There weren’t enough seats to accommodate the whole team, so by the time that Sheriff Burdelac entered the interrogation room, the crew had to move out of the way to make room for the door to open. Thanh, who refused to give up her spot on the backwards-facing chair, seemed to be the most comfortable out of all of them. Inna had curled up in the one remaining chair, while Shay crouched on top of the table like a gargoyle. It would have been comical if the atmosphere weren’t so tense.

Rede was closest to the door, so she got the first and best view of the sheriff. He was roughly her height, with a buzz cut and the beginnings of a five o’clock shadow dusting his jawline. His large, wide-set eyes gave him an air of permanent alarm.

The Sheriff was holding a platter of food: sandwiches with real deli meat, canned fruit in heavy syrup, vegetables that shone with butter. Rede’s mouth watered just looking at it; she barely managed to restrain herself from grabbing it out of his hands. Instead, she watched the Sheriff place the tray in the middle of the table, then glance at the chairs as if expecting Thanh or Inna to move. When they did nothing but stare up at him, the Sheriff gave up and stood with his hands folded in the middle of the room, leaving his face half-visible to Rede.

“It’s about time you got here,” Thanh grumbled. Everyone else glared. She wasn’t sure, but Rede thought she saw Mara not-so-discreetly kick Thanh’s shin.

“My apologies,” said Sheriff Burdelac. His thin lips all but disappeared as he gave the crew a placating smile. “We’ve been quite busy here.”

The station hadn’t looked too busy to Rede, but she wasn’t about to say so. Judging by the look Thanh and Mara exchanged, they were thinking the same thing.

Burdelac’s attention zeroed in on Shay. His smile grew a little less stiff, the muscles in his jaw relaxing slightly. “Beatty Junior. It’s good to see you again.”

“Yeah, same here.” Shay returned his smile. She had changed position: now, she sat cross-legged with her hands folded in her lap, a seated mirror version of the Sheriff’s own posture.

“You all must be hungry,” said Burdelac. “Please, have a bite to eat.”

“Excuse me,” Mara interrupted, “but we don’t have time for this. Our friend is missing.”

“That’s right.” Burdelac’s smile faded into a look of concern. “Miriam Chow, was it?”

“Zhou,” Mara corrected, her tone clipped.

“My mistake,” Burdelac said. “Hollingsworth told me you all believe she was taken by Ducky, the East Bank broker?”

“That’s right.” Thanh’s foot beat a rapid tattoo on the tile beneath her boot. “Got any leads on that yet?”

The Sheriff’s expression didn’t change, though his tone grew slightly smoother, as though he were talking to a child. “We’ve reached out to our contacts in that area and we’re waiting for the opportunity to review their intel. As soon as we have something definitive, we’ll be sure to let you know.” The exact sort of canned response you’d expect from someone used to dealing with histrionic people, Rede noted. Shay had gotten it right on the nose.

“When will that be?” Thanh’s foot didn’t stop moving. Her eyes bored into Burdelac like drills.

Rede concealed a smirk behind her hand. They’d definitely chosen the right role for her.

“Unfortunately, we can’t provide time estimates on a process like this.” The Sheriff nodded toward Shay. “I’m sure Beatty can testify to that.”

“Actually, I’d like to know the names of your contacts,” said Shay. She tilted her head and smiled beatifically, eyes just a little too bright for comfort. “Also, the time and method of contact, if you could.”

Burdelac blinked his too-large eyes. “That information isn’t typically available to civilians.”

Shay gave him a reproachful look. “Really? As if you’ve ever treated me like a normal civilian?”

“Things changed when you left the station,” Burdelac said.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Well, they changed again when our friend got kidnapped,” said Thanh. “Give Shay the damn info.”

Shay’s mouth twisted as she turned toward Thanh. “I don’t think yelling is going to help us here,” she said quietly.

“Then what will?” Thanh demanded. She stood up, almost tripping over the chair as she took a stumbling step backward. “You’re over here trying to get special treatment, and it’s not working. Do you understand? We’ve been sitting here for who knows how long, waiting for these fuckers to do their jobs, and what do they come in with? Nothing!” Her chest heaved.

“Thanh…” Shay’s composure had started to crack. “They’re doing their best.”

“Is that what they did after Drew died?” Thanh’s lower lip trembled, but her fists remained clenched in anger.

Shay blinked. Rede couldn’t tell for sure, but her eyes were looking a little misty.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rede gauged the Sheriff’s reaction. His poker face was much better than Shay’s, but something in the turn of his mouth, or maybe the subtle tremor in his fingertips, told her that a tinge of distress had begun to peek through Burdelac’s facade.

He mustered himself, nostrils flaring as he took a deep breath before he spoke. “Let’s all calm down, all right, ladies? There’s no need to turn on one another, now. That’s not going to help anything.” The Sheriff spread his hands in a placating gesture, like a trainer trying to calm a snarling dog. “Why don’t you have something to eat, maybe calm your nerves a little?”

“I don’t see the point,” Shay mumbled. Her eyes, now shining with tears, remained fixed on her shoes.

“Liar,” Thanh spat.

“Whoever’s got Mimi, they’ve probably killed her by now,” Shay continued. Her voice cracked as she spoke. “I know how this stuff works, okay? I’ve seen kidnappings before.” She wiped her nose on her sleeve. “Yell all you want, it won’t fix anything.”

They were laying it on a little thick, Rede thought — until she glanced at Burdelac. He was trying to keep it together, but from the look on his face, it was clear his heart was breaking.

Shay sniffled, and that fragile little noise seemed to galvanize the Sheriff. He pulled his shoulders back and straightened his badge. “I’ll send out a squad boat to Ducky’s last known location,” he said, tone clipped and purposeful. “Your friend will be safe.”

Shay blinked. A single tear rolled down her cheek; she swiped it away with her snotty sleeve. “Really?”

Burdelac gave a sharp nod.

A watery smile spread across Shay’s face. “Thank you, Sheriff.”

The lines of his face softened ever so slightly. “You’re welcome, Beatty.”

Burdelac turned on his heel and left the room, starting to bark orders before the door had fully closed.

The team stared at the doorway in silence.

“Well done. You guys did a fantastic job,” said Rede. She made a beeline for the table and grabbed a slice of canned peach. “God, I’m so excited to eat this shit.”

“Thanks.” Thanh grinned. She hummed with satisfaction, rocking back on her heels and swinging her arms. “Damn, I love a good old fashioned good cop bad cop routine.”

“Oldest trick in the book,” Mara sniffed. “And he fell for it hook, line, and sinker.”

“I told you, he’s not the brightest bulb.” Shay wiped away the last traces of her tears. “A good guy, though.”

“I honestly feel kind of bad for manipulating him,” Inna said. His guilt, however, didn’t stop him from grabbing a sandwich off the tray and shoving almost half of it into his mouth.

Shay tilted her head in contemplation. Rede watched her closely: Shay’s lack of concern seemed odd. If she really had spent so long at the station, if these people were so important to her, then why was she so unbothered?

As if Shay could read her mind, their eyes met across the room. The others didn’t notice; they were too busy tucking into the food. Rede, however, saw the flintiness in Shay’s expression and noticed the near-imperceptible shrug of her shoulders before she turned away. A moment of dread washed over Rede before her mind caught up to her emotions: if Rede had known Lacey was murdered, went to a group of authority figures who had acted as parents to her, and watched them do nothing, Rede would have been willing to do far worse if it would force them to act.

Shay scooted over to make room for the flock of paddlers descending on the platter like vultures. Her face twisted with concern. “Are you guys okay? If you keep eating this fast, you’re going to choke.”

“Nah, it’s fine.” Mara licked butter off her fingers and went back for another handful of green beans. “Honestly, I think we got used to what happens after a long distance regatta.”

Thanh hummed in agreement. She grabbed a sandwich, then paused with a frown. She tilted her head and squinted at the layers of meat dangling in front of her eyes. “Weird. I haven’t seen sliced turkey since the quake. Didn’t even know you could still get it.”

“No, I remember seeing some,” Inna said. “I think it was in one of those Peace Corps hunger relief kit things they handed out in the hospital.”

“They get nice stuff here at the station.” Shay shrugged. “What can you do.”

“Good question, actually.” Inna wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Is there something we’re supposed to be doing right now? Like, to help?”

“Not really. The department knows what they’re doing, when they really put their minds to it,” Shay asserted. “Now that Burdelac wants Mimi found, they’ll get themselves in gear.”

Her words should have been cause for celebration, but they had a sobering effect on the crew. They stared at one another, fighting back anxiety and trying to hold back the panic that surged within them all at the reminder that one of them was missing. The mound of decadent food sat forgotten on the table in front of them.