“Tomasetti, I can’t deal with your overreacting every time something dicey comes up with my job. I’m the chief of police. There’s a killer out there, and I know who the target is. Staking out Blue’s place is the best way to stop her, and you know it.”

“What I know is that you should involve the sheriff’s office!”

“And have five cruisers parked in front of Blue’s place? That’s pretty subtle.”

We fall silent. My own words and the anger behind them ring in my ears, and I wonder when we came to this, shouting at each other over the phone. I wonder why I’m so angry. Why I can’t tell him I’m sorry. Maybe because I know he’s right, but I’m going to do this anyway.

“Tomasetti,” I say after a moment.

“I’m here.”

“We have to stop doing this.”

“I know.”

“We need to talk—”

“We need to spend some time together,” he cuts in snappishly.

“When this case is over, I’ll take some time off. We can hang out at the farm and … grill hamburgers and drink wine and listen to the frogs.”

“And fish.”

My anger gives way to a sense of longing so powerful my chest aches. “I’m good at what I do. You’re going to have to trust me. There’s no one else.”

“Who’s going to keep you safe, Kate?”

“Glock’s a good cop. He’s former military and rock solid. We’ll be fine.”

His sigh tells me he’s not assuaged. “Do me a favor and be careful, will you?”

“I always am. I’ll see you in the morning.”

After we disconnect, I realize we didn’t talk about him or how he’s dealing with the release of Joey Ferguson.

Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

A little past midnight, I’m in my office with Glock and T.J. I’ve just briefed them on everything I know about the Hochstetler case and the three recent murders.

T.J. speaks first. “So you think this Ruth Weaver person is going to make a move on Blue Branson?”

I nod. “If we’re right and she’s targeting the people involved in the rape and attempted murder of her mother, she’s got at least one more target.”

“Pretty strong motive,” Glock says.

“Especially if you’re crazy,” T.J. adds.

But Glock caught the open-ended nature of my statement. “You said ‘at least’ one more target. Do you have someone else in mind?”

Rising, I go to the door and close it. Their eyes follow me as I go back to my desk and sit. “Norm Johnston was involved with this group and had previous knowledge of the crimes.”

T.J. gapes at me. “Councilman Johnston?”