The pair drove mostly in companionable silence from Tyler back to the office. They talked about their next steps, still trying to piece together a motive. The location of the car was their top puzzle. There was no indication of the vehicle being in town. Pete and the deputy searched the area and left nothing uncovered. The car could be in San Francisco, Mike reasoned, so one of the first calls made would be to the towing companies.
Mike opted not to tease Steve too much about his old home town. After all, even thought it had been years, it had to have been a shock to the system to learn that a beloved teacher was murdered. Or that his first crush, as Mike correctly surmised, had done time.
After arriving at Bryant Street around 6pm, Mike called Jeannie from the office saying that the pair were back from Tyler but that they needed to file a couple of reports before heading home for the night.
"I bought a nice roast beef, Mike, and I've been slow roasting it all day in the new Crockpot," Jeannie announced with a deliberate air of temptation.
"With potatoes, carrots and celery?" Mike asked.
"And mushrooms, onions, garlic and a nice beef broth mixed with a little of your favorite beer. I've made some fresh sour dough with honey butter to go with it. It should be really good. What time do you think you'll be home?"
Gazing at his partner through his office window, he said, "Soon. But I don't know about Steve, Sweetheart. He may have other plans."
"Try to twist his arm..." she urged.
"All right, I'll try. We should be home in about a half hour." Mike smiled and shook his head as he hung up the phone. His young daughter was nothing if not persistent in her desire to keep him and his partner well fed. She had stepped into her mother's shoes in that department. He remembered Helen fixing meals for him and his variety of partners through the years. No doubt Jeannie caught on to her mother's hospitality. It was a beautiful thing.
Mike walked casually over to his partner's desk. "What do you say we call it a very long day?"
Steve looked up from the report he was typing. "Sounds good to me. I'll just finish this page."
"You know, there's roast beef with all the trimmings with your name on it," Mike hinted.
"Oh wow, Jeannie? She made it?"
"Yes and she wants you to come over and have dinner," Mike comments sounded more like an order than he intended.
"Aw, I don't know, Mike. I am tired," he said as he stretched for effect.
"You're not brooding over today are you?" Mike asked showing concern.
"Not brooding. Really just processing. I mean, Tyler has always been a happy place for me, but I have to admit it was awful going back for a murder."
"Let's talk about it over a plate of roast beef and a beer."
"Sounds tempting," Steve added as he frowned trying to figure out what to do.
"Fresh sour dough with honey butter. All homemade..."
"Aw man, I can't say no to that. If Jeannie's gone to all that trouble, yeah, I'd be happy to join you guys."
"And we can talk about Tyler, listen to Jeannie talk about school or watch something on TV. Whatever you want, Buddy boy."
"All right. And you had me at sour dough." He finished typing the report, pulled it out of the typewriter and grabbed his jacket.
