“And I’ll be here at my desk till four.” Mayfield chuckled. “I was working doubles when you were still at the academy, Lopez. Clark did good work this week. Get out of here, Officer. Enjoy your weekend.”

“I don’t recall you being the sheriff at this station.” Lopez’s face was darkening.

“And I recall you owing me quite a few favors.” Mayfield motioned Clark out the door. “I’ll just call my wife and have her swing by with my uniform.”

Clark slipped back into the bull pen, too stunned to speak.

She had already reached her desk by the time Mayfield caught up with her. “You deserve the time.” His eyes lingered on something over her shoulder, on something she’d already noticed on the way over: a sheet of paper had materialized on her keyboard since she’d passed it on the way into the office a minute before.

Clark turned to flip the paper over, read three words, stopped. She folded the paper and slid it quickly into her pocket. She stared at Mayfield, her mouth slack.

“Get the fuck out of here.” Mayfield added softly, “Don’t let me down.”

Clark didn’t have to be told twice. A few seconds later she was climbing into her truck.

Joel, his face a map of bruises, was seated in the passenger seat.

Clark passed him the paper. “Let’s go.”

JOEL

ARREST RECORD 82234

7/15/17

OFFICER GRISSOM REPORTING:

...At 2330 yesterday (7/14/17) while acting on existing suspicions (see attached notes 7/2/17) I approached the Little River Marina in an unmarked vehicle. Upon arrival I discovered three young men I recognized by sight: Kyler Thomas (KT) Staler, Garrett Mason and Jason Ovelle. The three men appeared to be in some kind of altercation/argument. As the marina is abandoned and Ovelle is a known distributor of narcotics I considered this probable cause to detain all three suspects while searching their vehicles and possessions.

I discovered in the course of search: approx 1 oz of methamphetamine in trunk of Ovelle’s vehicle (Honda Civic, red) as well as approx 3 oz of marijuana, approx 30 unidentified tablets and 3 small bottles of VHS video head cleaner known for “huffing”/inhalation.

I discovered in searching Garrett Mason’s and KT Staler’s person $500 in mixed bills. I was informed by Ovelle (whom I believed to be intoxicated) that Staler/Mason were attempting to “stiff” him on a prearranged agreement. Staler possessed approx 1/6 oz of methamphetamine in his pocket. Mason possessed approx 20 mixed pills.

I formally arrested all 3 men. After being read his rights Garrett Mason said quote “You will fucking regret this” end quote.

END OF REPORT

Joel read the report aloud to Clark, twice, and choked down some coffee, praying it would start to work. He’d flushed his Adderall that morning, still appalled at how he had treated Luke Evers last night: those amphetamine jitters had made it just a little too easy to listen to whatever force had come calling on him at the park. Had made the thought of homicide just a little too appealing.