The next morning

  Merrville Sheriff's Department

  After a brief check-in, Dave hustles from Sheriff Northrop's office. With an upward sweeping motion, Dave throws his sheriff's hat on his head. He snaps his fingers at a young deputy grabbing water from the dispenser in the far left corner of the room.

  "Hey, Chastain. You! With me," Dave yells and motions with his head toward the door. "Come on. We don't have all day."

  "What's up, Dave?" Morris Chastain says, eyeing Dave incredulously.

  "No time to explain," Dave bellows. "Just get your ass over here, on the double. Sheriff's got a job for us."

  Almost every eye in the room is now trained on Dave and Morris. Morris' brow creases and the junior deputy stops filling his water cup. He takes a small sip and then sets the nearly full paper cup on top of the machine. Reaching to grab his own hat from a nearby desk, Morris quickly follows Dave out of the processing area.

  "We got a lead on that poor girl? Where are we headed, Dave?" Morris questions.

  The young deputy straightens his belt, also making sure that his weapon is properly holstered and ready. Dave stares straight ahead as he marches toward his pickup. Morris makes a move to head to his own sheriff's car, but Dave waves for him to come back.

  "We don't need two vehicles to visit with the Castleton police. We'll take my truck. Sheriff wants me to talk up some city slicker detective. The one in charge of investigating these murders. Guy's sort of new to Castleton. He may not understand how we do things around here. I need a witness. Someone who can attest to Sheriff Northrop that I am definitely a team player. He's afraid I'll start busting chops and swinging balls."

  "Can't blame the sheriff, Dave. You do have that reputation," Deputy Chastain says with a grin.

  Dave glowers at Morris as he deactivates the alarm on his truck and wrenches the door open. He uses a finger to illustrate Deputy Chastain going around the truck and getting into the passenger seat.

  "Get in the damn truck, Morris!"

  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  Castleton Police Department

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Dave and Deputy Chastain stroll matter-of-factly through the operations room of the Castleton Police Department. Deputy Chastain glances around the room, his mind memorizing every detail of this moment. Must be nice to be able to shoot the breeze while young women are being turned into ground meat.

  Senior Deputy Newsome is equally as pissed. His narrowed eyes are two pinpricks of disdain as he searches the large room for his detective contact. Spying two officers standing against a far wall, a man and a woman, Dave leads his colleague in their direction. Time to cut the crap and get down to business.

  "Where can I find Detective James Mackey?" Dave barks, without preamble.

  The two police officers leaning against the wall, and quite a few others, stop talking and give Dave their full attention. The woman officer pipes up first, her eyes dull and emotionless.

  "Detective Mackey's not here right now. He stepped out to get the Chief some coffee. You can have a seat over there and wait for him."

  The woman officer points to a long wooden bench near the door Deputy Newsome and his fellow deputy just entered. Dave gives the woman officer and her companion a hard look. Is she trying to be funny?

  Dave is already peeved at this officer's attitude. Hostile with a side of diva. Remembering Sheriff Northrop's warning about playing nice, Dave inhales and then slowly releases the air. He stares at the woman officer in front of him, trying to find the silver lining somewhere. He falls short.

  This particular officer is trying too hard to fit into the boy's club. Her appearance and professionalism is suffering badly for it. She has a voice made raspy from years of too many cigarettes, and a motorcycle tattoo peeks out from the bottom of her rolled up left sleeve. Her uniform is much baggier than it should be. Especially for a woman. Most likely to hide her still painfully obvious lady parts.

  "Okay," Dave says in a droll voice. "I'll wait. When did he leave? And when can I expect him back? Any idea which coffee shop?"

  "Coffee shop?! I don't get the Chief's coffee from any damn coffee shop!" Detective James Mackey chimes in.

  The young detective closes the distance between himself and the two sheriff's deputies in only a few long strides. Two steaming cups of coffee are balanced in a cardboard cupholder. Dave scowls at the woman officer, whose face now resembles the Cheshire cat. She simply resumes talking to her male coworker, ignoring Dave completely.

  Switching the cupholder to the other hand, Detective Mackey reaches out his right hand for a firm shake. Dave and Deputy Chastain take turns shaking Mackey's hand. The detective's face is just as much one wide grin as the female officer's had been. He looks from one deputy to the other. Dave stares at Mackey quizzically. He wishes he knew what all of these officers believe is so damn funny.

  "Freddo...The guy who runs that wonderful food truck on the corner..." Detective Mackey continues. "...He makes wonderful coffee. Free coffee as long as there is still food on your plate. That's where I always get my caffeine fix. And the Chief's. That reminds me, I have to give the Chief his coffee. My desk is the one near the heater. Just wait for me there."

  Detective Mackey begins to walk away and then reconsiders. He shakes his head emphatically. Dave and Deputy Chastain exchange confused glances.

  "No. You know what? Nevermind that," Mackey says with a wide grin. "It's a little loud in here. How 'bout we talk outside. I grabbed coffee but forgot to grab a sandwich. We'll talk outside. We can even grab a bite to eat. I'll pay. Give me a moment."

  Detective Mackey strolls quickly toward Chief O'Leary's office. Dave and Deputy Chastain stare after him.

  "Are all big city slickers this...Juiced up?" Chastain questions with a smirk.

  "Probably," Dave grumbles. "I couldn't care less. So long as they do their job."