Read Online In Hot Water by J. J. Cook - Free Book Online Page A

was the same thing with Mayor Wando. She caught up with him as he was leaving town hall. He’d already made up his mind too. He thanked Stella for the moving words about the fireboat and commended her idea.
    “I knew from the start that you were the one for this position, Chief Griffin. Keep up the good work.” He shook her hand and smiled warmly before putting on a heavy coat that covered his barrel chest. He pulled a cap on to protect his shaved head. “Best get home now. The storm is settling in.”
    Stella gave up for that night. She had to hope her grandfather’s lawyer would have better luck. She walked outside to the Cherokee to find everything covered with a thin layer of ice. It seemed Eric and the others knew better about Sweet Pepper weather than the National Weather Service.
    The roads were slippery. The Cherokee’s four-wheel drive meant nothing to the ice. There were chains in the back toolbox. She thought she might have to stop to put them on in order to get up the mountain to the cabin. She stopped at the firehouse for the task. Royce was monitoring communications. He was listening to some old jazz and drinking a large cup of coffee.
    “Chief!” He jumped to his feet when he saw her. His weathered black face looked half asleep. He’d pulled his suspenders down from his shoulders, letting them ride at his hips.
    “Just coming back from the town council meeting.” She smiled as he quickly pulled up the suspenders and tucked in his red flannel shirt. “I thought I’d check to see how things are going.”
    “Well, there’s bad weather.” He grinned. “I guess you know that. No accidents or any word from the police or the sheriff’s department that they need our help. It’s quiet. I hope it stays that way. Most people got enough sense to stay in on a night like this.”
    “Some people have to be out.”
    “Oh. Sure. Like you coming home. Of course. You couldn’t help it. Not saying that you don’t have any sense. I was just saying to JC the other day that you’re one of the most
sensible
people I know.”
    Stella laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I get it. I’m going home. Carry on.”
    He thanked her a few times and asked if he could eat a few of the oatmeal cream pies that were in the cabinet. “My wife forgot to pack me a snack for tonight. Don’t want to have her bring that over in this weather.”
    “Help yourself. If it belongs to someone in particular, their name should be on it. If there’s no name, it’s fair game. Goodnight, Royce. Thanks for your hard work.”
    Stella went out and opened one of the garage bay doors. She pulled the Cherokee inside and started putting the chains on the big tires.
    Royce saw her and immediately insisted on doing the job. Stella didn’t argue. She was glad she hadn’t brought the Harley down from the cabin. The Cherokee was better in situations like this. At least the weather here allowed her some sunny days to ride her father’s motorcycle in the cold. In Chicago, it had to stay on blocks all winter.
    Once the chains were in place, Stella thanked Royce for his help and then took the Cherokee up Firehouse Road to the cabin with no problem. The porch light was on, and the front door opened before she could put her hand on the doorknob. Hero ran into the kitchen to greet her.
    “Ice,” Eric said. “I told you.”
    “You were right. Can you use your ghostly powers on the stairs? They’re kind of slippery.”
    “I think that’s what the salt is for. You’re starting to rely on me doing things you could do for yourself.”
    Stella took off her boots and frowned at him. “I’m keeping your cabin here. The least you could do is scare away some ice. That doesn’t seem like too much to ask.”
    Before Eric could answer, Stella’s radio went off. The house phone rang too.
    “I was at the firehouse a few minutes ago. Royce said everything was quiet,” she complained before she answered the phone.
    “We just got word, Chief. There are