Loyal Wolf. Linda Johnston O.

been delighted to become Melton’s second in command and pass along anything and everything his boss told him to.

      “Thanks, George,” Kathlene made herself say. “Do you know what the assignment is?” She braced herself for something minor and useless that she’d hate.

      Instead, though, it was something potentially important. “Yeah. You and a few others are being sent to patrol tomorrow afternoon’s meeting of the county commissioners.”

      “Oh? Great. I’m on my way out now but will check more about it when I go off duty later.”

      “Okay.” He looked her square in the face, then let his gaze roll lustfully down over her body, which made her freeze and want to go take a shower. When she glared angrily back at him, she’d have sworn he was about to drool.

      Before she could say anything, he turned. Lord, couldn’t the man even remember to tuck in his uniform shirt? He wasn’t only a sleazy, unintelligent goon, but he was also a slob who only made the sheriff’s department look bad.

      But Melton obviously didn’t care. He had this guy’s undivided allegiance.

      Some other deputies were just entering the building. They looked at her curiously, and she just shot them a smug smile that was intended to tell them this was a fine day and she was doing just great, thank you. Never mind what she was thinking inside.

      She wondered what overprotective Jock Larabey would have thought about her exchange with Kerringston. Good thing he wasn’t here.

      At least her trading of lustful expressions with Jock was mutual—and they both understood that acting on any real sexual interest between them simply wouldn’t happen.

      Kathlene scanned the street in front of her. There were only a few pedestrians along the sidewalk. Not much automobile traffic, either. She wasn’t sure where Jimmy was, but he was obviously taking his time getting here to pick her up.

      Well, that was fine. She would use the time to her benefit. She decided to make a quick phone call—to Commission Chair Myra Enager. Myra was Tommy X’s lady friend. She was also a friend of Kathlene’s. Maybe even a reason why Kathlene remained with the Clifford County Sheriff’s Department. Myra was both a role model for a woman’s being in charge of something important around here and a sounding board for Kathlene to vent when things here didn’t go well.

      Not that she would abuse her authority and tell Sheriff Frawley where to go on Kathlene’s behalf. And that was fine with Kathlene. She would handle this, like everything else in her life, herself.

      As she would tonight, when she was supposed to pretend that she wasn’t part of the team she had gotten in place here. Jock and Ralf might have heard her promise to stay away this time.

      But she would use her own definition of staying away.

      “Hi, Myra,” she said after a secretary at the commissioners’ offices had gotten her on the line. “I hear there’s a meeting tomorrow afternoon.”

      “That’s right,” Myra said. “I was going to contact you about it. You might want to attend. The main topic to be discussed is my proposal for the enactment of local laws to help enforce state regulations that protect wildlife and require the arrest of poachers.”