The Busy Bee, just a short walk down the road from the sheriff's office, was loud and crowded with lunchgoers at this time of day. Nearly every booth, table and stool in the place was occupied, as waitresses be-bopped around with heavy trays filled with plates and drinks. Cady pushed the glass door open, scanning the small dining area for her dad. After a few seconds or so, she found him sitting in a booth near the kitchen, facing the entrance. She made her way back there, nodding at the few people who said, "Hey, Sheriff," as she walked past their tables.
"Hey, Dad," she said, sitting down on the bench across from him.
"Hey, Punk. I got us some coffee," he said as he motioned to the pot sitting between them.
"You know me too well," she said, reaching for the white porcelain mug at the end of the table and pouring herself a cup. In true Longmire fashion, she took hers black. As she brought the cup to her lips and took a sip, she noticed that he was alone.
"Where's Vic and the baby?"
"At the cabin, sleeping. Vic was up half the night with her. Doc Bloomfield says it's colic and it's common with babies her age. She'll outgrow it at some point, he said."
"Dad, I –"
Before she could finish her sentence, Ruby's voice, full of static, came in over the radio.
"Cady, situation at the high school."
"Send the Ferg out there."
"No, all hands on deck."
Her stomach dropped at the next words.
"Shots fired."
With those words, both sprang up from the booth and rushed toward the front door. Lunch would have to wait, Cady thought, ignoring the rumbling in her stomach as she raced down the street to her patrol car. She hadn't even realized her dad was following her until she stopped to open the driver's side door and he popped into the passenger seat.
"Dad, what are you doing?"
"You have an extra vest in here like I told you, Punk?"
"Yeah."
"I'm coming with you."
"Dad, no. You have a family. You have a baby."
He stared straight into Cady's eyes so intensely she thought they were going to bore a hole right through her head.
"Yeah, I do. Let's roll."
Realizing he wasn't going to take no for an answer and that arguing was fruitless and a waste of precious time, Cady fastened her seat belt and peeled out of her parking spot, lights flashing and sirens blaring.