.

“I found it fascinating. Anyway, I’ve been searching for any native connections.”

“I wondered about that.” I put down my bagel, completely attentive.

“Gunter is a common surname of the Cherokee tribe.” She finally looked across the desk at me when she spoke.

“There’s a lot of Cherokee blood in this area.” I nodded.

“More so here than in Georgia. Abundant around the mountainous areas of the Carolinas, Tennessee, and northern Georgia.”

I had figured my nod indicated I was aware of the Cherokee Nation’s location, but I let her school me anyway.

“Are you well studied in Native American culture?”

“No, but it’s not a far step to gather she had Native American blood.”

“So, you think this carving is native?” I had no idea where she was going with all of this.

“That’s just it.” She flipped through the book in front of her. “It doesn’t look like anything I’ve researched regarding Native Americans.”

“So, what is it then?”

“I’m not sure. It kind of looks like a spider.” She looked back up at me.

I pulled her folder away from her and stared at the carving on Erica Gunter’s neck. “It kind of does look like a spider. But why a spider? Why carve a spider on someone’s neck after almost severing the head off?”

We were interrupted by voices coming from the lobby. They faded as the guys went into the break room.

“Have you met the rest of the guys?”

“Only Tanner Landry. He really didn’t seem to have the time to meet the new girl.”

“Landry doesn’t have the need or want to meet any girl.” I stood up, leaving the rest of my bagel behind.

“Oh, so he’s gay.” She stood and exited the office.

“No, no. Far from it,” I clarified quickly as I followed her. I didn’t want to sway any possible prospect for Tanner. “He’s just all about the work.”

“That’s not a bad thing.”

As we crossed the lobby, Charley’s eyes cut up from her desk. Her brow wrinkled as she stared at Lara. I always thought of Charley as friendly and outgoing, but her demeanor around Lara was … off.

Lara walked into the breakroom and stood to the side, waiting for her introduction. Jack smirked almost instantly. Grayson smiled but kept the usual composure he reserved for girls who didn't frequent the front page of the newspaper's society section. Evan stared, his head leaning a little to the side. He crossed his arms while remaining focused on Lara.

“Y’all, this is Lara Allen, my new partner. This is—”

“Jack Heavner, Grayson Cooks, and Evan Murphy.” She nodded to each one as she said their name.

“Ha!” Jack laughed, crossed his arms, and leaned back in his chair. “She’s good.”

“You look familiar,” Evan said as he leaned his elbows on the table, arms still folded. “Are you from the area?”

“No.” Lara bowed her head slightly and clutched her hands together. “I’m from Atlanta.”

“Did you go to college?” Evan continued.

“Yes.” Lara nodded. “I went to Georgia.”

“Ew.” Everyone turned to look at Grayson. “What? I played baseball for Tennessee.” He stared back at us like we were the rude ones.

“At least I didn’t go to Florida.” Lara winked.

Grayson chuckled, bobbing his head. “We can agree on that.”

“You just look so familiar,” Evan repeated.

“I guess I just have one of those faces.” Lara shrugged.

“I guess so,” he said, still studying Lara.

Jack couldn’t help himself. “Murphy, don’t go after your coworker.”

“Oh, you’re one to talk, Heavner.”

Lara laughed it off and walked to the coffee pot. As she moved to the other side of the room, I noticed Charley standing in the doorway. Her eyes shifted between the new detective and her best friend. I watched Evan as he rubbed his chin, fixated on Lara. I looked back to Charley and saw her bubbly smile falter.

Interesting.

“Grayson,” Charley said, gaining everyone’s attention. Evan was the last to notice. “It’s 10:30.”

“Right.” Grayson stood, shuffled his weight a bit, and walked out of the breakroom. He limped slightly on his one leg, but he seemed to be improving well.

“What’s at 10:30?” Lara asked after Grayson had left the room.

“He has therapy,” Evan answered.

“Mental or physical?”

“Both, actually,” Jack said without any touch of humor in his statement.

“I’ll fill you in later during lunch,” I told her.

“Well, it was nice meeting y’all. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you … often.” Lara left us in the breakroom.

“Did she go to Hibriten?” Evan asked Jack.

“Dude, high school was a long time ago, and I’m sure I’d remember someone who looked like that.”

“Come on, man.” I stopped Jack. “She’s my partner.”

“Oh, no.” He shook his head and leaned up in his chair. “She’s well out of my league.”

“You know who’s in your league? Tracy.”

“I know.” He deadpanned. “She gives me free coffee all the time.”

“Apparently, she gives all cops free coffee.” I loved watching his face react to this newfound information.

“Really?”

“Yep.” I nodded. “There’s a sign and everything.”

“Well, hell.” Jack leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “I thought I was special.”

“I think what he’s trying to say is that she’d give you more than just free coffee,” Evan teased.

“Well, she’s already done that.”

“On that note, I’ve gotta go catch a killer.” I lifted up my hands in resignation and left the debacle that was Jack and Evan.

So far, I thought Lara would be a good fit. I had zero attraction to her and she had a smart head on her shoulders, but it seemed like the added estrogen was already beginning to affect things around the office. This was particularly obvious when I noticed Charley in a sullen state as I walked through the lobby toward my office.

I stepped into my office and found my bagel right where I left it. I sat down at my desk and watched Lara, her eyes glued to her computer screen. I knew that I should probably be researching as well, but this bagel needed to be eaten.

“Maybe we’ll go to the diner around the corner for lunch and I’ll give you the scoop on everyone.”

“Sure,” Lara replied without breaking from her task. “That sounds like a good idea.”

I lifted the bagel and was about to take a bite when –

“Peterman.”

The bagel stopped, hovering only centimeters from my mouth as I looked up to see Caleb in the doorway.

“Mrs. Betty just informed me that Jeremy is at Dixie’s right now doing inventory. She said we could come by and question him there.”

I put down my bagel and pouted as I got to my feet to follow Caleb out into the cold.