How to Land Her Lawman Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Hi.”
    â€œHey.”
    She looked at the older woman. “Hi, Clarice. How’s the family?”
    â€œEveryone is doing great.”
    â€œAre you a grandmother yet?” April asked.
    â€œSandy’s due after Labor Day.”
    â€œI didn’t know you were going to be a grandmother,” Will said.
    â€œBecause you never asked.” Her tone was only marginally disapproving. “She and her husband live in California, a suburb of LA. He’s an attorney for a big law firm there. Sandy works at a preschool, at least until the baby’s born.”
    â€œCongratulations,” he said.
    â€œThanks, boss. By the way, I’ll need some time off after she gives birth.”
    â€œMy father will be back then. I’m sure he already has you covered and it won’t be a problem.” Then Will remembered she had a son, too. What was that kid’s name? Oh, yeah. “How’s Mark?”
    â€œGood. I’m surprised you remembered his name.” She hadn’t missed the slight hesitation. “He’s getting a doctorate in marine science from the University of Miami.”
    â€œWow.”
    â€œYeah. A nerd like his dad.”
    Will knew her husband taught chemistry at the junior college located about twenty-five miles from Blackwater Lake. Where April had gone to school. Damned if even after all this time he didn’t still feel a twinge remembering that she hadn’t gone with him to Chicago.
    Will looked at her now. “So, April, how can we help you? Are you here to report a crime?”
    She laughed. “More like crime prevention.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œYeah. Would you mind if we talked in your office?” The words were for him, but April gave Clarice a shrug that was part apology, part I-know-you-understand.
    â€œI’ve got work to do,” the dispatcher said.
    â€œOkay. In my office, then.” He turned and headed in that direction with April behind him. When they walked in the room he asked, “Do you want me to close the door?”
    â€œNot necessary. I just wanted a little privacy for this conversation.”
    â€œOkay.” He indicated the two chairs in front of the desk. “Have a seat.”
    â€œThanks.” She sat down and the wattage on her smile was probably visible from space. Plus she was doing that weird thing with her eyes again. “I could use your help.”
    â€œWith what?”
    â€œCrowd control. More specifically teenage make-out prevention.”
    â€œA little more information would be really helpful.”
    â€œYeah. Sorry.” She laughed again, but the sound seemed more nervous than anything else. “Every year just after school gets out the high school kids get together in that open field a half mile from the high school. The seniors who ruled the school pass on the power, symbolically of course, to the juniors, who are now incoming seniors.”
    â€œOkay. But why do you need official backup?”
    â€œThat’s the thing. It’s not official, not technically a school function, so no chaperones are required. But these are teenagers and extra surveillance is the smart way to go.”
    â€œWhy are you doing the asking?” Apparently his guilt wasn’t completely gone because there was a part of him surprised that she would request anything from him.
    â€œI take pictures that always make their way into the yearbook. It’s an annual thing they do. Every year.” She cringed. “I already said that, didn’t I?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œThe thing is, I don’t want any of them having sex on my watch.”
    â€œI guess not.” He couldn’t stop a small smile.
    â€œGlad you think this is funny.”
    â€œNo, I don’t.”
    â€œYes, you do,” she challenged.
    â€œMaybe a little.” He shrugged.
    â€œCome on, Will, be serious. These kids are drowning in hormones and they’re sneaky.”
    He