“Yes, and it’s being processed, as usual. I need you to do the welfare check first. I can send someone else out on the arson. Again, that’s not why I wanted to talk to you. Sam told me what happened with the dogs you were sent to take care of.”

Bram shifted and cleared his throat. “I . . . um—”

“Next time I send you out to do something, just do it. Don’t get involved in conflict resolution. You could have put the sheriff’s department in a lot of hot water. Do you even know if those dogs are vaccinated against rabies? What if they bite that woman . . .”

He made a point of loosening the tight grip he had on the phone receiver as his boss continued her rant. She finally finished and hung up.

Bram stayed seated. He knew his face would reflect the tongue-lashing he’d just received and he didn’t want the sheriff’s son to report the reaction to his mom.

He picked up the local paper lying on the edge of the desk. A photo of the latest arson was splashed across the front page. The last paragraph of the story snagged his attention. Someone had started a recall petition for the sheriff due to her lack of progress in solving the case. Whoa. No wonder she was in such a black mood. He refolded the paper, stood, and headed for his parked patrol SUV.

“Bram.” Liam caught his attention as he strolled through the store. “Hey, did you hear the news?”

Bram sighed and glanced at Julia. The woman was pointedly straightening boxes of macaroni.

He really didn’t have time to listen to Liam’s gossip, but he didn’t want to give his boss another reason to chew him out by ignoring what she called “potential information sources.” Especially if the source was her only child.

“What news?”

Liam grinned and moved closer. “About the recall petition for my mom.”

“I just saw it in the paper.” Bram started to leave.

“She’s already looking for a new job. No way we’re staying here.” Liam looked around as if someone might overhear them, then said quietly, “San Francisco or Denver. Someplace big. We’re getting out of this podunk town and state.”

“I take it you would move with her?”

“Yeah. Get me a job that really pays, you know? Get my own place.”

Julia gave up her pretense of work. “You rat! I thought we’d . . .” She stomped into the restroom and slammed the door.

Bram bit back a smile. “And I would guess Julia’s not going to be joining you.”

“No way! You got that right.”

*  *  *

Roy was just finishing up his announcement as I entered the dining room.