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“Being that you’re my superior?”
“Being that this is a tight-knit town. Every one of our staff here are born and bred locals who’ve earned their place, myself included.”
“I get it,” Nico said. “I’m an outsider.”
West leaned back in his chair. “Not to put too fine a point on it, but yes, you are. I don’t know you, I don’t trust you, and I doubt the folks around here will either.” Without waiting for Nico to reply, he threw his hands up. “Don’t get me wrong, as lieutenant, you’ll get the respect that comes with the badge, but that’s all. The rest you’ll have to earn. Now, if you can’t handle that, I suggest you get back in your car and drive yourself to the pier where you can catch the afternoon ferry.”
Nico considered that. Instead of a tour on his first day, the chief was offering him an out, one a wiser man might take based on the barrage of red flags that had popped up since he walked in. But being just as stubborn as his Sicilian-born father, Nico had never been one to shy away from a challenge, and he wasn’t about to start now.
“I appreciate your candor, Chief, but I’ll be fine.”
A muscle in West’s jaw spasmed, the only hint of disappointment he let show. “Well then,” he said, standing to hold out his hand. “Welcome to Mercy Cove, Lieutenant Dominici.”
“Thank you, Chief,” Nico said, shaking his hand.
“Come on,” he said, donning his hat. “I’ll show you around.”
West wasn’t kidding. Half an hour later, they had done a full loop of not only the station, but all downtown too. The chief warmed up a little on the walk, telling Nico about his wife and what it was like growing up in Mercy Cove, right up to his sudden promotion when the former chief became unwell and had to step down earlier than expected. Explaining the geography of Arcane Island—two percent civilization, ninety-eight percent wilderness—he made sure Nico knew that if he planned on leaving the cove without a guide, he’d better stick to the roads like glue or risk never being found. Nico listened and took in his new posting with quiet awe. It was a beautiful place. Judging by the abundance of happy families and smitten couples stepping out early for a day of fun-filled exploring, tourist season was well underway. Nico envied them their joy, a stark contrast to the woe that was his constant companion.
By the time they made it back through the front door of the station, the place was swarming with new faces.
“Good, you’re all here.” West took his hat off and ran a hand through his hair. “I’d like you to meet our new lieutenant, Nico Dominici, who’s joining us from Boston. Nico, this is Sergeant Frank Dekker.”
Stepping forward to shake Nico’s hand, Frank—a seasoned officer with a tuft of mahogany hair lined with grays at the temples—said, “Good to meet you, Lieutenant.”
“Likewise.”
“Over here we have Officer Seth Hayes.” West gestured to a young, stone-faced blond sitting at a desk to his right.
“Officer Zoe Lane.”
The black-haired woman standing with coffee in hand to his left gave a nod and a slight smile. She had the fiercest green eyes Nico had ever seen.
“Quite a youthful team you have here,” Nico said.
West puffed his chest out a little further. “Well, we’re training the next generation of law enforcement in Mercy Cove. Is that a problem for you, Lieutenant?”
Nico shook his head and pursed his lips with nonchalance. “Not at all. I look forward to working with you all.”
“Don’t mind me,” a voice from the front desk rang out. “I just process the pay checks.”
Sheepishly, West said, “And you’ve already met our administrator, Cora Radburn.” He added loudly, “Whom we value more than words can say.”
“Here, here,” Frank shouted with enthusiasm, though his face was deadpan.
Nico chuckled.
“Frank, you mind showing Lieutenant Dominici his office? I gotta run home for a bit, make sure Ella hasn’t killed her mother.”
“Sure thing,” Frank replied. “Follow me, Lieutenant.”
Frank led him down the hall and opened a frosted glass door beside the chief’s office. Inside sat a desk, a small filing cabinet, a bookcase, and a chair with two broken wheels. The air smelled musty, like the room hadn’t been opened in a while. Dust lined the windowsills, small flecks of it floating in the slice of light coming through the broken blinds.
“It doesn’t look like much,” Frank remarked, hands in his pockets, while Nico made a slow circle of the room.
“But?”
A pause. “That’s all I got.”
