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"It is" Euilt "But I was no picnic, and elaEuys are close"

"Yeah Pretty much She’s nice"

"What do you think she’d say about this situation?"

"She’d tell"She’d be upset Devastated, really She loves them a lot"

"See how I paused there, people?" Jaation where you’re trying to keep soet theuy do so, and their situation starts to sink in" She stood up "And that, my friends, is all the time we have Good job today"

On the way home, Levi radioed in and asked her to check on Alice McPhales, a sweet old lady struggling with dementia She still lived on her own, but it was a es She called the police at least three ti around her property, which was a farmhouse on the outskirts of town Today she’d reported that someone had broken into her house She called with this complaint a few times a month, so Em wasn’t really worried

Everett pulled up in his cruiser just as she did "Slow day?" Em asked

"I’ll check the periun

"Keep that in the holster, dumbass," Emmaline said

"Well, what a in there It’s too crowded"

"Everettnever mind Knock yourself out and check the peri less than an alien attack, I’rass

"Mrs McPhales?" Emmaline called as she knocked

The old lady opened the door a crack "Where’s Levi?" she asked

"He’s at the station He asked randdaughter Remember? I’m a police officer, too"

"Oh, yes Luanne She’s lovely! Such a good knitter! Tell her I said hello, won’t you?"

"I’ll do that, Mrs McPhales" No point in reone "Can I cos out?"

Mrs McPhales’s house was typical for an old person--too cluttered, tooeasy It was dark, too, since she had all the curtains drawn "What see, Mrs McPhales?" she asked as she turned on a light

"The gravy boat ave an to cry "It was so beautiful, and now it’s gone TheyI’ll never feel safe here again, and my husband built this house They’ve ruined it! They’ve soiled it!"

Em put her arm around her "Why don’t I make you a cup of tea?" she asked

"I prefer coffee But thetheblack box in the kitchen is broken"

"The coffeemaker?"

"Yes"

Em went into the kitchen Dirty dishes were piled in the sink The coffeeed it back in and , she filled the sink with hot water

"You don’t have to do that," Mrs McPhales said

"Oh, I don’t o"

"Periine that," Eer," she said back "Why don’t you head back, Ev?"

"Roger that, heading back to the station"

The cupboards were a lassware, an open jar of peanut butter in a colander Ehtened up as best she could, then poured Alice soravy boat look like?" She took out her notebook so Mrs McPhales wouldn’t feel like E her

Mrs McPhales took a sip of her coffee "What gravy boat?"

"The one your grandave you"

"Oh, yes It hite with pink flowers It was very old She brought it froland, and when I was little, she’d put it out at Christ it on her table It was so fancy and beautiful" She started to cry noiselessly, and E Her father’s parents had died when she was little, Nana of a massive stroke or heart attack that took her while she was sleeping

E when her mo her close, the co of his sweat, back when he carried so e wasn’t so kind toup

"You won’t find it! They took it Those men, I wish they wouldn’t come here!"

"Why don’t I take a look around anyway? Make sure nothing else is " Em rested her hand on Mrs McPhales’s shoulder, and the old lady blinked up at her, her eyes still teary

"Would you, dear? Oh, thank you!"

The gravy boat was in the bathroo to the kitchen

"You got it back! Oh, thank you, darling! Thank you! Oh, I just love you!" Eravy boat or to her

After Em made Mrs McPhales a sandwich and checked all the s and locks for the old lady’s peace of mind, she went out to her car and radioed Levi "All clear here, Chief But I think you should talk to her son about getting her into Rushing Creek, orsoer," he said "Coer that, big guy"

"It’s Chief Cooper, thank you very much"

Em smiled as she clicked off Levi took hi He was a good boss and a better cop Not that he needed to hear it frouy

E to hold the Mrs McPhales so bluewell, heck Her parents weren’t getting any younger

"Hi, Mom," she said when her mother picked up

"E to say hi"

There was a pause "Oh"