She moved down to her office and focused on paperwork for about an hour before glancing at the clock. Davie Tate was late. She dialed the high school, gave her credentials, and asked if he was in school.

He was not.

The secretary assured her that Tommy Bearing was in attendance.

Laurel set the phone back in the cradle. “Nester?” she called. “Put a BOLO out on Davie Tate, would you? Make sure it includes the local Genesis Valley police.” She was so finished with people avoiding her.

“Yep. Working on something right now but will in a sec,” he yelled back.

They should probably get an intercom system. Or she could get off her glutes and just walk to his office—that would be healthier. A quick call to the hospital revealed that Walter was now scheduled for surgery later that afternoon. Good. Laurel went back to her paperwork, conducting background checks on everyone she could think of that Nester hadn’t already checked out.

A soft knock on her doorway had her jumping. She looked up to see Kate’s daughter Viv with a denim backpack in one hand. “Viv. Is everything all right?”

“Yeah.” The girl walked inside and looked at the two guest chairs. “These are nice.”

“Your mom secured them for the office. Why aren’t you in school?” Laurel hadn’t heard Kate come in.

Viv pulled out a chair and sat, yanking a notebook from her backpack. “I have a free period and thought I’d come in to work.” Her blue eyes sparkled. At sixteen, she was the eldest of the three girls and paradoxically the shortest. Her blond hair was long and straight, and she had her mother’s elfin facial features. “This is what I’ve found.”

Laurel held up a hand. “Wait a sec. Does your mom know you’re here?”

“Yeah. Just talked to her. She’s at the hospital right now and should be headed this way soon. Agent Smudgeon is having surgery this afternoon, right?”

Laurel nodded. So long as Kate knew where her daughter was right now, she could relax. “Okay. What do you have for me?”

Viv flipped open her notebook.

Nester appeared in the doorway. “Hey. I need a coffee. Want anything?”

“Sure. I’ll have another chai. How about you, Viv?” Laurel said and introduced the two.

The girl stared at Nester. “Um. Same thing? Thanks.”

Laurel smiled. “We have an account downstairs. Just put it on that and add a tip. Thanks.”

Nester nodded and took off quickly.

Viv spun around to face Laurel. “Oh my God. He is so cute. Who is he?”