Dead Certain - Mariah Stewart [73]
“Take Amanda to lunch. The department will reimburse you.”
“Chief, your sister is on line two,” Joyce announced through the speaker.
“Thanks.” He hit the button and waved to Dana as she turned her back and left the room. “What’s up, Greer?”
“Did you really sleep in your patrol car out here in front of my house last night?”
“And top of the morning to you, too.”
“Did you? Kay across the street mentioned it when I went out to my fitness class this morning. Wondered what was going on.”
“Actually, I slept on the sofa in your den last night.” He shuffled through some papers on his desk, looking for the reports on an armed robbery suspect they’d transferred to the county prison two days earlier. “And you’re just figuring that out? Hell of a detective you’d have made.”
“And here I thought you just showed up early for breakfast.” Greer paused. “You plan on doing that again tonight?”
“Most likely.” Where the hell was that ballistics report?
“I’ll leave you some proper bedding then. Honestly, Sean, why didn’t you say something?”
“Didn’t think about it. Got tired of sitting outside, started thinking about that sofa, figured, hell, what difference did it make if I was outside or inside, as long as I was there.”
“True enough, though why you thought you should be sleeping outside is beyond me. By the way, did I think to tell you this morning that I have the Karmas monthly pot luck dinner tonight? It’s at Mary Beth’s.”
The Karmas was the official name of the group Steve referred to as Greer and the Do-Gooders. Each month they met to discuss who in town was going through a hard time and what they could do to help out in a small, anonymous way. The ladies had chosen Karma as the name because they believed that you got back what you gave out, and by giving out a little kindness into the world, the world would give them kindness in return.
“No. You hadn’t mentioned that.”
“I’ll be home by ten or so, but you might want to make other plans for Amanda, if you think she still needs watching. Unless you think she might want to come along.”
“I’ll let you know. Thanks, Greer.” He wasn’t sure Amanda was ready for the Karmas.
He hung up the phone and walked down the hall to the reception area.
“Dana go through here yet?”
“She and what’s ’er name—the Crosby woman—just left,” Joyce said without looking up from her keyboard. “You can probably catch them in the parking lot.”
He caught up with them just as Dana was backing out of her parking place. Sean walked toward the car, motioning for her to roll the window down.
“Dana, what time do you go off today?”
“My shift is up at four, why?”
“Got plans for the evening?”
“Preview night at school for Courtney. She starts kindergarten next week, and tonight’s the night when the parents bring the kids in to check out the classroom and the teacher. Get them familiar with the whole deal. Why, what’s up?”
“Well, I’d thought Amanda would be having dinner with Greer tonight, but she just informed me that she has a previous commitment. It’s the Karmas’ night to have dinner.” He leaned into the window just slightly. “Amanda, looks like you’re stuck with me for a while tonight.”
“Who are the Karmas?” Amanda frowned.
“Group of friends Greer gets together with to do good deeds and spread positive vibes through the cosmos. I’m sure she’d be more than happy to tell you about it.”
He heard someone call his name and turned to see Joyce waving from the doorway, indicating that he had a phone call.
“Look, I could probably—”
“No, you probably could not.” He smacked the palm of his hand against the side of the car. “Dana, you’ll bring her back to the station after lunch.”
“Why can’t we go to my shop for a while?” Amanda asked. “I want to try to get in touch with Marian’s niece, and the only place I have her phone number is on the Rolodex in my office.”
He thought it over for a moment, then said, “I guess it doesn’t matter where you are, as long as you’re not alone. Just keep in touch, though. Let me know your plans.”
“Will do.” Dana rolled up her window and put