Read Online Out of the Blues by Trudy Nan Boyce - Free Book Online

much.”
    â€œThat’s how it goes all right. They put the little know-nothing detective working a dead junkie, bluesman. Same ol’ same ol’. Even dead the rich folks get better attention.”
    Salt rubbed the scar running through her scalp.
    â€œThat still bothering you? Where you got shot?”
    Salt lowered her hand. “Not really. It’s just a habit.”
    â€œYou get dreams?”
    â€œEverybody has dreams.”
    â€œYou know what I mean.”

SORTING GOD WITH WILLS
    G od, these frogs are loud,” Wills said to the dog lying serenely beside the glider. The dog, waiting for the woman, his snout between outstretched paws, moved his eyes in acknowledgment of the man’s voice. To the dog the man was a small deity whose words held only a little more significance than the other lively sounds of the night—tree frogs, her car still a ways off on the highway, the sheep in the nearby paddock rustling against each other in sleep, one of the small wood beams in the big house settling, and a night bird.
    There were fast, smoke-like clouds flying across a high half-moon. The black dog, barely visible, picked up his ears before the headlights could be seen coming up the long drive. The man and dog rose and walked toward her parking spot under the pecan tree. She switched off the engine. Both wedged themselves into the space of the opened car door. The dog was on her first, licking the air, his front legs across her lap.
    â€œMy turn.” Wills, only a few inches taller than she and built like a high school football coach, muscular without definition orworking at it, reached in, extending his hand to lift her from the driver’s seat.
    â€œYou guys!” She smiled, moved the dog’s paws, accepted his outstretched hand, and stood.
    â€œTired?”
    â€œNot too bad.” She handed him the keys and he went to the trunk for her gear bag.
    â€œI’m anxious to hear how it went, first days as a new detective. I remember how eager and proud I was. Everybody was talking about your first day, the child murderer, Hamm’s case, your collar, the chief at the scene. It’s already turning into quite the story.”
    She ruffled Wonder’s fur as they walked to the house and up the steps where moths and their silhouettes flew around the back-porch light.
    Salt changed into soft jeans and with grateful bare feet joined Wills back outside. The glider made a melodic creak as they sipped a single glass of whiskey between them.
    â€œWho did you get partnered with? I’ve been out on this case so much I’ve barely even talked to Gardner, much less anybody else on the squad.”
    â€œHuff didn’t seem very happy with having me foisted on him.”
    One of the sheep asserted herself with her own distinctive
“Bleeek.”
    â€œHuff, don’t call him Sarge, will come ’round. You earned the assignment. And speaking of calling or not calling names—I have to watch myself. I can’t be calling you ‘Honey’ in front of anyone. The less they suspect, the less attention we’ll get.” The rules for employees stated that neither spouses nor domestic partners could work on the same shift in the same unit. Although she and Wills weren’t married and didn’t live together, and it was a “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, supervisors and commanders were reluctant to have to consider romantic attachments in managing their people.
    â€œSo who did Huff put you with?”
    The night bird called again, some deep-throated animal sounded, and the tree frogs made a chorus.
    â€œUh-oh, I know that tone of voice,” Wills said when she didn’t answer.
    â€œMaybe there’s a good reason lovers shouldn’t work together. This might be harder than we thought.” Salt turned and put her back against the glider armrest, knees bent, her feet tucked under Wills’ thigh.
    â€œCome on, tell me.