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"You know," she told Marnes, "we could do this different this time You could let me promote you to sheriff, hire yourself a deputy, and do this proper"

Marnes laughed "I’ve been deputy alure on being nothing else but dead one day"

Jahns nodded One of the things she loved about having Marnes around was that his thoughts could be so black as tofor us both," she said

"Truer than true, I reckon Never figured to outlive soyou" Marnes rubbed his mustache and studied the view of the outside Jahns smiled at him, opened the folder on top, and studied the first bio

"That’s three decent candidates," Marnes said "Just like you asked for Be happy to ith any of them Juliette, I think she’s in the middle there, would be my first pick Works down in Mechanical Don’t come up much, but me and Holston--"

Marnes paused and cleared his throat Jahns glanced over and saw that her Deputy’s gaze had crept toward that dark crook in the hill He covered his h

"Excuse me," he said "As I was sayin’, the sheriff and me worked a death down there a few years back This Juliette--I think she prefers Jules, co help on this case, good at spotting details, handling people, being diplomatic but firhties much A down-deeper for sure, which we ain’t had in a while"

Jahns sorted through Juliette’s folder, checking her family tree, her voucher history, her current pay in chits She was listed as a shift foreood marks No history in the lottery

"Neverof a johnboy A wrencher, you know? We were down there a week, sa the guys took to her Now, she could have her pick of them boys but chooses not to Kind of person who leaves an io it alone"

"Sure see it immediately She hated the jealous tone in her own voice

Marnes shifted his weight to his other foot "Well, you knowto keep from bein’ promoted"

Jahns smiled "What about the other two?" She checked the naood idea Or possibly worried about Marnes having a crush She recognized the nas He worked a few floors down in judicial, as a clerk or a judge’s shadow

"Honestly, ma’am? They’re filler to make it seem fair Like I said, I’d ith the time since we had a lass for a Sheriff Be a popular choice with an election comin’ up"

"That won’t be e choose," Jahns said "Whoever we decide on will probably be here long after we’re gone--" She stopped herself as she recalled having said the sa about Holston, back when he’d been chosen

Jahns closed the folder and returned her attention to the wallscreen A s dust whipped into an organized frenzy It built soer cone, spinning and spinning on a wavering tip like a child’s top as it raced toward sensors that fairly sparkled in the wan rays of a clear sunrise

"I think we should go see her," Jahns finally said She kept the folders in her lap, fingers like rolled parches of handmade paper

"Ma’am? I’d rather us fetch her up here Do the interview in your office like we’ve always done It’s a long way down to her and an even longer way back up"

"I appreciate the concern, Deputy, I do But it’s been a long while since I’ve been much past the fortieth My knees are no excuse to not see my people--"

The Mayor stopped The tornado of dust wavered, turned, and headed straight for the it into a er and more fierce than she knew it to actually be--and then it blew over the sensor array, the entire cafeteria descending into a brief darkness until the zephyr caroe and leaving behind it a view of the world now tainted with a slight, dingy filritted teeth The aged leather of his holster squeaked as he rested his hand on the butt of his gun, and Jahns i the wind on thin legs while pu dust

The two of thee Finally, Jahns spoke

"This trip won’t be about the election, Marnes It won’t be for votes, either For all I know, I’ll run again unopposed So on’t ht and quiet I want to see my people, not be seen by the her "It’ll be for etaway"