“Rob went home to have dinner with the boys earlier so he said I could leave by nine if I want to. I really need some sleep!”

“I’ll hang around, get you home.”

“But I’m not going out tonight. I’m not going to your place. I really am tired. I must be getting worn out somehow.”

That made him smile. “I’ve never felt so well rested in my life.”

“I think there’s something seriously wrong with you.”

“Not anymore,” he said.

* * *

On Monday, Dakota’s day off, he spent the morning with Sid. After she’d gotten the kids off to school and Rob had gone to work to occupy himself with accounting and ordering supplies, she went to Dakota’s cabin. They had a leisurely morning of breakfast, love, quiet talk, and then Sid went home. Dakota was a little afraid of how this morning delight on his day off might change when the boys got out of school.

Having seen Neely’s reaction to him the previous night, Dakota decided he was going to follow up on his slashed tires with Stan, the police chief. He waited until after the lunch hour was over, then sauntered into the office. “Hey, Stan,” he said. “Got a minute?”

“For you, I got ten,” Stan said cheerfully.

“I’ll try to be brief. I wanted to follow up on something. I was wondering if the woman whose tire I was asked to fix came in here to talk to you. Neely. I’m afraid I don’t know her last name but she’s unforgettable. Very beautiful. Dresses real... Rich.”

Stan frowned. “Yes, she was here,” he said. “Have a seat, Dakota.”

“I don’t like that look,” Dakota said, sitting in front of Stan’s desk. They were not alone, which made him even more uncomfortable—there was a civilian woman and another officer, both working in the office. They seemed to be occupied with their own work, but still.

“Did you know she’d be coming in to talk to me?” Stan asked.

“I asked her to,” Dakota said. “I bumped into her and told her how much it pissed me off that my tire was punctured and all the others deflated and that I suspected her and she told me she had nothing to do with it. She claimed there was some ex-boyfriend who’d been stalking her or something like that. She seemed a little worried that he might’ve done that and I asked her to tell you.”

“That isn’t exactly what she told me,” Stan said. “She told me she asked you to help her put on a spare and after the tire was on there was a bit of a tussle. She couldn’t call it assault and didn’t want to press charges, but she said you crossed the line. You told her you assumed she’d return the favor with affection. And that she shoved you away and slapped your face.”

Dakota was speechless. His mouth hung open; he could feel it. “You have got to be kidding,” he said, shock drawing out each word. “Seriously?”

“I’m afraid so,” Stan said.

“Jesus, why didn’t you call me? Bring me in for a talking-to?” Dakota asked. “Something!”

“You need a talking-to, Dakota?” Stan asked sagely.

“Aw, hell, it was the other way around. She asked me to fix her tire but there wasn’t anything wrong with the tire, and once we were alone in the alley, she attacked me. Well, she plastered herself against me and kissed me and I had to peel her off me. You can ask Sid—I left my beer on the bar and was back in less than ten minutes, almost all of that time spent walking to the alley and back.” He shook his head. “Holy shit, there is something seriously wrong with that woman.”

“So, you didn’t come on a little too strong?” Stan asked.

“She’s been coming on to me and I guess she’s the one who’s pissed off. Just so you know, we’re trying to play it cool, be discreet, but I’m seeing Sid. I took her to my sister’s wedding. We work together at the soup kitchen in Colorado Springs every week. I don’t have any interest in this Neely character. And she’s real aggressive.”

“Neely Benedict,” Stan supplied. Then he smiled. “Sid, huh?”

“Don’t smile at that,” Dakota said. “Why didn’t you tell me I was accused of assault?”

“Well, it’s not exactly assault as it was described and there doesn’t seem to be a victim, since she said she wasn’t pressing charges. She just wanted me to be aware on the chance you’re a little off and we have trouble with you.”

“On the chance I’m a little off?” he asked incredulously.

“And then there’s the fact that I wasn’t inclined to believe her,” Stan said.

Dakota sat back in his chair and let all the breath he didn’t realize he was holding escape. He ran a hand through his hair. “Well, thanks for saving that for last.”

“You might’ve told me up front about the disagreement, about being set up for some romantic purpose,” Stan said.

“Yeah, Cal suggested that. But I watched her get in her car and I had no desire to make trouble for her. I was very stern, told her never to do that again and thought the matter was taken care of. I suspected her of the damage but I didn’t have proof.”

“I know you didn’t do what she said,” Stan said. “I have something to show you. Give me a second.” Stan clicked the keyboard on his computer, then turned the screen toward Dakota. It was a dark image. Dakota squinted to make it out; Neely’s red wrap made it easier. And that was him, bending to look at the tire, then standing only to have her lunge at him. And he grappled to push her off.

“Jesus,” he said. “There it is.”

“Oh, there’s more.”

Indeed, it took Neely quite a while to get out of her car after he’d left the alley and then, looking around cautiously, she bent to the task of letting the air out of his tires.

“What’s that in her hand?” he asked.

“A tire deflator,” Stan said. “With a light.”

When there was only one tire left, she went back to her car, dug around inside, then went after the final tire with a knife. Dakota winced when he saw that.

Stan turned the screen back. “Obviously I’d like you to say nothing about this.”

“Where’d you get it?”

“Security camera on the back of the bank. It’s not very obvious. Apparently she wasn’t aware of it. A lot of people think a little hick town like Timberlake wouldn’t have any use for such a thing.”

“Are you going to arrest her?”

Stan shook his head. “The image isn’t quite clear enough. Besides, it would only be a misdemeanor. She might not even get a fine. I’m going to hold on to this while I look a little deeper. This is going to stay between you and me. That’s all I’m prepared to say. Except I don’t know that you should turn your back when this woman is around.”

“Don’t worry!”

“I hadn’t even looked at this tape yet when she paid me a visit. Not that I don’t take you seriously, but it was air let out of three tires—not exactly high crime. But I found her whole presentation a little...odd. She is real pretty, though. Oh, and about Sid? You don’t have to be so secretive. Everyone knows you like her. No one would be surprised you’re steadies.”

“Great,” he said. “She wanted us to go slow, not start up the gossip.”

“Then you ought not be on the same bar stool three nights a week unless you can manage to drink a little heavier.” Then he laughed, but it was more of a giggle.

Dakota made a face.

“Small town,” Stan said. “Just when you think you’ve got a secret...”

“So...where do we go from here?”

Stan folded his hands on top of his desk. “I’ll be collecting information. I don’t have much use for people who do things like that. I try to think of ways to request their departure from my beat. As for you? Go about your business and see what you can do to be less irresistible to the ladies. Hmm?”

“It’s not funny,” Dakota said.

“I’m not exactly laughing,” Stan said.

Dakota could admit to himself that he’d been lucky with the ladies over the years but he’d never been in a situation like Neely in the alley. “Will you give me a call if you find out something more?”

“I can do that,” Stan said. “Listen, I don’t consider myself a wise man. I have a little experience, that’s all. But I’m gonna tell you something. Don’t think I’m talking down to you or anything, but just in general—I’ve discovered men are stupid. In a situation like this, for example, you’re probably thinking you don’t have much to worry about up against a girl, and maybe you don’t. You’re definitely stronger. Probably smarter, too. But if you smell an ill wind, you’d be smart to pay attention. Men tend to think just because it’s a girl...”

“She creeped you out, too,” Dakota said.

“I’m just saying, I don’t take too much for granted. I know it don’t seem like it, Timberlake being a small and uncomplicated town, but we’ve had us a situation or two I could probably sell to a movie channel.”

Dakota smiled. “How long have you been doing this, Stan?” he asked.

“Too damn long. Twenty-five years now and retirement is not in sight. Got four kids and three dogs and a happy wife. At least she was happy last time I checked. If it ain’t broke...”

“I’d like to buy you a beer sometime, hear some tales. I’d like to hear that one about Maggie shooting some guys who kidnapped a girl. Cal can’t seem to even talk about it.”

Again Stan’s laugh was almost a giggle. “That sure riled him up, didn’t it? I’ll be the first to admit, took about ten years off my life. That woman’s so frickin’ headstrong! I ever get a blood clot in my brain, I want her in the operating room with me, but the rest of the time?” He shook his head. “It takes a big man, that’s all I’m saying.”