Chapter 37

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Five Days Later: Friday.

The light coming in Wolf’s office window played off the platinum hoop on his finger. Years ago, his left pinkie had been shot off while apprehending a criminal, and with the finger missing, it looked strange on his hand. But what his anatomy did to confuse the eye, the simple design of the ring made up for.

Two knocks hit his door, and Patterson poked her head inside.

“Hey, the Russells are here to…” She got distracted, looking down at his finger.

After officially tying the knot Monday, Wolf had taken the next four days off. Judge Zimmerman had performed the ceremony, and Wolf wondered if the woman would spread the rumor. Apparently, being the oldest judge in the district, she had little use for gossip.

“The Russells are what?” he asked .

“Oh,” she said. “Yeah. They’re downstairs. Did you and Piper get married?”

“Yeah. Send them in.” He turned to his computer monitor and clicked shut his email.

“You did? What? Why? How? When?”

“What happened?” Rachette came up, squeezing next to Patterson. “Did you know that family from up in Doyle are here for you?”

“Yeah,” Wolf said. “Can you please bring them up?”

Rachette looked at Patterson. When she did nothing, he held up a fist and his other hand underneath it. After a quick rock-paper-scissors, Patterson slapped him on the shoulder. “Better luck next time.”

Rachette huffed and stormed away.

“I want answers,” Patterson said, stepping into his office.

He shrugged. “We decided to pull the Band-Aid off quickly.”

“So, is the ceremony still happening?”

“No. It’s not. You’ll get an updated invitation in the mail.”

“For what?”

“For a party we’re having instead.”

“Oh. Okay.” She folded her arms and started to say something else, but the door opened behind her.

“Right in here,” Rachette said.

Wolf stood up. Dolores Russell walked inside, holding the hand of a vibrant, healthy-looking Savannah Russell.

“Here, let me help you,” Rachette said, disappearing out the door again.

A second later, he wheeled Mitch in. One of his legs stuck straight out from his wheelchair, the other was bent, both wrapped in casts, but his face was aglow with color and a smile.

Wolf rounded his desk, shook their hands, and then sat on the edge of it, looking at Savannah. “How are you doing?”

She nodded and smiled, joy and pain in her expression. The little girl had witnessed more over the last couple of weeks than most people would see their whole lives.

“We were just on our way to Durango and wanted to drop in and say thanks,” Mitch said.

“Oh?” Wolf looked up. “What’s down in Durango?”

“My wife’s parents,” Mitch said. “And hopefully, our new house. We’re going to move down there.”

“We’re going to make a fresh start,” Dolores said.

Wolf nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. Are you excited?” he asked Savannah.

“Yeah,” she said, with the first word he’d ever heard her speak.

“We’re selling the restaurant to our cook,” Dolores said. “We’ll open something else when we get settled down south.”

“Maybe,” Mitch said.

“Maybe,” Dolores said.

Wolf smiled. “That’s great.”

Dolores put her hands on Savannah’s shoulders and faced Wolf. “We really do want to thank you.”

“If it weren’t for you,” Mitch said, looking at Savannah, “We heard from Deputy Larkin about what they were going to do. Where they were going to…” He shook his head, his eyes welling with tears. “Had it not been for you…”

“I’m glad that you guys are all back together and starting a new adventure. ”

Mitch wiped his eyes, nodding. “Yeah. Thanks. I’m sure glad, too.” He smiled, joy shining through his tears. He leaned forward in his chair and reached out his hand again.

Wolf shook it.

“We’re going to leave you guys be now,” Mitch said.

“Have a good trip,” Wolf said, standing.

“I’ll walk you out,” Rachette said, grabbing the handles of Mitch’s wheelchair and pushing him out the door into the hall.

“Thank you. Oh yeah,” Mitch said. “Do you know where we could find some good ice cream around here?”

“Snow White’s,” a male voice answered from outside. “You’re not gonna get any better than that place.”

Wolf walked to the door and found Yates standing out in the hall. He was dressed in a pair of slacks and a button-up shirt that lay untucked over a gut Wolf had never seen on the man. His hair was cut short and spiked with gel. His eyes were puffy like he hadn’t slept in two or three days.

“Yates.” Rachette turned, letting go of the wheelchair.

Patterson walked after Mitch, now coasting unattended. “I’ll walk you guys to the elevator. Rachette, you can stay here.”

They waved goodbye, and then Wolf ushered Yates and Rachette into his office.

“Yates,” Wolf said. “It’s good to see you.”

“What are you doing here?” Rachette asked.

“I had a meeting with Waze.”

“And?” Wolf sat down behind his desk.

“And…hey, did you get married?”

Wolf displayed the ring. “Yeah.”

“You got married?” Rachette frowned. “What? But…there’s still the ceremony, right? ”

“No. We’re calling that off.”

“When were you gonna tell us that?” Rachette asked.

“I just did.”

“So, I’m not gonna be standing up for you anymore?”

Wolf shook his head. “No, sorry. But if it’s any consolation, as far as I’m concerned, you stand up for me every day.”

“That sucks.”

Patterson walked in. “Hey, Yates.” She turned to Rachette. “What sucks?”

“Wolf’s not having the ceremony anymore,” Rachette said.

“So?”

“So…I was gonna look good in my suit up there.”

She shook her head. “No, you weren’t.”

Wolf looked at Yates. “How’d the meeting with Waze go?”

“It went well. I just wanted to, you know, show my face around here. Let you guys know that I’m going to do my best to get back on the squad as quick as I can. That is if you’ll have me.”

Patterson and Rachette looked at Wolf.

Wolf nodded. “Of course. But, as I’m sure Waze just told you, you have to prove you’re better first.”

“I know.”

“So, what do you need from us?” Wolf asked.

“Well,” Yates said, looking at Rachette. “I’ve booked myself into a remote inpatient rehab center. It’s out in rural country, away from distractions. It helps with the recovery, or so I’ve read. I was hoping you might be able to take me there.”

“Me?” Rachette asked .

“Yeah.”

Rachette straightened. “Of course. I’d be honored. When?”

“I’ve got my bag packed at home. I’d just have to drop my car off, and then we’d go.”

Rachette looked at Wolf.

“Go ahead,” Wolf said, standing. He shook Yates’s hand. “Get well. Let us know what we can do. We can’t wait to have you back in here.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Later, Yates.” Patterson gave him a hug. “We love you.”

“We sure do, brother.” Rachette slapped him on the back and started for the door. “Where is this place?”

“La Junta.”

Rachette stopped. “Like, a five-hour drive down to eastern Colorado, La Junta?”

“It’s like…six and a half. Seven.”

They stared at each other.

“Son of a bitch,” Rachette said, leaving.

“Thanks, man.” Yates followed after him.

Patterson smiled, looking at Wolf. “You need anything?”

“No, thanks.”

“I’m going to get back to my paperwork.” She stopped in the door. “Oh, and sir?”

“Yeah.”

“Congratulations.”

He smiled. “Thanks.”