Chapter 14

Back at the office, JJ and Grant were preparing to go home for the night. A knock at the door startled them both. The door opened and Ray Greene walked in.

“I wanted to congratulate you both on a job well done.” The sheriff said. “Dickie Brewer has been added to the list of Tennessee’s Most Wanted. Every cop in the state will be looking for him. And thanks to the two of you, both hostages are safe and sound and three murders have been solved. I, uh, also wanted to see if either, or both, of you would be interested in coming to work for the sheriff’s department full-time. I need a detective, and I could always use another deputy. If you’re interested, that is.”

“What about the mayor? She hates me.” Grant said.

“You leave the mayor to me. I know what buttons to push to get her to agree.”

“How much does it pay?” JJ inquired.

“Well, it’s about twice as much as you make now. For starters. You’ll get a raise when you finish the academy, which we’ll pay for if you sign a two-year contract.”

Grant appeared lost in thought. He hated the idea of giving up his own business, but at the same time he had always wanted to work in law enforcement. This was his chance.

“Can JJ still work as my assistant, and go on cases with me?” Grant asked.

“Absolutely. We can create a position for a detective’s assistant. He’ll still have to go to the academy, but there’s no reason the two of you can’t still work together.”

Grant looked at JJ. “It’s up to you. I’m in if you are. Or we can keep working like we are.”

“Oh, no. I’m definitely in. This is a good opportunity. Besides, you barely work enough jobs to be able to pay me. I know what you take home isn’t enough. This is a better chance for both of us.”

Grant looked back to the sheriff. “We’re in. When do we start?”

“Be at my office at six o’clock in the morning. We have a massive manhunt to plan.”

“Shouldn’t we do that right now?” Grant asked.

“I’m going to. I’m going to have my night shift deputies out looking for him. But the reservists and day shift and volunteers will all be in at six in the morning. That’ll give you boys some time to rest up.”

The sheriff turned to leave. Grant and JJ each packed their things, and went home for the night.

Grant slept fitfully that night. He kept having dreams of being chased and taunted by Dickie Brewer. In one of the more vivid dreams, he was captured and tortured by the Blood Eagle killer. He woke when he felt the steel blade slicing his skin open. He looked around his living room, there was no one there. He had fallen asleep on the couch. His clothes were in a heap in the floor between the couch and the coffee table. He was shaken by the dream, for it had felt so real. He got up and checked the rest of his apartment. As he checked the bathroom, he wished he had taken the time to put his clothes back on. He really didn’t want to have to fight someone naked. Finding no one, he returned to the couch and eventually fell asleep again, his hand resting against the pistol hidden in the couch cushions. There were no dreams this time.

The next morning, he reported to the sheriff’s office promptly at six. He was impressed with himself for making it on time. JJ was already there, waiting for him. They met the sheriff outside the conference room.

“Here’s what we’re going to do.” The sheriff said. “There’s going to be a briefing for the reservists and volunteers, who are then going to go out and hunt for Dickie Brewer. The two of you will be doing your new hire paperwork and such until around lunch time, when you’ll join in the search.”

Grant’s heart sank. He was hoping to join the search right away. He hated the idea of being behind a desk while others were searching for his suspect. He supposed that was an idea he would have to get used to, working for the sheriff’s department.