Excerpt
I kissed my husband goodbye and pretended he was awake enough to call out, “Be careful out there! Watch your six!”

The last part added an extra spring to my step as I headed to my husband’s county vehicle. Donated to the sheriff’s department in 2018, the Ford Bronco was a throwback from the nineties, but in mint condition.

After a short drive, I turned on Main Street and headed to the sheriff’s department. It was nine o’clock on the first day of June. The sun was out and streets were empty. It would’ve been the perfect start to a beautiful morning if the CB hadn’t buzzed with loud static, a good indicator of a detour in my immediate future.

“Sheriff? I mean Sheriff’s Wife?” A senior citizen and a great dispatcher, Polly cleared her throat. “There’s a problem over on Delray Avenue. Domestic. Someone is chasing Sheila around the house with a weapon. It’s probably Ralph. Approach with caution.”

“Ten-four!” I called out the affirmative signal. Then, I flipped the switch on the siren- lights control box, and off I went to my seventh call at the Shelby’s residence.

“Get away from me!” Sheila’s scream filled the air as I hopped out of the car with my pepper spray in hand.
“Help! Somebody! He’s trying to kill me!”

“On my way!” I sprinted up the narrow driveway. “Wait for me!”

I silently cursed the decision to wear a too-fitted pencil skirt. If I continued to walk in the sheriff’s shoes, it might not be a bad idea to dress like him, too.

“Stop! You’re hurting me!”

I eased around the corner of the brick home, quickly scanning the backyard for any signs of the perpetrator. The likely perp, Sheila’s husband Ralph, had recently informed us that they were now out of the honeymoon stage of their relationship.

They’d entered the battlegrounds.