Page 90 of The Burning

… eyes that mean business.

Kind of Amish-like.

Mentally, I superimpose that information atop the description of the mysterious man Britney Gainer had seen with Swanz the night he was killed.

… he was wearing black …

… kind of looked Amish …

The man who attacked me wore a black jacket and trousers.

Are the similarities purely coincidental?

The answer to that is a resounding no.

Filing the information away for later, I hit the speed dial for Auggie Brock. Six rings. Seven. Avoiding me, I think. I’m about to disconnect when he picks up, feigning breathlessness.

“I was just going to call you to make sure you’re being kept up to date on the case,” he begins.

I know Auggie pretty well. I understand him. He’s a good mayor, and I actually like him as a person. But I know he’s a politician first and my friend second. He may be fond of me in a superficial way, but he sure as hell doesn’t want to talk to me, or, God forbid, deal with the politics of my being forced into a limited-duty situation. I suspect he knows me well enough to grasp that I’m not going to stand for it.

“I’m on my way to the station,” I tell him.

“What? Why? I thought—”

“I’m calling a meeting.”

“But, Kate, you’re on limited duty. Are you sure that’s wise?”

“I want one thing from you this morning, Auggie. You’re my boss and I need to know you trust my judgment. I need to know you have my back.”

“Well … um, of course I have your back. I mean, come on, Kate. We’re friends. You’re still the chief of police. You’re not on administrative leave—”

“Good,” I cut in. “I have some new information on the case and I’d like to bring everyone up to speed.”

A sound that’s part groan, part gasp hisses over the line. “Kate, Chambers has pretty much convinced everyone you’re too personally involved. That you’ll protect your brother and—”

“You’re the mayor and you know better, though, don’t you?”

For the span of several seconds, the only sound comes from the hiss of the airwaves between us. Then he clears his throat, coughs quietly, and says exactly what I knew he would. “Of course I do.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

Another beat of silence and then, “Kate, can I ask one thing of you?”

“Lay it on me.”

Even his laugh sounds tense. “Don’t rough Chambers up too bad.”

“I’ll do my best.” Without hanging up, I hit the speed dial for Mona.

“Chief, I’m so glad to hear from you. Everyone’s saying you stepped aside because your brother—”

“He didn’t,” I cut in. “And I didn’t step aside. In fact, I’m on my way in. I need everyone there for a briefing.” I glance at the clock on the dash. “Twenty minutes. War room. Tell them to drop everything and come. Call Rasmussen last.”

A minuscule pause, and then, “What about Chambers?”

“Call him after you call Rasmussen.”